Thread: Каникулы строгого режима

...and those who were dropped out from those organizations then faced serious problems at school, work, etc. .

I see what you mean. I just want to point out that even though there was some pressure in certain situations, things were more relaxed in the USSR than many people believe.

My cousin refused to enter Comsomol (I think it was not because of any political reasons, more like he liked to act out at this age). There were no problems whatsoever. Zilch. Of course, his teachers were shocked at first (things like that did not happen often), and he and his mom earned a couple of lectures from them, but that was it. In a week nobody cared.

Moreover, my mom who worked in a high security engineering department refused to enter Communist party (being a Communist was not compulsory, but it could seriously help your career especially if your job was connected to military or high security stuff, and usually an offer to enter was accepted). She said outright to her boss who'd made an offer that she does not want to enter because Party meetings are boring and a waste of time. Again, there were no problems, she even got a promotion shortly afterwards.

I don't know anybody who refused to enter Pioneer organisation, though. Most of the 10-year olds (age of entering) were pretty excited about it, because it made them feel all grown-up.

Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

I don't know anybody who refused to enter Pioneer organisation, though. Most of the 10-year olds (age of entering) were pretty excited about it, because it made them feel all grown-up.

My classmate girl did not join Pioneers because her parents did not allow her to. They were baptists (Germans from Volga). She was not happy about that.

Originally Posted by it-ogo

My classmate girl did not join Pioneers because her parents did not allow her to. They were baptists (Germans from Volga). She was not happy about that.

I wonder how she was about that when she had grown up. Didn't she change her attitude?

Originally Posted by Eric C.

I wonder how she was about that when she had grown up. Didn't she change her attitude?

No idea. I've changed the city and lost all contacts. I think now she does not care as well as most of us. It was nothing more than a formality.

Originally Posted by it-ogo

My classmate girl did not join Pioneers because her parents did not allow her to. They were baptists (Germans from Volga). She was not happy about that.

That post reminded me of a Baptist girl I knew when I was a kid. She was my senior by three or four years, and I met her in a pioneer camp where I went one summer. She was a group leader (вожатая). I was very surprised to meet someone who was openly a believer (she was quite frank about that) yet was wearing the red scarf at the same time. I guess the generally laid-off, "live and let live" attitude that was predominant in the town rubbed off on her parents and they decided to go easy on her and let her join the pioneer organization. She was a nice person, and she was good with us younger kids, so we (and most of us had been brought up as atheists) didn't give her hard time about her religion. Nor did the camp and school authorities, who knew was religious and, technically, she shouldn't have been allowed to join pioneers, leave alone being a group leader, but... I guess in the place where I used to live, the fact that someone was a good person meant much more than their political or religious beliefs. Everyone knew everyone else, and people were generally nice. (Well, of course, there were some exceptions).