Why do so many Poles hate being called "Eastern European"?

[Schüreck]

I've never had a problem with that, but all the other Poles get extremely offended when someone calls them "Eastern European"

[Peterski]

Because historically Poland was seen as the "Antemurale" of the Western Civilization:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antemurale_myth

So Poles don't want to be associated with anything Muslim, or Orthodox, or Russian.

That being said, I'm generally Pro-Russian*. But I keep a healthy distance. I don't want Poles to be seen as Little Russians (this is the name Russian nationalists use when describing Ukrainians).

*Like Roman Dmowski. And as you know Wielkopolska was Dmowski's stronghold.

[Peterski]

I consider Russia as part of European civilization, so I don't think that our "mission" is to "defend Europe from Russia". But this narrative is common, "Russian threat" is used to frighten people.

Russia is used in fairy tales for adult Westerners just like Baba Yaga in fairy tales for children.

Many Poles also fall for this "Russia is the biggest threat" narrative. I personally think that Russia is no threat to Poland anymore. It is a threat to Ukraine, Belarus and Baltic states, but not Poland.

[Veslan]

Inferiority complex of west-loving cucks and russophobia.

[RN97]

Because they are smart as fuck. Everyone thinks Polacks are eastern Europeans, but only they are smart enough to figure out they're western

[Peterski]

Russophobia is surely against Polish Raison d'état. We shouldn't be hostile to Russia.

I also don't think that Poland should emulate "the West" or "try to be western". We should follow our own path and don't care about angry butthurt voices of criticism or attempts to mock our ways.

[Bolsonaro2018]

I dont think they associate themselves as western either, but something central, i guess the fact of being roman catholic has to do with it, status quo.

[MinervaItalica]

Really? That's curious.
Mmmm perhaps because their past as member of the Warsaw Pact?

[Jana]

I think Pole native to Krakow can't feel the same about this as some Pole who originate from Belarus for example, because this was not part of same culture and is not the same.

[Peterski]

I think Pole native to Krakow can't feel the same about this as some Pole who originate from Belarus for example, because this was not part of same culture and is not the same.

It was part of the same culture. Both areas were part of Polish culture.

It's not the case that Poles from Belarus are culturally Belarusian.

Tadeusz Kościuszko for example was a Pole from Belarus:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tadeus...olutionary_War

Lots of famous Poles were from Belarus or Lithuania. Piłsudski, Mickiewicz, etc.

Also many from Latvia (Polish Livonia). Władysław Anders, Emilia Plater, etc.