Great Poland 2

(cont'd from yesterday's post)

More of the speech from Warsaw, Poland:

"Through four decades of communist rule, Poland and the other captive nations of Europe endured a brutal campaign to demolish freedom, your faith, your laws, your history, your identity — indeed the very essence of your culture and your humanity. Yet, through it all, you never lost that spirit.  Your oppressors tried to break you, but Poland could not be broken."

Polish persistence, determination, and sheer creativity during Russian communist occupation was defiant and inspiring:

"After the harsh government crackdown of 1981, they were "dodging and weaving around the restrictions in ways that almost defied imagination. Shortages of basic foodstuffs, double-digit inflation, and a powerful secret police did not deter them from creating thriving black markets and flourishing private institutions from radio to theaters to publishing houses and schools."

"They independently and secretly published forbidden books . . Underground universities operated in major cities, meeting in warehouses and churches."

black market: http://culture.pl/en/article/the-communist-regime-in-poland-in-10-astonishing-pictur

"Ration stamps for sugar were introduced on August 12th, 1976. Meat was distributed only through food stamps from 1981. Nine standards regulated the complicated system of distribution. Who, when and how much depended on age and profession. Food stamps were not used as a substitute for money, but rather as a tool to control in which quantity people were allowed to purchase the items in highest demand: meat, sugar, alcohol.

"Since these items rapidly sold out, virtually everyone relied on the black market to supplement their purchases. Unofficial sellers would often travel to flats and factories. The habit was so widespread that it was nearly impossible to eradicate or penalize."