How I started to see other reality than one projected on pyjama folks
Don encouraged me to share on EW some of my personal experiences, which led me to better understanding of reality enveloping all of us. I hope it might be useful for some folks who are also fighting to understand, like me, through the maze of official lies and culture of dumbing us down until we are shaped in form of perfect slaves.
So the story begins in Poland, East Europe, in the beginning of 1980s – interesting time, full blown communism and martial law on top of this (it was just after Solidarnosc workers union was established and crashed). I had a chance to attend regular primary school and exceptional high school leading to very good technical college, but what I was taught there was not exactly corresponding to what managed to filter trough from unofficial sources. And obviously life reality around was completely not comparable to propaganda which official media bombarded us with.
See some pics of what life looked like in “best possible political system”, as they branded it and repeated over and over again, called communism:
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To buy basic groceries you had to get rationing cards – here is an example of one allowing you to buy (for 1 month) – flour 1000 g, meat 500 g, milk 2500 g, butter 250 g, sugar 2000 g, cereal 1000g, candies 250g, cheap chocolate 100g, washing powder 600g, soap 2 pieces.
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At the same moment most stores look like this (when i.e. it was norm that the only permanently displayed item in grocery stores was vinegar):
Grocery store:
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Butcher:
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Shoe store (here are at least some shoes on display):
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and when some store got toilet paper people bought as much as they were allowed (usually 10 rolls), and next paraded through a city looking like Christmas trees adorned with toilet paper decorations:
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Obviously living in such “paradise” begged for asking some questions, since official story doesn’t stick to reality watched in everyday life. And because it was suspected to be complete lie, than all other things taught us like history, politics etc. were also under suspicion.
Poland and Hungary during this time were the only 2 countries from East Bloc (Warsaw Pact countries) whose citizens had a slight chance to visit West (for others from USSR, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Bulgaria and Romania it was mission impossible). Obviously it was a tough nut to crack for everybody not from ruling elite – for example passport was not your right, it was privilege. It was securely stored and deposited in Police station and each time you wanted to go abroad you had to apply for permit to go, which might be granted or refused based on whims of political police in charge – perfect tool for control. Obviously you had to prove that you had a means to support yourself meaning you had to arrange invitation from abroad proving financial support or to have western currency to cover your costs. So there was another catch – you could not exchange Polish zlotys into western currencies since they were not convertible, and it was against law to possess western currencies from undocumented sources (documented sources were ie. gift from family or friends abroad or earned if you were sent on business trip by Polish state company) – so you could not buy it on black market and use them for passport application because it would land you in jail. Nice and interesting – isn’t it?
Obviously there was solution from official point of view – every citizen who had already passport issued was entitled to get a “currency book” – kind of booklet register which entitled to buy specified small amount of East block countries currencies per year, and once in 3 years apply for Western currencies in amazing amount of 130 USD per adult. The catch here was that special commission had to approve your application for such purchase, and since there were few people awarded (limit on total of hard currency made available for such purposes by state) most of applicants ended empty handed, and more lucky ones might got for example for 1 person out of 4 people family. I had such situation myself when my father got those miserable 130 USD for 4 of us, and due to common back then ingenuity of people from East countries we managed to have 6 weeks vacations in Turkey and Greece and spent only 100 USD in expenses (and obviously practically all things needed for duration of trip – food, tents, etc were brought from home and practically only fuel, museum tickets and basic groceries like bread or fruits were purchased abroad).
Good side of such trips was possibility of being able personally to compare how official “reality” of living in the west was distorted by propaganda. Additionally it was possible to buy and smuggle back underground versions of real history and politics to learn stuff not taught and forbidden in schools. It was tricky and repercussions could follow if one was caught on the border but done anyway.
In such way I managed to put my hands on book by Russian author Aleksanar Solzenicin “Archipelago Gulag” – it was real eye opener how people were treated in Soviet forced labor (slave) camps. Many other books followed so I started to see clearly that there is other historical/political reality than official propaganda wanted us to accept.
On the other hand I had a really wise teacher of English language. One of the first books he asked me to read was George Orwell’s “1984” and “Animal Farm”. It was tool for learning English but subject was like teaching me much more – it was like shot into bull’s eye – everything described in those books was almost immediately recognizable in situation we were stuck in, namely forced existence in communistic country.
Next it was college years which taught me how military works. During 4th year of study each student had to go through 1 day per week of military schooling (military service was back then obligatory – 2 years after high school, 1 year after college + these military subjects done during university program).
I obviously started to question them an official view of history since I couldn’t stand bullshit they were presenting us. I was not shy to present my sources/books from which I got my version of truth. I knew and they knew what was right, but price for me was to be paid for what they considered insubordination.
My price was that I had to repeat the 4-th year of study due to failed ‘military subjects’.
Funny part was that I got a failing grade BEFORE opening my mouth during final oral exam, but I was not stupid enough to forget silently this fact and keep quiet. So when they officially announced results of exams – full military formation, reporting, etc crap, when they asked if anybody has questions – I promptly went forward and asked in front of 100 guys: “Is it Polish military teachers regular routine to fail students before they even start to take exam and open their mouth?”
There was a silence you could not believe. Next my friend (who got the same treatment) stepped out and asked the same question.
The guy who was in charge from university/military, lost his nerve and immediately finished gathering by disbanding everybody and trying to get to elevator ASAP. We managed to catch with him, but poor soul was so afraid for his safety.
To make long story short – it cost me additional year of “studying” because I did not pass this military crap. On positive side I was able to travel in meantime but had to persuade my father to help me put situation somehow back on track (otherwise I’d be “cooked meat” under such circumstances)
Next after graduation I was left in situation where I started family and had a kid, I worked at University earning 20 USD per month and we had to spend 60 USD to get basic stuff. My wife was still studying so the only relief was from parents. This persuaded me to push my plans for leaving this “communistic paradise” and somehow move into this terrible reality of life in west countries. Easier said than done …
(to be continued)
