Best blog post, second semester

What is your best blog post, so far this semester? Paste the link in a comment.

A Day in the Life of a Red Guard

I woke up this morning and the first thing I saw Mao Zedong’s, long may he live, benevolent shining face. I washed up, ate a meager breakfast, as Chairman Mao wishes so that we may live frugally, and red the words of the Great Chairman Mao from the Little Red Book, before I headed off to my work as a Red Guard. Chairman Mao values a hard worker, so I worked very hard. After a hard day re-educating the less faithful and harassing the bourgeoisie, I finished work and walked to the nearest theatre, to see the latest wonders Chairman Mao has wrought. I saw “A Song of Triumph for Chairman Mao’s Proletarian Line on Public Health”, and left the theatre with a renewed sense of appreciation for Chairman Mao and my fellow Red Guards. I saw several people scaring sparrows on the way home, and rushed to join them. That night, I went home with a new string of sparrows, and I ate a small dinner before studying Mao’s Little Red book before bed. The last thing I saw was Mao’s benevolent face above me. It had been a good day.

-Anna, Thea, Virginia

Long Live our Great Chairman!

Long live the great Chairman, ruler of our great communist nation. My name is Liu, I am a construction worker living in Beijing. The year is 1967, 18 years since the end of Chinese suffering and nearly two decades of blessings from our glorious leader. After reading his 16 points, construction in Beijing has thrived. Before the rise of our dear leader, we suffered in huts, but with his wisdom, we erect steel buildings at an unprecedented rate. My hammer is guided by the will of Mao Zedong. We rise in the morning to honorable songs on the radio such as, Sailing the Seas Depends on the Helmsman. It inspires me and my comrades to kill the vile sparrows which plague our nation, as the Bourgeois did before our great leader eliminated them. Today, I worked from sun-up to sun-down. Afterwards, my wife Biyu fainted again, but as always the glorious doctors of Mao thought brought her about. Long live the great Chairman, the great sun in our hearts!

萬歲，偉大領袖，偉大的共產主義統治者，我們的國家。我的名字是劉，我是一個建築工人，住在北京。這一年是1967年，18年年底以來，中國的苦難和近二十年的祝福從我們的光榮的領導者。看完他的16分，在北京建設蓬勃發展。之前，我們親愛的領導者的崛起，我們遭受了木屋，但他的智慧，我們直立鋼結構建築以前所未有的速度。我的錘子是按照毛澤東的意志。我們在早上上升向各位歌曲在電台，如帆船大海航行靠舵手上。它激勵我和我的同志，殺死邪惡的麻雀的瘟疫我們的國家，由於資產階級在我們沒有取消他們的偉大領袖。今天，我在從太陽到太陽了。後來，我的妻子碧玉再次暈倒，但始終是對毛澤東思想的光輝醫生給她帶來什麼。萬歲，偉大領袖，偉大的太陽在我們心中！

紅衛兵戰士很生氣

Today I have overthrown the teacher, for his bourgeois ways shall no longer permeate and infect our minds. Long live the honorable chairman! LONG LIVE MAO! I am now the teacher of my peers, and shall teach them in the ways of the honorable chairman. Long live the honorable chairman! LONG LIVE MAO! We burned all textbooks, their so called knowledge and lies will no longer be studied. We now study one book: The Little Red Book. Long live the honorable chairman! LONG LIVE MAO! I, Teng Ren Yan, shall now lead my peers in the liberation of my country, of Mao's country! Long live the honorable chairman! LONG LIVE MAO! My students shall become the soldiers of Mao, as I have become a soldier. They shall feel the triumph of victory, or be crushed beneath the heel of the chairman. Long live the honorable chairman! LONG LIVE MAO! Our forces shall scour the countryside, painting the country red! No bourgeois shall remain, the bureaucracy shall crumble, and Mao shall rise again, leading the people into a new generation of prosperity. Long live the honorable chairman! LONG LIVE MAO! WITH MAO AS OUR LEADER, WE SHALL ASCEND FROM THE DARK DEPTHS OF SQUALOR! LONG LIVE MAO! LONG LIVE MAO! LONG LIVE MAO! LONG LIVE MAO! THE PEOPLE OF CHINA, OF MAO'S CHINA, SHALL BE LEAD BY NECKS INTO THE NEW GENERATION, BY FORCE IF NECESSARY! LONG LIVE MAO!

今天，我推翻了老師，因為他的資產階級的方式將不再滲透，感染我們的心靈。名譽會長萬歲！毛澤東萬歲！我現在是老師，我的同行，並教他們如何的名譽會長。名譽會長萬歲！毛澤東萬歲！我們燒掉所有的教科書，他們的所謂的知識和謊言將不再進行研究。我們現在研究一書：紅寶書。名譽會長萬歲！毛澤東萬歲！餘，鄧任彥，現在我的同事在領導我國的解放，毛澤東的國家！名譽會長萬歲！毛澤東萬歲！我的學生應成為士兵的毛，我已成為一名軍人。他們應感到勝利的勝利，或者是壓在腳跟主席。名譽會長萬歲！毛澤東萬歲！我們的部隊應沖刷農村，繪畫全國紅色的！沒有資產階級的規定繼續，官僚機構應崩潰，毛將再度崛起，成為一個領導人民新一代的繁榮。名譽會長萬歲！毛澤東萬歲！與毛澤東作為我們領導者，我們升到從黑暗深處骯髒！毛澤東萬歲！毛澤東萬歲！毛澤東萬歲！毛澤東萬歲！人民的中國，毛澤東的中國，應鉛的脖子伸進新一代，以武力如果必要的！

Bao (Alexa and Nicole)

My name is Bao. I am a 60 year old female teacher from Beijing. I grew up in a poor peasant family, suppressed by greedy aristocrats. Every day I thank Mao because only he was able to lift China out of its depressed state. Every day I rise early and read some of Chairman Mao's book to guide me through the day. When I get to the school I do my best to show the children the everlasting sun that is Our Great Leader Mao. Sometimes they do not know what they should do, because they are only children. But, through Mao's teachings they become shining participants in Chinese society every day. We send our students to do light physical labor so they can feel the honor that comes with being a peasant worker. Then, with Chairman Mao watching us from the back of the room, we study his own red book, so that the children will know where to go for true wisdom. I am glad that they are young though, I would be worried of being overthrown if they were older. I only hope they will remember how much I love the Chairman before they overthrow me. When I go home all I can think of is how free I am under Chairman Mao, and how I will never be able to repay him. LONG LIVE CHAIRMAN MAO!!!!!

Imagining Life During the Cultural Revolution

Date: July 1967





My name is Mei Ching, and I am a 21 year old woman living in an apartment in Mao's great city of Beijing. This morning I woke up to the smiling image of Mao's face. For my breakfast, I ate a modest of grains and fruit. While I ate, I listened to the radio. As the songs praising Mao filled my room, I felt joyous and blessed to be living in a country as great as China. My occupation is a teacher at a local school for young children. I strive everyday to instill my love of learning, reading and writing, and revolution in my students' hearts, while constantly commending the gifts that Mao has given us. Even though I am only one person, I believe that I am doing my part to preach Mao's goal of literacy and revolutionary ideas to children, the future of our great country. Whenever there is a problem in school, I whip out my trusted copy of the Little Red Book and use the wisdom inside these pages to settle any kind of issues that need resolving. When students are not interested in learning, I remind them from the book that Mao states, "Some people have read a few Marxist books and think themselves quite learned, but what they have read has not penetrated has not struck root in their minds, so that they do not know how to use it and their class feelings remain as old." This drives them to work and study harder, using the book as their guide. When students fight, I remind them of Mao's words, "Guard against arrogance." Being a peasant, I believe that Mao's cause particularly speaks to me. I also am happy to be educating students, the majority of whom are peasants as well. Every lesson that I teach is one step closer to freeing the peasants and uplifting them into the glory that Mao says we deserve.

Emma and Kira

花瓣 (Flower Petal)

I am a 12 year old girl living in Shanghai. I am a student and I go to a largely peasant school. My parents aren't especially wealthy, but we do have enough. My father manufactures military goods and my mother is a teacher. My parents have taught me the importance of hard work and constantly use beloved General Mao as an example of the success one can achieve through hard work. My home is comfortable and is large enough for my father, mother, brother, and me. In my home, there hands a photo of General Mao on every wall and in the study, there are several copies of Mao's Red Book of wisdom. All my friends are from a lower class than I am, most are peasants. However amongst us, despite our somewhat different backgrounds, we all share a mutual love and respect for General Mao. Everyday my parents sit in the living room with friends listening to the radio or watching TV. With their friends, my mother and father always engage in anxious discussion about how great Mao's principles are. My father who is a devoted follower of Mao appreciates the conversation because like Mao he accepts that men and women are equal. When I arrive at school, we salute the picture of General Mao that hangs on the wall. Then we go into our English lesson here we translate Mao's wise teachings into English. We love Mao!

Xun Ji Feng

July 1967, Beijing

My name is Xun Ji Feng, I am 27 years old, born into wealth in the city of Beijing. I am considered an enemy of Chairman Mao. People of my wealthy, bourgeoisie background are not in favor of the Chairman. Every day, I fear that I will, for some reason, be persecuted for a crime that I did not commit, solely for the reason of my class. Just the other day, a group of fellow wealthy people were blamed for the state of the deaf-mutes at a local school. I don't understand how this falls on our shoulders. I can assure you, I had nothing to do with it. My occupation is a as a musician. I play the chi, a traditional bamboo flute. For years I have been trying to get on the radio. However, my class seems to have forbid me from successfully doing so. The public radio broadcasts fall under the jurisdiction of Chairman Mao's wife, Jiang Ching. All music has to be approved by her, and under Mao's influence, favors the music of the revolutionaries. I am afraid to even play my instrument in the streets, for fear of being victimized by Mao's roving soldiers. Right now, I am not making any money, and find myself reliant on the wealth of my background. My quest for musical fame and liberation will continue, but for now I must pursue another career.
-Xuni















http://www.chinese-flute.com/dizi_store.php

Chinese responses to imperialism

What was the Chinese response to foreign imperialism, and how and why was it ineffective? Post your response in a comment.

China and Western Imperialism

How and why did China fall victim to European imperialism in the years 1800 to 1860? Post your answer in a comment.

Gandhi's Flaws

Mahatma Gandhi was certainly an extremely inspirational and idealistic leader; however, not all of his ideas wee truly fair or proactive enough for a revolution. The main questions are: Is violence necessary in a revolution? Should one stick to one’s ideals at the expense of efficiency in a revolution? Is compromise really fair?

To begin with, Gandhi’s concept of satyagrapha or non- violence is extremely admirable. Obviously, I advocate for as little violence as possible, for violence can never be justified in any circumstance. I also appreciate Gandhi’s belief that a ruler’s opinions should never be swayed in response to different circumstances. Instead, they should all be completely consistent no matter what problems the country may be dealing with. Therefore, when twenty- two policemen were killed in a village in Chauri Chaura, Gandhi immediately called for a halt in the campaign in order to present his completely non- violent approach to ruling. The consistency of his ideals and his actions is truly impeccable and inspirational.

However, is non- violence always the most efficient way to bring about change? Despite the virtue that Gandhi implements in all of his actions, some of them are not proactive at all. For example, the Spinning Wheel Movement was a way to rebuild the nation from within based on concepts such as dignity and equality. While India certainly needed reconstruction, the movement was not practical at all. Gandhi took the movement even further when he decided to make submission of 2000 yards of cotton per month a requirement for membership in the Congress. While this unified all of the people, it was an extremely odd way to do so, and it drew a lot of complaints from professional people. Gandhi’s modest ideas stem from his support of Jainism and self- control (otherwise known as brahmacharya or the “realization of Brahma”), which includes fasting and other extreme measures. This type of self- harm cases humility but does not necessarily produce an effective, strong leader. For example, in response to the unexpected violent incidents during the hartal against the Rowlatt (or Black) Acts, Gandhi fasted for three days. However, he needed a couple days to recover from the incident, for the fasts left him physically and mentally vulnerable. While fasting was very noble of him and made a statement, Gandhi was unprepared for the Massacre at Amritsar, because of his intensive fasting. Gandhi’s attempt to prove a point left the 400 dead people and 1200 wounded people completely defenseless. Finally, Gandhi firmly believed in “relativity to truth”, the concept that people can only make certain decisions because of limited viewpoints. Therefore, he was a strong advocate for compromise. Nevertheless, I believe that one person is always right and the other should be punished. In a criminal case, I certainly would not want to compromise with a murderer. This “compromise method” seems like merely a way to gain supporters not to be just. Over all, Gandhi proved to be an honorable and virtuous leader, but some of his methods were odd, convoluted, and not immediately effective.

Best blog post

What was your best blog post from the first semester? Post the link in a comment.

Communist Manifesto question

Is Marx and Engels' description of capitalist society accurate? Defend your answer by referring specifically to a characteristic of capitalist society, as Marx and Engels describe it, and with specific reference to modern American (or other capitalist) society. Keep your response brief--a couple hundred words, tops. Feel free to respond to others' posts as well.