It's sort of funny because when you learn about the Cold War in history textbooks, you tend to forget that countries are more than their leaders. Many citizens live in these countries, and often their views will be quite different from that of the politicians. What does get mentioned is often partially propaganda, saying how the communists were evil and all the people lived in destitution, unhappy with their situation but unable to do anything about it.
I've grown to appreciate a good example of how this was not necessarily the case. People from former East Germany talk of Ost-algia, the desire to have things back the way they were before reunification. Things were more reliable, more liberal, and supposedly people were more friendly. Now there's definitely a grass-is-greener effect occurring here, but if people really long for the former communist rule, perhaps it wasn't quite as bad as we make it out to be....?
Once I finish with this time machine, I'll be able to know first-hand. I'll keep you posted.
I've grown to appreciate a good example of how this was not necessarily the case. People from former East Germany talk of Ost-algia, the desire to have things back the way they were before reunification. Things were more reliable, more liberal, and supposedly people were more friendly. Now there's definitely a grass-is-greener effect occurring here, but if people really long for the former communist rule, perhaps it wasn't quite as bad as we make it out to be....?
Once I finish with this time machine, I'll be able to know first-hand. I'll keep you posted.
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