History /
What Was Poland like in the year 1988? [50]
If you talk to people who were adults at that time --- not commies in privileged positions but ordinary Catholic Poles -- you get a wide spread of views. Although economically things were tough and shortages widespread, many people claim there was a friendlier overall ambience. People really enjoyed themselves at nameday parties, told jokes, and raised successive humorous toasts. And the ham you had to queue for for hours really tasted better and was really appreciated by all (probably also because it wasn't the soy-infused fake food you get nowadays). In fact, one company a few years ago put out a ham called "Szynka jak za Gierka" (ham like in the Gierek era -- 1970s). Back then, people were more family-minded, kids showed more respect for their parents and elders in general, and there was a stronger sense of popular solidarity -- we the people v them, the ruling regime. Togetherness was also reflected by drinking habits. Nowadays everybody clutches onto his own, selfish, little drink – cocktail, Tequila, wine, whisky, vodka, beer, but back then everybody drank the same thing in successive down-the-hatch rounds (ladies were permitted to sip[ a sweet cordial like wiśniówka), bitten down with some zagrycha. Wine, mead, beer, brandy and many other assorted tipples were available back then, but it simply wasn’t the style to cradle one’s own, separate drink.
Of course, the politically minded stressed the negative aspects: the perpetually ruling PZPR (commie) party, secret police surveillance, official censorship, privileges for the regime's supporters, reprisals against its detractors and opponents, etc.
One thing more -- those who were adults back then were 20 years younger and enjoyed life as only the young can and nostalgically recall its fonder moments.
