yesterday I talked to a friend and she is in a lot of facebook groups dedicated to the former GDR, and she said how many believe everything was better back then, and many would love to have GDR back.

this creeps me out.
to no end..

yeah I never lived in the GDR, I came here after that system had broken down. So what do I know.

but I've been to the prisons of the Stasi, now museums, and I've read stories of people who were opposition then, I've talked to people who couldn't speak out in the GDR, and I've cycled along the former wall and read the stories of those who were shot to death.

I once had a therapist who grew up and studied in the GDR. it was very interesting to learn about her perspective. she was very skeptical about communities and groups, because in the GDR a lot was about communities and groups you were forced to join if you wanted to make progress with your life.