Communism - what you think about it?

[Rona]

Originally Posted by Silvester

Let´s agree all together that these both towns are among the most beautiful in whole europe, ok?

Let's agree there are lots of beautiful cities all round Europe + in the UK, naturally

[Vaiva]

Originally Posted by Rona

Let's agree there are lots of beautiful cities all round Europe + in the UK, naturally

We should ask to change the name of the topic Krakow is amazingly beautiful, but my bigest love is anyway Prague (except of Vilnius, of course )

[Morian]

Originally Posted by draggar

they were under Soviet occupation so most of the money went to the Soviets

occupier is wondering - how can you know this? from tv?

[Rona]

Originally Posted by Morian

occupier is wondering - how can you know this? from tv?

Exactly! The funny trick of communist leaders was, that people in the Soviet Union belived they were sponsoring PL, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania, DDR, etc. and people in those countries were sure they were sponsoring the Soviet Union. In fact we were all sponsoing the "leading class" and the unhealthy economic system, non-voluntarily of course.

Besides, it's absolutely irrelevant to talk about categories of "rich" and "poor" in states where there was no real money. Somebody could be quite well-off in his own country, though the currency was irreversible.

Thus speaking of savings and economizing in case of communist instituons, especially military ones is a pure nonsense. Should they have any financial problems, more money would have been printed for them

[Morian]

Originally Posted by Rona

In fact we were all sponsoing the "leading class" and the unhealthy economic system, non-voluntarily of course.

i'm sure we all in all countries still do it

[Rona]

Originally Posted by Morian

i'm sure we all in all countries still do it

Sure!
But at least the money is real now and I can travel free without having to ask my Government for permission every time I leave the country, even for a day or two I remember very well how irritating and troublesome that was.

[Morian]

but we still need visas (instead of the mentioned permissions)

[GalomyOak]

It's really interesting, the conversation between Rona and Morian. I always try to see things for how they really are (and were), but in the US, we are also heavily influenced by our media - and our education (which sadly isn't often too different from the media). I guess I am from the "newer" generation, but I know in my parent's and grandparents generation, and maybe even the generation just before mine, there was the "anti-communist rhetoric" - and still the notion of "cash-strapped" countries persists, even though we know most of what we were told back then was all foolish propoganda... I also know from traveling, and living overseas and talking that "romantic" visions of the US exist too in other countries (I have neither hardcore gangster criminals nor dude ranches anywhere close to where I live. Nor are there huge Hollywood mansions - there are people living nearby who have neither electricity or running water). I guess the beauty of the internet is now we have access beyond the T.V, news, and textbooks - to real people. I cherish the sharing and stories that come from an international community! And I wish I hadn't needed an entry visa (which I didn't have) to enter Russia when I was right at the border a couple of years ago!

[draggar]

Marcy - I'm not much older than you and we were taught like that in school, too. Even after the Berlin Wall fell it was like that (of course, most of our books weren't 100% current anyway).

[Rona]

Originally Posted by GalomyOak

. I also know from traveling, and living overseas and talking that "romantic" visions of the US exist too in other countries (I have neither hardcore gangster criminals nor dude ranches anywhere close to where I live. Nor are there huge Hollywood mansions - there are people living nearby who have neither electricity or running water)

You're absolutely right. In the 'old times' some (not all, naturally) people in my country honestly belived that in the UK, USA, France and other so-called developed countries money lied in the streets and waited to be picked up. Unfortunately MacGyver, Dynasty, and similar productions were very persuasive.

Well, people have always belived, what they wanted to belive and we can see it even on this forum

[yukidomari]

Originally Posted by GalomyOak

I also know from traveling, and living overseas and talking that "romantic" visions of the US exist too in other countries (I have neither hardcore gangster criminals nor dude ranches anywhere close to where I live. Nor are there huge Hollywood mansions - there are people living nearby who have neither electricity or running water).

there are both gangsters and Hollywood mansions here, and I always have to wonder why anyone would choose to come here voluntarily I didn't..but, you're right, there are popular assumptions of the US as well.. I always ask my foreign friends after they stayed for some time, whether reality matched their preconceptions. Surprisingly, some have said yes..

[Silvester]

Originally posted by Rona:
"Well, people have always belived, what they wanted to belive and we can see it even on this forum"

Wise words - and very true !

[Rona]

Originally Posted by Silvester

Originally posted by Rona:
"Well, people have always belived, what they wanted to belive and we can see it even on this forum"

Wise words - and very true !

Thank you