Quote from nutmeg:
even someone who was the very tail end of the baby boomers can rember a time when really vicious unprovoked polish jokes "polack jokes' were told wholesale and mainstream. (I'm not polish, BTW, or close to anyone who is) People who never knew a pole, or were harmed in any way by one, or who ever knew an act of foolishness by one. Poles, to their extreme credit, never made themselves to be a 'victim class'. Think about it - anyone born before 1968 knows what I say is true - you can remember the jokes, but you cant recall them being crybabys. The jokes were eventually replaced with a popular polish pope and an anti communist cold war leader Lech Wa³êsa
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I'd like to add to your post, I'm from that era and Polish. My Mom had four brothers and three sisters, my dad had 3 sisters and a brother and everyone married someone Polish.
Polish jokes and polish comments were not "teachable"moments that I can remember. What I do remember hearing was "if you can't say anything good about someone, don't say anything". It was a non starter to get po'd or feel put down.
Both of my grandfathers shortened or altered the spelling of their polish surname (but the rest of the family kept the "real name")as did a few other family members, no one thought anything of it.
No one harbored resentment, it was just something they did so they could do whatever.
My grandfather changed his name so he could become a boxer, the other, to rise throught the ranks in the auto industry, one Uncle did so to become a teacher and another a salesman.
I suppose the discrimination was everywhere but I can't ever remember anyone feeling like a victim.
Quote from turkeyneck:
When you got it, don't flaunt it...
Bah! Humbug! Goldman Sachs says no to Christmas party
By Jessica Toonkel Marquez
November 12, 2009
In an attempt to keep a low profile, The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. has told its employees that it won't be hosting a corporate Christmas party this year. The investment bank is also prohibiting employees from funding their own parties, an insider at the firm told InvestmentNews.
The Christmas party ban comes as Goldman has been under sharp public criticism for paying bigger bonuses this year while national unemployment hovers at 10.2% and many workers have taken pay cuts.
In the third quarter, the company announced a profit of $3.19 billion and said it has set aside nearly half of its revenue to reward its employees. Last year, Goldman paid out $4.8 billion in bonuses, awarding 953 employees at least $1 million each and 78 employees at least $4 million. The rewards this year are expected to be greater. Melissa Daly, a spokeswoman, confirmed that Goldman will not host a Christmas party this year and that it didn't hold one in 2008. She could not comment on whether the company is banning employees from holding their own parties.
Given the shaky economic climate, it makes sense that Goldman is putting the kibosh on holiday festivities, said Steven Hall, managing director of Steven Hall & Partners LLC, an executive compensation shop.
âThe last thing they want are pictures showing up of lavish parties while everyone is talking about their paying lavish bonuses,â Mr. Hall said. âThis is just not the time to be flaunting it.â
http://www.investmentnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091112/FREE/911129991
Quote from flytiger:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibor_Rubin
Tell me. Greedy? Mean spirited?
Like I said. Each on his own merits.
Quote from hmcp:
antismetism wont stop when dealing with small minded people if you cant get past someones religion you will never make it in trading you are just blaming others for your own failings the mkt doesnt know or care what you are.