Shanghai, 1967 Diary of A Chinese Girl

Dear Diary,
Today I watched a movie, entitled "The Detachment of Women" and it inspired me to become a warrior when I'm older. I'm just a destitute 16-year old girl from Shanghai, who never dreamed I could become a valiant, brave soldier, but now the honorable Chairman Mao showed me anything is possible. Before, I thought I'd have to labor on a farm, but now I know I can become a brave soldier soldier and defend the honor and glory of Mao. Even if I cannot become a soldier, I know (that because of Mao) I can defend my country or earn any job a man can. Just this winter, the Red Guards entered Shanghai and they're so inspiring; I wish I could be like them. Like my favorite song says, "how bright and brave they look." I'm so glad life has become better now that Mao is in charge!
小餃子

Leah and Nick

Day in the Life of a Student in Beijing, 1967 (Noah and Michaela)

Dear Journal,
Today, I continued to fight the terrible bourgeoisie in the name of our great leader Chairman Mao. My fellow Red Guards and I worked to destroy the evil four olds. As a student and a man of twenty years, I have been taught the power of Mao-Zedong thought and have devoted my life to the revolutionary cause. I follow the little red book and use it to resolve any problems as Chairman Mao has instructed. After waking up, I put on my Red Guard uniform and my Mao badge.

Today, while walking through Tienanmen Square, I saw our great Chairman Mao encouraging mobilization of the people. My fellow Red Guards and I, while walking through the market, encountered a middle-aged man who was insulting Chairman Mao. We detained him and sent him for re-education through labor. I am amazed at how people do not see the greatness of Chairman Mao, who is leading our country to prosperity and curing the people of their diseases.

In the effort of spreading Chairman Mao's thought, we destroyed an ancient temple in the heart of Beijing today. In order for Chairman Mao's thought to prevail, all parts of old culture must be abolished. Mao, who doesn't support religion, tells us to destroy old temples and old religious practices.

After a long but rewarding day of destroying old practices, I returned home to watch the Mao television network. I am truly blessed and inspired to fight in the name of Chairman Mao and fight for the revolutionary cause.

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

China and Western Imperialism

How and why did China fall victim to European imperialism in the years 1800 to 1860? Post your responses in the comments.

Best blog post

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

Communist Manifesto Answer

The picture of a Capitalist society created by Marx and Engel is relatively accurate, with a few exceptions. They talk about how the bourgeoisie was originally oppressed, rose up against that oppression, and began oppressing those beneath them, thus starting the cycle all over again. In American society today, each class generally tends to look out for themselves. Marx also talks about how the bourgeoisie has “stripped of its halo every occupation hitherto honored and looked up to with reverent awe” (62). Everything has now been reduced to its monetary value, including people and their jobs. In modern day society, the vast majority of jobs are ones held only so a person can feed their family. There are of course many fulfilling occupations, but most people need to work in jobs they hate just to survive. Marx talks about how the old means of exploitation was through religion, but recently it developed into “direct, brutal exploitation” (62). In a sense this is true. Large modern corporations and companies only look out for themselves, exploiting everything around them. Many pay their workers as little as possible, and are interested in quantity, not quality. As we saw with the oilrig leaking into the gulf, many companies are not concerned with the safety of the environment or their workers, only with saving as much money as possible.

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.