This BBC documentary, hosted by Philip Short, provides a very straightforward view of the conflict between the Chinese Nationalists and the rising Communist party led by Mao Zedong. I was familiar with the general aspects of this period of Chinese history, however this documentary shed key insight into the specifics of Mao’s life and rise to power. The tight grip communism held over the Chinese people was jaw dropping to see in action. Groups would go out into the streets and kill massive amounts of mosquitoes, sparrows and other pests simply because Mao told them to. The efforts of these apparently brainwashed people were so effective that famine resulted from uncontested insect populations following sparrow extermination. Volunteer iron production, persecution of the educated and the destruction of once revered religious icons all also resulted from the fanatical devotion to communism. Today Chinese society would rather overlook the injustices of the Cultural Revolution led by Mao. This fanatical mob mentality that led to the destruction of centuries-old Buddhist icons or historical texts is an unpleasant memory today’s more progressive China.
Why does this matter?
Although China’s government doesn’t resemble a communist cult anymore, repression and censorship are present issues in China’s society today. Instead of sweeping history under the rug (Tienanmen Square also relevant) the government needs to acknowledge the past and build off of it. Honesty is the best policy, and China could use a healthy dose of transparency.