[Peace-discuss] China discussion today

[Karen Aram via Peace-discuss]

My neighbor Hong, who attended the lunch at the Esquire, preceding the demonstration today, did open up a bit more while out on the street. She told me in discussion, that "even though the deaths attributed to Mao were not deliberate, he was still responsible. There were both good things and bad things, but they always had enough to eat.
 
She said anyone who was poor of course supported the Communists because they were hungry, and they would go with anyone who provided food. Even with help from the Americans, the Nationalists did nothing for the people.
 
The PLA was very disciplined, she can attest to that. In 1949 at the age of nine or ten she was staying in a village with relatives and when the military came, people were afraid, her uncle wanted to hide her cousin as he feared they would take him, make him be a soldier. He refused to hide, and they never bothered him. They never entered the homes, only approaching some times to ask for a drink of water, always sleeping outside, always polite and well disciplined. 
 
I asked her if her in-laws had not committed suicide, during the Cultural Revolution, would they have been executed or jailed? She said "No", it was the insults they couldn't take anymore". "People would make signs and write things about them, insulting them. they felt hounded, disgraced."

 		 	   		  
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