By the way, I'm not one of those people who see the old Soviet bloc as a hell on earth. Rather, it was a class society, just as capitalism is a class society. Of course, they also differ in a lot of ways. Not all class societies are the same.
c b <[email protected]> quotes: >> It was discontent with these conditions of the early years of communism that led to the Hungarian uprising in 1956. >> The shock waves brought home to the communist leadership that they could consolidate their position only by making our lives more tolerable. Stalinism was out and 'goulash communism' - a unique brand of liberal communism - was in.<< This tells us that it can be a good thing for working-class people to rebel against the ruling class, because it can win beneficial reforms, even if class system persists. >> Janos Kadar, the country's new leader, transformed Hungary into the 'happiest barracks' in Eastern Europe. We probably had more freedoms than in any other communist country.<< That comparison makes the rest of the Soviet bloc look bad, doesn't it? >>... Many in the West believed it was a crude attempt to indoctrinate the young with communist ideology, but being a Pioneer taught us valuable life skills such as building friendships and the importance of working for the benefit of the community. ...<< So the Pioneers were like the Boy Scouts? that makes sense. -- Jim Devine / "Segui il tuo corso, e lascia dir le genti." (Go your own way and let people talk.) -- Karl, paraphrasing Dante.
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