This column reflects on the state use of mass media for propaganda purposes in the People's Republic of Poland in the 1980s. It discusses the appeal of the Australian soap opera 'Return to Eden' to Polish viewers, starved of access to any images of luxury in their own country.
This column satirises the tendency of Polish immigrants in Australia to assume titles or rank they do not have, in the knowledge that the assumed identity cannot readily be disproven.
The poem tells of a dog who leaves his kennel to escape being beaten there, but still yearns for the kennel once he finds a better life elsewhere. He then hears tell of a 'solidarity movement' back home among the dogs still living in kennels which has led to a vote for freedom. He would like to take part in the voting and is confused by a local bulldog's insistence that he not take part. Finally, he dies on the border of the two countries. The author's note explains that the poem refers to the post-Solidarity movement elections in Poland in 1989.
The column reflects on the passing of the (mainly female) fashion in Poland for asking others to write poems to be remembered by in your scrapbook or notebook. It mocks the sentimental style of this type of poem, and offers some humorous examples.
This column is a response to the broadcasting on the ABC of a 1990 BBC documentary about life in post-communist Poland by Witold Starecki, 'Pears on a Willow Tree'. The author is critical of the documentary and regrets the impression of Poles that it will give Australian viewers.
The column refers to the lack of recognition among Poles in Poland of the financial support received from Poles living overseas, including Polish Australians.
The column satirises Polish Australians' litigiousness, deriving from an overinflated sense of personal honour.
The column laments the lack of a sense of humour among Poles and Polish Australians, and discusses some instances where the author's satire has landed him in hot water with readers. As an example it includes the poem, 'Londyńska jesień' (pp. 55-56), a satirical portrait of members of the Polish government-in-exile in London, first published in the London paper 'Tydzień Polski' (The Polish Week) on 1 August 1981.
