Poland in 1970s
At the turn
of the century, Poland made a huge leap, both in terms of the economy and the
development of individual citizens' lives. Of course, this did not happen
immediately and the transformation process took many years. However, life
before the year 89 'laid out something differently. I think that each decade
had its individual and unique character. The 1970s looked a bit different in
the Eastern bloc than in the West. Of course, they were not so colorful,
however, from many older people who remember them, they are mentioned as the
best of the years when Poland was in the USSR. These exceptional years were
well portrayed in the movie "The Art of Loving" directed by Maria
Sadowska.
The video
that I attached directly shows snapshots from the everyday life of Warsaw
residents in the 70s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psUqHwc5RA8
Questions:
1.
What
do you think about life in Poland in those years?
2.
What
do you know about those times, do you remember some characteristics?
3.
If
you are not from Poland, how do people remember those times in your country?
Comments
I haven't live there so what can I say it wasn't brilliant, milicia everywhere and commies. People frightened of they neighbours which destroyed our society for at least one more generation. But the music and actors where could I guess back then.
2. What do you know about those times, do you remember some characteristics?
Lack of food, long queue and special jokes that many of younger people will never truly understand.
3. If you are not from Poland, how do people remember those times in your country?
I am from Poland.
1. If someone claims that it was better than nowadays, it’s only because of sentiment. Objectively – everything was worse with some very minor exceptions. The level of education has decreased. It is clearly visible on the tests after high school which are much less difficult than they used to be. Anyway, the results of the last elections and the politics of current government are driven towards returning to that time, so we could all see it ourselves.
2. These were the times when Edward Gierek was the First Secretary of Central Committee of PZPR. He made huge loans abroad because of which the economy of Poland and its overall development seemed to grow and be in the good condition. Also, the quality of life in Poland could have improved. Unfortunately, the outcome of such decisions can be felt even today. It was followed by the biggest crisis and inflation in the history of Poland. The whole period of communism in Poland is a huge shame and the reason why we still can’t keep up with the western countries.
2. How can we live for ever if we can’t transfer ourselves into a new body? Harvesting human organs sounds like a good idea, but it would be drastically unethical unless it would consist of growing those organs only – not the whole person. Instead of doing that, I think that medicine should focus more on creating artificial organs which would be superior to their natural equivalents. Cloning could have a positive impact on environment if it was used to restore endangered species for sure, but for humans it could be dangerous.
3. No, because that’s simply insane. That’s not even the same dog, it is just genetically identical. There is no point doing that at all. On the other hand, cloning exceptionally healthy and strong individuals could be used to eradicate diseases of animals, but for our own use – no, it’s a stupid waste of money.
It certainly was not a fairytail. When I listen to my parents stories about those years, it just seems too abstract for me, like it could not be 40 years ago. There is no comparison between today and then. It was so much worse in most cases in that time.
2. What do you know about those times, do you remember some characteristics?
A very bad time for polish society and independency. Just communism at its worst.
3. If you are not from Poland, how do people remember those times in your country?
I am from Poland so this question does not apply to me.
I think it was both difficult and easy in some ways, but I wouldn’t like to be living in Poland in the 70s. The lack of money, communism, distortion of information, weird clothes and hairstyles as well as impossibility to travel the world doesn’t sound appealing to me. So I’m glad I didn’t have to experience that, although the cars looked funny back then.
2. What do you know about those times, do you remember some characteristics?
I mainly source my knowledge from what my grandparents have told me, because they lived in Poland in the 70s and remember everything. Also my parents sometimes tell me stories about life for kids in those times, because they were very young then. They always say it was quite hard to be living in a poor comunistic country, there weren’t enough goods for everyone, it was difficult to buy food and clothes were handmade by women in my family, since there weren’t many other options to get them. But there were some advantages, for example people would have closer relations and had to support each other to make their lives easier.
3. If you are not from Poland, how do people remember those times in your country?
I’m from Poland so it’s hard for me to tell, but I’d hazard a guess that it was fairly similar for those living behind the iron curtain. People had easier lives if they weren’t born on the wrong side of it.
Who would say that was the best time? In my opinion, it is simple psychology. People often have the feeling the past times were better than the present and future.
Since I’m not from Poland and I don’t have any relatives here, I don’t know how was life here in those years, but I can assume that life wasn't easy, in general, as in the whole world in those years.
2. What do you know about those times, do you remember some characteristics?
As I already wrote, in almost all parts of the world life wasn't easy and the main reason was the Cold War, as well as many economic crises and military coups in different countries. Although, unlike the modern generation, strong and intelligent people lived in those days. The fact that for a modern person it may seem impossible, for example, to live without the Internet, social networks, smartphones, smart watches and other smart trash was a normal life for those people. I always thought that I live at the wrong time, I wish I was born in the 1950s and by this time I wouldn't give a damn about all this nonsense that is happening now. But we don't decide what times we live, all we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.
3. If you are not from Poland, how do people remember those times in your country?
As I wrote, the 70s as well as the 80s were difficult. My father was in the war in Afghanistan and lived in Siberian taiga for 10 years(tree felling was well paid in those years), and my uncle was a liquidator in Chernobyl.
2. I have heard many stories from my parents and their parents. I have seen some movies from those times and read many books. Of course it can't give you the real look into those times, but I feel that I definitely wouldn't like to live in those times. I know that in that decade, some big investments were made, but the money was loaned and later on we had to pay it back. What's more, the investments were rather propaganda success than improvement to comfort of an average person living (maybe except rom the famous road).
2. I do not know too much detail, only from the stories of my grandmother and grandfather, as I mentioned above.
3. I am from Poland. Yay!
2. Only the things which my relatives told me. And they are sure it was something very awful and we are glad it's over.
1. I think it was somewhat tough, as there were always goods missing in the shops. However, people were given goods that could allow them to live for free, by a country. I guess it was just different.
2. I think I described a few of them in a previous question. Those time were very different from what we know now I guess.
3. I am from Poland. I don't know how to answer this question :).
I think that life in those years had its charm and at the same time stink. Life was easier when the internet was not so developed and Facebook did not yet exist. Everyone was unique, and globalization was not as widespread as it is today.
The main problem of those times was the political system prevailing in Poland. This inhibited us a lot and did not allow us to develop.
2. What do you know about those times, do you remember some characteristics?
I wasn't in the world at the time. However, from what I've read and heard the main features are cards, queues and vinegar on the shelves. Apparently only this was not missing in stores.
3. If you are not from Poland, how do people remember those times in your country?
I'm from Poland.
2. I'm not really interested in history so i do not know a lot about those times.
3. I'm from Poland, so i think that this question doesn't belong to me.
2. As I said before my parents told me how life look like in PRL. In my opinion this was ~"dark times" (Star Wars)
3. I'm from Poland.
2. I wasn’t born yet then so I can't remember anything from that time. From what I was told, the freedom of speech was certainly very limited. The “milicja” (national police organisation) could attack you without having a good reason and the access to food was limited. I remember Edward Gierek as a well-known personality.
3. I’m from Poland but anyway I wasn’t born back then.
2. I know this period from textbooks from history and from stories.
I know these were not good times for the society, even very hard. The economy was unstable and due to the political, Poland could not develop at all.
2.What do you know about those times, do you remember some characteristics?
I heard from my grandparents that there was a lack of food, long queues and food cards. Those times were very different from what we have now.
3.If you are not from Poland, how do people remember those times in your country?
I cannot answer this question as I am from Poland.