"Red Scarf Girl" Discussion
I figure since not all of our members were at the meeting and we always have some great discussion on the book and side chats, it would be a good idea for all of us to put up some of our major points that "meant" something to each of us from this book. Thus giving everyone the opportunity to feel that they fully participate in book club (even if they couldn't make a meeting).
Since I'm honest and didn't read past chapter 2 (or maybe it was 3) I was really taken back by the "four olds". How anything really could be interpreted into being one of the four olds and there for you could be chastised and singled out for that. Example of this is the pant leg size.
posted by Erika @ 2:30 PM
6 comments
6 Comments:
You know what freaked me out the most-It was a communist society but a class system. The fact that she was judged because of the actions of her grandfather whom she never met. It's like hating a kid today because his/her great great greatgrandfather was a slave owner.
oh great. now we're also getting spam in our blog. See the first comment under Erika's post.
I agree with Shannon & Erika. They could harass you under 4olds, for just about anything. More like anything that existed before Communisim. I also agree with Shannon, it did seem more like a caste system based on your family background than what your beliefs or the current beliefs or practices of your family. I also agree with Butch's point as the same types of things were happening in the US in the mid 50's-early 60's with the McCarthy hearings and the black listing of 60% of Hollywood during that time period.
I can also see similar patterns popping up around the world now, like in Iraq, Afgahanistan. Both when the hardcore regimes popped up and then once again when they were "liberated".
Book just made you stop scratch your head for a moment.
As for the spam post: I deleted it. I can institute a word verification (you know when the jumbly word is all mixed up and you have to type it in a box) but i thought that might be a little annoying so for now i can just delete them as they come and play it by ear.
As for the novel, what i took from the 4olds and the whole cultural revolution was that it had nothing to do with communism and everything to do with human nature. Humans tend to seek out and consolidate power. Mao was no different. For any government, the most dangerous enemy is always it's own people. That's why our government wants wire taps and access to library book and other personal info. It's not about terrorists, it's about the terror any government has of it's own people.
As for the class system, people love to be "___________ than thou" be it Holier, more successful, thinner, more openminded, whatever. You can fill that blank in with anything. People like to stand on top of others to feel better about themselves.
i love the links shannon, that's cool.
I think the blanker than thou stems from plain ignorance. the problem in dictatorships is that ignorance is essential. The feeling of superiority only comes from falsified knowledge (aka brainwashing).
Did you guys now she had her own webite?
http://www.jilijiang.com/red-scarf-girl/index.html
i think control is necessary for a dictatorship, and i think a lot of people underestimate the use of propoganda as a tool for that control. it's great because it's not openly offensive or shocking to the conscience but it is just as effective. Anywho, i'm operating out of troy ny (near albany) for the next couple days, but i can still get email and blog. have a happpy holiday everyone!
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