Making changes in the former communist world

‘Write!’ grunted the secret police officer, placing a pen in my hand.

Lowering the pen onto the blank A4 sheet he had provided, I turned and asked, ‘Why?’

It was only afterwards I realised how unusual my reaction had been. Locals ask ‘what?’ not ‘why?’ and write a dictated statement. Fear of authorities and a need for control are still deeply engrained in people’s thinking, long after the communist ideology which nurtured them has been rejected.