90's were a pretty messy time

In 89' there was a velvet revolution in Czech republic.
Why velvet?
Because it wasn't as bloody as other revolutions in Europe.
Is it a good thing?
I don't know. People are not so horrified as they should be, by what happens on a daily basis in totalitarian state.

Anyways, communism in 1950's was just about what americans imagine - cruel army leaders taking no respect for anything else than themselves.

But in the 1970-80's it was totally different. The regime got much softer. No tanks on streets. The communist principals were no longer generals ruling with iron fist - they were rather old men trying to hold their seats by convincing people that here, in CZ everything was quite okay, while americans were murdering each other on the streets. They used to say how things are great. Of course they didn't forget to mention it was them who made things so great. The work plans were accomplished by 300%, yet the production was almost none. Everyone could see that, but did they fully realize that? Probably not. And that was what the regime was hoping for.

But then, the observant students ignited the flames of revolution. No one had any contact with foreign world, but from information that leaked they knew it was better in the west.
The regime surrounded quite easily. Only few demonstrations. Rather peaceful. On, and there was this one guy who ignited himself, taking example from buddhist priests in Vietnam. But else it was quite okay.

The real hell unleashed in the 90's.
The common folk got acces to all the foreign stuff they didn't have acces to during the whole communist era.
Some guys with an idea became millionaires just on importing cheap shirts from china.
Disco music quickly became very popular. I mean VERY popular - there was nothing quite like it during communist times. We were almost as obsessed with US like Chinese people are now. People were sick and tired of czech things. They wanted something new!
They didn't care about how good was that czech brand of cigarettes. They bought cigarettes from US, just because they were from US. Coca-cola became a real hit.

And what did the czech intelectuals do?
They were making fun of it.
What else should they do?
The whole land was filled with enthusiasm.
Everyone could see things were getting better from day to day.
Must have been such a wonderful time.
I almost feel sad I wasn't even born back in the time.