Today's guest columnist is Norbert Stanislawski, Editor of Warsaw Poland's "Jean Dob're Polski" online news source...
Polish-Americans are stupid! I call them this bad name because they went to United States and left behind all their humble beginnings! In Poland, we make the most of what little we have and treat an important holiday like Casamir Pulaski Day in the highest regard in the same way we honor Christmas and Easter. In United States, people there are so-so and could care less who the important one was that died amd are just happy to have a day from work to sit and drink beer and watch a Sponge Bobby Square Head on the big satellite dish. Now, I take a few times to remind you where your roots come from by telling you about these famous Poles!
- Q-Tips invented by Leo Gerstenzang, a Polish-Jew in the 1920's. This are a good thing that everyone has in their medicine chest. This idea came to him after he watched the people use whatever they can to stick in the ear to pull out the wax...a fing
er, hairpin, house key, butter knife or whichever. The first prototype he showed to Josef Johnson, a pharmacist visitng Poland from United States. It was originally a small patch of his hair that he put in his pocket after a haircut at the barber shop. He came home and put this around the end of a toothpick and stuck in his ear. Hard of hearing his whole life, Leo was so surprised to hear again that he passed away a month before he was able to sell the patent to Dr. Johnson. Johnson then took the idea to America to Johnson's other brother Johnny. The rest is what we take for granted today and Leo may get the credit for the invention, his family didn't make a dime! - "Prozac" anti-depressant, first tested by Polish immigrant in the 1970's. Jan Kilinski was a man who had lots and lots of problems. Uneducated and unemployed, Jan began talking to himself and would sometimes be found sleeping in th
e vestabule of his church drunk by the priest.. An excorcism was done for him twice to get rid of the demons in his head with no luck. The fact that the church frowned on suicide did not bother Jan. After failed attempts talking to the priest didn't work, he attempted a suicide by jumping out the basement window of a ladyfriend. A Krakow pharmacist gave him the very first prescription for the new "Prozac" which he took. It worked good for him and was considered a miracle medicine but, three hours of being happy was too much for Jan..he hung himself that evening! - Sports and Entrtainment are no strangers to Poland! Some of the world's best known showmen have come from Poland. Professional Wrestler, Ivan Putski is in the books for his strength. Putski, who has the real last name, Bednarski, enjoyed success in the WWF in the 1970's and was one of the last greats to win an Intercontine
ntal Title before the Vince McMahon took over the business and put in the sex and goofy stories. Ivan was too much of a class act for this company and they let him go. Putski is retired today in United States. Bobby Vinton the "Polish Prince". I can't imagine one person in Poland or America that doesn't occasionally play a Bobby Vinton LP Record. His music has inspired many generations of music artists like Madonna and Bruce Springstein. A protoge of Pat Boone and Paul Anka, Bobby Vinton still belts out the hits to this day and ladies still throw him their underpants onto the stage. While most performers return to their beginning in bars and nightclubs, when not headlining his nightly show in Branson, MO., Bobby entertains sold-out shows at Bingo and church halls and sometimes sports a "Blue Velvet" leisure suit as part of his attire! - Casamir Pulaski. The General of the Polish Calvary. Although he and his horse originally headed into the Revolutionary War and went 100 miles in the wrong direction, his soldiers eventually were able to re-group and catch up to him where they followed his lead. A true war hero, Pulaski's body as well as the carcass of his trusty steed are buried beneath a towering two foot tall monument near Pennsylvania. I raise a toast to this man and other Poles that we just take for granted way too much!
