On this date 34 years ago, Chairman Mao met with his demise.
Many say that his death marked the end of the Cultural Revolution. What a disaster.
While China woke up after a decade of terror and missed opportunities, things slowly thawed out. Even 10 years after Mao’s death, remnants of that era remained. Dark and shapeless clothing, the danwei or work unit system, and little in the way of consumer goods.
As a foreigner looking at China now, it’s hard to believe (in the major coastal cities, that is) that things were so different less than four decades ago.
But I’ll always remember the day on which Mao died.
It was my 6th birthday.
The death of Mao really brought to an end what I consider to be a regression in Chinese culture, history and intellectual development. While I don’t blame Mao for everything – certainly, the medieval feudal system had evolved into a mockery of itself and needed to be replaced – I do think he acted as a roadblock to the development of Chinese society. I don’t know that I think rampant, unchecked consumerism, however, will bring China the kind of development that fosters a conscientious society, but I guess it is a start. One wonders if China really will emerge as a world power with muscle to flex….Sometimes, I don’t know if I should be afraid or not.
Thanks for your comment! I totally agree and am afraid of what will happen as the gap between rich and poor widens. Will people get fed up when they see what others have and what they don’t?