I should definitely add SergeMak to the list of people who know what they are talking about, when it comes to the USSR. It was very interesting to read about your experiences. That's tons more relevant and credible than what anyone who did not experience this era first-hand has to say.

When it's described in that way, then it's very tragic that most of what the Soviet Union tried to achieve, came to nothing. I don't agree with everything about the USSR, and I am not doubting that a lot of people were very fed up with it towards the end. But I nevertheless think most of the ideals were very noble.

Most tragic is old people in the ex USSR today, I guess.

Imagine if they spent most of their working life doing something that was partly ideologically motivated, trying to build up the country and/or communism because of genuine commitment. They experienced hardships during the war, and primitive conditions in their early working life.

Then just as they reach retirement, everything they worked for their entire life just comes crumbling down and is sold in the most vulgar capitalist sell-out in world history!

Then the person finds that he/she has to live on a pittance of a pension that reduces them to tragic poverty for the rest of their lives. While oligarchs are cruising their world and spending the fruits of Soviet labour and thievery on extravagant and unnecessary luxury.

And just to add insult to injury the person might be in Ukraine, the Baltics or somewhere, where, in addition to everything else, he/she is subject to condemnation or discrimination because of language reasons. Perhaps also considered a scape-goat for long-ago events that they are not responsible for.

It's really tragic to think about.