Slavic history is broad, deep, fascinating, and something most Americans know almost nothing about. Even after studying Russian language and history at university, even learning to read Church Slavonic a little bit, I still only know the broad strokes. I know enough that your article resonated deeply with me, though.

The world is such a huge place, and perspectives are so different in different areas. Something that undoubtedly makes it harder for Americans to empathize is that we actually have a strong history of Polish immigration here, with thriving Polish American communities that are thoroughly integrated and normalized.

Entire suburbs of the Detroit metro area, for example, are filled with people with Polish last names who live in beautiful neighborhoods whose only remaining Polish traditions are a few restaurants established in the decade or so right after World War II.

The tens of thousands of people who live in these neighborhoods know of their Polish ancestry of course, but the reality is remote for them. Perhaps most problematic (for people like you trying to increase understanding) is that the reality is remote for their neighbors too.

Once upon a time, Polish immigrants in the United States were other, were looked down upon. (We see echoes of this in the old slur "Polack.") My late Polish Jewish partner's mother told him stories about how she was mistreated after emigrating. But that's all so long ago now that we don't remember anymore, not directly. Today in the United States, the Polish families who arrived here before and just after the War are mostly pillars of the community and highly respected. So talking about anti-Polish prejudice would puzzle most Americans.

Sadly, not enough of us travel abroad to know directly how bad things are in the UK and Germany for recent Polish immigrants. I only know because friends in the UK keep me up to date.

I think you're doing good work by writing stories like this. More people need to know that the world is much more varied than they understand.