Gomulka’s Poland

The two largest buildings in Warsaw the Palace of Culture and the Soviet Embassy. The Palace of Culture, a structure so incredibly phallic as to suggest that the architect committed a deliberate obscenity, rises for thirty-eight stories in the center of the city and completely dominates it. The Soviet Embassy looks most impressive from outside, but those who have entered its portals report that it has the squalid look characteristic of Communist interiors: peeling plaster on the walls, worn and grimy rugs, huge crystal chandeliers that need cleaning.

These two buildings are the only open reminders of the ever-present Russian threat. There are no soldiers in evidence and the word Russian is never mentioned. The Poles behave about it as Spaniards do about the word snake, which they won’t utter for fear of calling bad luck down upon themselves. But everybody is aware of the Russian threat and nobody ever forgets it.

AM

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Religious Persecution

The two largest buildings in Warsaw the Palace of Culture and the Soviet Embassy. The Palace of Culture, a structure so incredibly phallic as to suggest that the architect committed a deliberate obscenity, rises for thirty-eight stories in the center of the city and completely dominates it. The Soviet Embassy looks most impressive from outside, but those who have entered its portals report that it has the squalid look characteristic of Communist interiors: peeling plaster on the walls, worn and grimy rugs, huge crystal chandeliers that need cleaning.

These two buildings are the only open reminders of the ever-present Russian threat. There are no soldiers in evidence and the word Russian is never mentioned. The Poles behave about it as Spaniards do about the word snake, which they won’t utter for fear of calling bad luck down upon themselves. But everybody is aware of the Russian threat and nobody ever forgets it.