You forgot to mention that all political opposition
I forgot nothing. Did you notice that "I" in my post? That post is about normal life, not a heroic and pointless struggle.
knowing it and seeing it through PRL propaganda
How about seeing what I saw through the eyes of a kid with simple but happy childhood?
My parents didn't have any contact with NKVD or even PZPR and they did just fine. Anyone who would finger the system deserved what would come. You (editorial) would have to be a moron or one of those Warsaw Uprising idiots to think that annoying the Soviets would change things in any way other than getting yourself killed or sent to Siberia to think things over.
Because my father was a smart man, I was allowed to leave in 1966 - at high noon and without any bs drama - as a reward for my dad and me not being brave morons.
Since you decided to throw Stalin into this conversation, Stalin did what Stalin thought would be best for the USSR. When AK decided to outsmart him in August of 1944, ...you know the rest.
thinking those times were a dream while it being a nightmare to most Poles who faced the truth of the reds
Now I know you are Polish. Only a Polak would insinuate, exaggerate and resort to lies to make a point not supported by facts. The only nightmare I experienced was meat all gone by 11.
It's like dealing with kids or women. No, nobody thought or claimed that those times
were a dream. But we knew that they were not hell worth dying to change, either, as any meaningful change was not possible. Why? Because we knew that what Poland had then was with full consent and approval by the Brits and the Americans. They were friends of the USSR not long ago, weren't they?