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1

Tożsamość okaleczona

100%

Matejko A.

Studia Polonijne

|

1986

|

vol. 10

375-378

EN

The author draws the reader’s attention to two essential questions: the immense psychic price of readily giving up the native culture in favour of a new civilisation, which is often connected with emigration; and to the importance of creating a new identity joining the elements of one’s own culture and the culture of the global society. The paper also, contains a critical appraisal of some new Polish emigrants attitudes. The emigrants claim a right to some services for their advantage, but they do not contribute personally to the work for the Polish emigrant society.

2

Rodzina polska w Kanadzie pod presją adaptacji

100%

Matejko A.

Studia Polonijne

|

1989

|

vol. 12

113-122

EN

The paper draws our attention to the threats to the Polish family under the conditions of cultural clash which is the outcome of migration, but at the same time it points to the possibilities of development, which can be found in such a clash. A difficult trial for a family is, e.g., the change of the standard of living, education based on the great authority of parents became more easy-going way of bringing up the youth, which is typical of the American society etc. The author draws our attention to the necessity of preserving Polish Christian identity in a new setting. We are concerned with that which constitutes the essential values of this identity and not with sentimentally treated national customs and traditions. The family in a new setting is a microterritory on which various civilizational tendencies struggle to prevail. The preservation of the young generation within the Church and Polish culture depends on whether the family and parish are able to show and hand over essential Polish religious and cultural values. The cult of welfare and consumption step by step overpowers greater and greater percent of families of Polish origin, and very effectively eliminates and „melts away” these values. That is why welfare may go hand in hand with spiritual poverty. The tendency towards preserving one's own identity and ability to differentiate between the Polish setting and another one, cannot mean shutting up in one's own ghetto and should be connected with the ability to do creative conscious choices of true values in the pluralistic contemporary world. The author draws one's attention to the fact that only few people understand that moral and cultural otherness connected with Polish descent can be at longer range a serious trump card in the conformistic, mass, and often vulgarized culture. A good intergenarational contact of Polish family makes that e.g. Poles can and should play a constructive role as the carrier of a positive family pattern. The strengthening of inner forces within the family will reinforce its ability to adapt in a constructive way. The ideal in that respect is a family which preserves Polish ethnic cultural identity, and at the same time takes full part in different aspects of Canadian life. Polish parishes play an indispensible role here. They can defend many Poles against taking an absurd stand and keeping an opinion that they represent nothing themselves as far as culture is concerned, that they have nothing to offer. Polish parish can defend them against escaping from their own spiritual identity, because this would mean condemning oneself to nothingness.

3

Szanse i zagrożenia młodzieży polonijnej w Kanadzie

100%

Matejko A.

Studia Polonijne

|

1990

|

vol. 13

69-80

EN

The hitherto character of Polish life in Canada has undergone considerable changes. The number of people who acquire university education increases, but the Polish ethnic life does not encompass them. A lot of data point to statement that the youth at present loses its relation with Polishness quicker than ever before. Thus it mingles, almost irreversibly, with the English speaking environment. This is mainly the result of little interest, on the part of the older generation, in the problem of participating in the multicultural character of life of the Canadian society. The mentality of the present Polish emigration is much different than the mentality of the former generation. Hence, it does not engage itself in the organizational life of Polonia and discard a traditionalism typical of the prior generation. The great part of the present emigration possesses higher professional qualifications. Yet it has to cope with serious difficulties when it comes to the English speaking environment which society culture differs much from Polish culture. Polish organizational life does not attract the young generation born in Canada and the youth feel alien in it. The young generation, however, does not appreciate the Polish contribution to the multicultural Canadian society. In face of a spiritual and religious crisis in the English speaking world Polish Catholicism could import valuable spiritual values into Canadian culture. Provided that it would gain on depth and authenticism. Canadian Polonia, as others, faces an apparent dilemma whether it should hold on the remnants of their mother culture, or wean from its roots and melt without any trace in the English speaking world. The solution lies in enjoying various ethnic cultures basing oneself on one’s own culture. It is accepted by the Canadian model of multiculture. The cultural identity of Canada shall only gain on that if Canadians enjoy various cultures. This standpoind is being strengthened gradually in Canada.

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Rodzina polska w Kanadzie pod presją adaptacji

Szanse i zagrożenia młodzieży polonijnej w Kanadzie