Comments on: mao the heroic murder

By: rellie

rellie — Tue, 13 Jan 2004 08:24:14 +0000

Being an overseas born chinese, i believe it is easier to see the harm that mao ze dong did. Even though from young I knew who he was, I have accessed media that perhaps young adults in China could not have accessed, for example I read wild swans when I was 12. And the horrifying situations in the book stood out to me much more than what good mao had done.

And about the author not challenging mao. I think that jung chang was brought up that way, brought up to not challenge authority and all. Though she had received overseas education, it is obvious that she like her mother and grand mother before her, is still a pretty mild mannered person. Perhaps i may say, traditionally chinese women.

Also, I was really surprised when I met China-born chinese in secondary schools, college and university, they really think that mao zedong is the greatest. Not being from china, sometimes I wonder what has been indoctrinated in them at school to make them love mao so much. For example, they like to quote mao ze dong, or when something good is done in australia, and they will say something like mao has done X in china too.

By: richard

richard — Tue, 13 Jan 2004 00:56:05 +0000

Lex, I strongly disagree with your drawing an analogy between Mao and Lincoln or Washington. Both of these presidents fought for liberty and freedom, for the right to vote and be represented and to enjoy basic human and civil rights. They never set up anything like Mao’s Cultural Revolution in which millions died; they never created an unnecessary famine in which tens of milklions starved to death. I know of no instance where an innocent man — let alone 30 million innocent men — were killed by their actions. If you know of such an instance, plewase share it with us, Otherwise, I think you have a very warped sense of history. Sorry to be so blunt, but I believe in intelligent dialogue, not blanket generalities that are not supported by fract.

By: dodo

dodo — Mon, 12 Jan 2004 18:12:52 +0000

hrm i’m not saying everyone in china worships mao. but in school you are taught how great he was even tho he’s done more horrible things to china than great. so i guess that’s why no common citizen would challenge. like ida said.. it’s more of a tradition now.. a tradition i don’t like.

By: Lex

Lex — Mon, 12 Jan 2004 12:00:03 +0000

The way you talk seems like youve never been to china o.O But in agreement to the comment above me, people do not worship mao as much the american media likes to claim.

But as for celebrating his birthday… why not? Perhaps the hypocrits should look at themselves and not have a holiday on Washington’s birthday or not celebrate lincoln’s birthday and then talk. It’s not like their leaders never killed anyone, heh.

By: ida

ida — Sun, 11 Jan 2004 16:45:42 +0000

i don’t think many chinese citizens still love mao as they did before. altho many may not know all the horrible things he did, i am sure they have some ideas. I think this worship thing has became a tradition of china. ppl feel obligated to do it, like if they don’t, they would be crowded “traitors”. tho i don’t think many of the normal citizens still think high of mao. anyhow, that’s just my opinion. i came across ur page, and thought i’d leave something since i have lived in shanghai for 12 years as well.