The Cultural Revolution: A Two-Sided Story
Mrs. Schwartzman Daniel Fleites-Cruz English, Period â…š
模范学生？ A Model Student?
Ji-li has been behaving like a counter revolutionary, and this can be proven easily. Ji-li has a landlord grandfather, which makes her a class enemy. Ji-li also lives the life of a bourgeoisie, which can be seen daily. Ji-li sometimes takes a cab to go places, which makes her seem better than others. She also uses words that are four olds, she spreads four olds, and also has a maid, which is exploitation of the working class. After considering this, is Ji-li a model student after all?
今天参加革命
承 认 和 被 原 谅
抵 制 和 被 打 Confess and be forgiven, Resist and be beaten.
The life of Ji-li
I am a black whelp and afraid I wonder why I was born into a black family I hear the sound of drums and gongs I see the red guards taking my family away I want to have a normal class status I am a black whelp and afraid. I pretend that I have a normal class status I feel that I am responsible for this I touch the red scarf I worry that I cannot prove myself I cry knowing I can never break ties I am a black whelp and afraid. I understand that I cannot change my class I say that I follow Chairman Mao I dream I will have a normal life I try to have a normal life I hope I will have a normal life I am a black whelp and afraid.
Before the Revolution
After the Revolution
Diary of Ji-yong 1966 It is 1966 and Ji-li said she is going to join the Central Liberation Arts Academy. She was really excited to join, but Dad wouldn’t let her because of our political background, but I’m not sure what he meant by that. Ji-li wasn’t happy that Dad wouldn’t let her. Later on, she also talked about trying to join the Red Successors, but she wasn’t chosen because Du-Hai started telling everyone that her grandfather was a landlord. 1967 I’m so angry, some older kids came up to me and took my army hat! I was so mad, I got my other friends and beat them up to take it back. Now they won’t mess with me anymore. Also, my sister, Ji-yun’s backpack was thrown out a window by some other kids in her class. She was really upset because the kids in her class told her to go pick it up, and she did not want to do what they said. 1968 Ji-li left to go to the countryside earlier because she wanted to remove the black stain from her name. But after a few days, she came back because the Revolutionary Theater Committee wanted her to attend some of her father’s study sessions. Later on in the year, Mom wrote a letter expressing how people were being mistreated here in Shanghai, but Six Fingers and Thin Face came to search the house. Ji-li went to hide it, and after a long time, our cat dug it up. We got in a lot of trouble, and for years to come, our family was never treated well again.
About the Author
I really enjoyed this book, and would read it again. This book changed my opinion on the cultural revolution and other things because it shows readers how children can be easily manipulated to believe anything. Children are taught everything in school, and if you control the schools, you control the children. This book also changed my opinion on how the US and China should learn about each other to avoid this from happening again. I also now believe that everyone should question authority because they may not be right.