How ww2/life under PRL affects the culture of the Polish nation today

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Sep 29, 11, 18:37 #1

Hello.

One thing I am interested in is the affect the disaster of ww2 has on the mentality of present day Poles (and how this has evolved over the years).

I suppose there are many aspects that could have been affected i.e their outlook on life/death, beliefs, their mental toughness, community spirit, how they view foreign nations and so on

Whilst we're at it, you could ask the same question about the affect of living under communism for all that time.

Thanks.
Kieron.

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Sep 30, 11, 04:56 #2

As a casual observation, it would seem that mainly the elderly outgoing generation still bears the imprint of the Nazi-Soviet occuaption and 45 years of Soviet-style communist rule. Such people may still display the 'waste not, want not' mentality and 'save up' for things they need as they struggle do make ends meet on their meagre old-age pensions. The younger folk have totally opted for Western materialistic, promiscuous, consumerist lifestyles, living on credit beyond their means, espousing pop culture with its MTV, computer games and all the other trendy e-gadgetry, fads and crazes being peddled by the global marketing establishment. Today's Polish secondary school pupils by and large view the peaceful Solidarity revolution and the collapse of communism like ancient history rather than something that affects their daily lives.

hythornThreads: 6 Posts: 843 Joined: Feb 21, 08 ♂	Sep 30, 11, 05:39 #3
what an excellent post

kozlowski	Sep 30, 11, 06:39 #4
The younger folk have totally opted for Western materialistic, promiscuous, consumerist lifestyles, living on credit beyond their means, espousing pop culture with its MTV, computer games and all the other trendy e-gadgetry, fads and crazes being peddled by the global marketing establishment. "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

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Sep 30, 11, 07:56 #5

the long term effects of Poland living under communism is massive and very much prevualent in todays Poland. Its every where, stamps on documents, cues in shops, miserable people sitting behind desks, poor customer service, lack of self belief, the right qualifications for a job situation, buecracy, transport, the list goes on and on..... It is however getting better and the younger generation definetely do have a different attitude.

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Sep 30, 11, 10:11 #6

Shrugging off the residual lingering parts of communism will take quite a bit more time. As WB and Pol3 said, they are evident here. The lack of self belief was also a salient point by WB. Some people here really lack it and are little more than leaves in the breeze. They ask foreigners about their country not so much because they actually want to know but it's more about self validation/affirmation. Many are still seeking their ID here.

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Sep 30, 11, 10:54 #7

Shrugging off the residual lingering parts of communism will take quite a bit more time. As WB and Pol3 said, they are evident here. The lack of self belief was also a salient point by WB. Some people here really lack it and are little more than leaves in the breeze. They ask foreigners about their country not so much because they actually want to know but it's more about self validation/affirmation. Many are still seeking their ID here.

You should ask yourself if everything you describe can be blamed on communism.

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