PROMPT WORD: CENTER
In 1966, Mao Zedong founder and chair of the Chinese Communist Party, initiated The Cultural Revolution specific to ridding any evidence of Capitalism, former Chinese cultural norms, and all resistance to his goal of complete government control.
The population was immediately divided against itself while young people were educated with the ‘Party’ ideology and encouraged to knock down historical statues and intimidate (with force) anyone who objected.
The Chinese people thus became slaves to constant fear and eagerly ‘turned in’ their neighbors, family, and friends to government officials who immediately made -those merely accused- repeatedly confess and apologize for, ‘thought crimes’ against the regime until they exhibited the ‘proper brain-washing’.
Laogai (prisons) were set up for ‘troublemakers’ ( free-thinkers) where re-education was claimed to take place but starvation, torture, and hard labor took the lives of more than 20 million people over the entire movement.
At the center of all this, private property, personal choice, and human dignity, were eliminated due to communism (its gateway drug is socialism) as the Chinese Communist Party remains in power to this day with about one million enslaved political and religious prisoners.
NIKE manufacturing in China uses Uighur slave labor to make their shoes, Disney and most of Hollywood take direction on content from China, and many wealthy, politically powerful people, promote Communist China’s propaganda at prestigious universities and in media throughout the World … I thought you should know.
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A few years ago, I read a book (true story) about a Chinese classical pianist, suffering through this cultural revolution. It’s called “The Secret Piano: From Mao’s Labor Camps to Goldberg’s Variations.” “Mao’s Last Dancer,” a book and movie, are also good on this topic.
I read A Single Tear by Wu Ningkun. Here’s the description:
Offers a firsthand account of life in China, from the beginning of communism through the Cultural Revolution, by an American-educated professor who was subjected to manifold hardships by the brutal Mao regime.
Thanks for the new reading material and the common concern.
🙂 Thank you for your recommendation too.
😥
I agree with you. It looks like we are headed in the same direction taking the socialism drug. I have no desire anymore to watch any Hollywood movies.
Thanks Frank. I don’t partake in viewing sports, Hollywood, or any of the propaganda. Our kids are vulnerable, though. I talk with every kid I know. 🙏🇺🇸
Scary truth. The “gate” is opening wide here in our USA. You have posted a valuable article. Thanks.
You’re welcome. We must be vigilant.
But didn’t you hear the latest? Chinese history books are to teach the young people today that the 20 million died in a terrible weather event. At least, that’s what a news report i read said.
The whole situation is quite sad. My older son bought a copy of the Communist Manifesto. He says he has so many young people he knows saying they are communist, and he will say, “so you believe such-and-such?” and they claim, “That’s not communism!” He bought the book so he could underline and show it to them, in print, exactly what they are claiming to believe.
Excellent! He’s doing a great thing!
A sobering Six. Thank you for sharing, Susan.
The fact that tyrants will use any handy ideology or religion to justify their tyranny is timeless and highlights that fascism and communism meet at the same point in the circle. However what I can’t abide is people who believe universal health care, a vote for all, and keeping guns out of the hands of morons talking about creeping socialism. Always looked like Christianity to me. 😉
Who decides who the morons are? and Who will efficiently run and how will universal healthcare be paid for?
Are important questions so we can be sure.
I don’t understand “a vote for all”?
Thanks for your comment, Doug.
Re guns, you could start with the Fix NICS Act, which was introduced last year by Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. The White House has signaled its interest in the bill and the NRA is not opposed, removing two big obstacles to passage; Senate leaders are planning to move ahead with a vote. The right to bear arms was never meant to extend to criminals, the mentally ill or those with a record of violence.
Re healthcare, many non-socialist ally countries of the US provide universal health care, including the UK and Australia, delivered through a national commission. For the richest country on the planet, this could be easily implemented. Caring for the sick is a central tenet of Christianity and it doesn’t square well with a country that styles itself as the most Christian country in the world.
Re a ‘vote for all’, every State in the US has a different system for enrolling voters and validating their votes and the Republican Party is currently working to make it even harder to both register and vote in several States in the US. Again, the UK, Australia and most democratic nations entrust this to an independent national Electoral Commission to ensure national equity and opportunity.
Oh how I wish we all could sit and discuss this in person! You’ve made excellent points.
I don’t agree on them all but I do agree with your intentions and sincere concerns.
The U.S. is a Republic unlike any other country. States have purposeful special value and consideration. I believe it’s because our founders were wise enough to know that all political concerns are local and “one size fits all”, never does.
I’ll leave it there as I have a family emergency at the moment. Thanks to you all.
Bravo, Doug!
Echo that. Bravo, Doug!
And to you, CE, and Chris.
Thanks, Michael
It seems that we have very different views on Socialism.
Like Doug I, and most Scots, believe that universal health care is fundamental to a humanitarian state.
And it is right wing extremism that is currently eroding human rights in the UK and France, inter alia.
I can easily understand your point. Yet, it’s said, with every action there’s an equal and opposite reaction. Placing vast control in bureaucratic hands has a track record of corrupting systems. No system is perfect, but once control is relinquished, what are the chances to fix or abort it? Socialism sounds great but freedom sounds better to this American who believes big government isn’t the answer but more likely the problem.
The term healthcare is a mighty ambiguous one, as are poverty, wealth, middle class, and rights. To really see where we are in agreement, those terms need to be more narrowly defined or we risk being too abstract in our assessment. Abstract thought is a writer’s delight but it makes for lousy policy. Again, a campfire chat would be my ideal for an enormously interesting discussion and exchange. Thanks very much for your views.
Re your earlier post, I hope everything is OK with your family, Susan. In fact there are many republics, some of them democratic like the US. I think you mean a federation, like Germany or Australia, where States have rights and responsibilities but cede central power on matters like taxation, defence etc. btw I don’t think anybody here is arguing for socialism as you seem to define it.
Of course, Doug. I did mean a constitutional democratic federal republic but was under duress at the time. All seriousness has passed. It was thankfully just a scare with my elderly mother.
As for socialism, the definition certainly needs to be clear and commonly understood in any discussion. As does the meaning of ‘healthcare’, ‘poverty’, ‘rights’, etc.
I only know the American interpretation of those things, although, our government is busy changing definitions and cultural understandings at lightspeed. It’s hard to imagine the confusion caused is altruistic or has a benign nature. I’m constantly hoping that I’m the one who isn’t understanding. Thanks.
I, too, sit in the universal access to free health care camp, together with the right to access to clean water, a roof over one’s head and a basic minimum standard of living for all. The real problem lies in the funding of such, especially if you live in a country where the previous presidential regime filled their own pockets, gave jobs to incompetent friends and family members, and squandered the country’s resources in a litany of bad practice and corruption.
Cheers! We agree that the ‘politicals’ aren’t necessarily looking out for everyday people. I differ from you only on, once knowing that, I’m reluctant to give them more tentacles of control with which to tamper. Your wishes for all people are almost universally felt by decent human beings. How we make those things more available is where discussion begins. Thank you, Chris!
good six, tragic indeed. Some of the cultural revolution was addressed in the film The Red Violin…a GREAT movie. one of my faves.
Someone else has mentioned that movie. I must watch it! Thanks.
While tempting, to type an adage about the limitless capacity of men and women to surrender their will in exchange for a certainty that is no one’s to convey, is surely too pat a response. The problem in the battle between hope and fear is, imo, fear has no limits. Hope seems to be at a disadvantage in the great debate.
Fear has the strength that comes from no needing to be justified or to make sense, it will sell it’s wares no matter how outrageous the sales pitch.
It’s almost as if the myth of Garden was about Man learning about evil but good was given to Adam and Eve as a parting gift/consolation prize.
(I’d best stop typing now. lol)
Thought-provoking Six
Bravo! Fear spreads easier than butter left on a windowsill in the summer sun.
Dumbfounding what irrational (nonsensical) fear does to the virtue of courage too. The current ‘fear’ of disappointment and disapproval is a ‘spread’ I never thought I’d witness. Thanks.
Interesting observation, clark. Christianity is the classical example of a duality where hope is the currency of persuasion that there will be a good life if you believe, balanced with the fear that there won’t be if you stray from the fold. Ironically, each can produce ‘good’ behaviour. 😉
What do you imagine produces “bad” behavior Doug?
Funny but even trying to define what’s ‘good’ and what’s ‘bad’ has the same cultural dynamic as we’ve discussed.
IMO… people would do better to tend their own gardens than advise the world. They’re most familiar with what’s planted there. 😉
Mostly greed and selfishness, Susan. As to tending your own garden, the irony of your original post being an attack on the evils of China is delicious. 🙂
Ah… you missed my intended message. The warning of the ‘creep’ toward other neighborhoods was my obviously, too guarded, meaning. Know thy enemy, sir.
Did I propose them a change or alternative? I’ll have to reread it. Wouldn’t want to mislead.
I don’t have a clue why greed affects some people and not others. That answer would be a humdinger to know.
Thank you for your interesting comments.
Much appreciated. 🙂
yeah, very much like “Good for 1 free month in a full year membership” that health clubs pitch in ads.
(One might argue that god created fear (as one of the capacities of Man) because bowing before a deity has a tendency to fade with time, as the behavioral psych guys might say.)
After all, when you’re stuck in heaven, how do you keep them in line?
(Sorry, Susan…. it’s all Doug’s fault… he’s the one that started it)
lol
🤣
Thanks for the update. It’s interesting as to what happens in different countries.
Thank YOU for the kind comment.