BOOK REVIEWS
321
"25 years of revolution and we've nothing to show for it, neither merits nor faults, we've only muddled through our years.
Our forty years' learning has been a complete waste; no good in either polite letters or martial arts, we've squandered away our time."
As far as I recollect, what was most regrettable in my life was having to spend the prime of my life toiling for nothing. Since my childhood I've had no other liking but studying. But in the prime of my life I was sent down to do manual labour or have my ideology remoulded not just once, but many times. It would indeed be hard to figure out how much time was wasted in these and other activities such as doing manual work in a factory or in a people's commune, carrying out the "four clean-ups" movement etc. For me the experience was not altogether unrewarding. For one thing, it widened my horizon; for another, I built up a good physique. We may make up some of the material resources lost; nevertheless, it is not likely that we can ever make up for the loss of time, the waste of effort and talent.
The main reason why my country is so backward today in national economy, technology and other aspects is the shabby treatment given to the intellectuals who were made the targets of "transformation" during the Cultural Revolution. They were made to go through a complete change, do manual labour and remould their ideology. Those who were experts in a special field of study were branded as "reactionaries". The present Chinese leadership has now wakened up to reality and has made it known that the country will not run cadre schools any more as they are an unnecessary drain on the country's manpower and financial resources. Some Chinese leaders have referred to the 'payment of tuition fees' and used it to defend the foolish things that they did. Their reasoning is that one must pay to learn and so one ought to pay 'tuition fees' for having learned a bitter lesson from one's wrongdoings.
What have we got for the huge fees we've paid?
The Central Committee's "resolutions on certain historical questions of the Party since the founding of China” has summed
BOOK REVIEWS
321
"25 years of revolution and we've nothing to show for it, neither merits nor faults, we've only muddled through our ycars.
Our forty years' learning has been a complete waste; no good in either polite letters or martial arts, we've squandered away our time."
As far as I recollect, what was most regrettable in my life was having to spend the prime of my life toiling for nothing. Since my childhood I've had no other liking but studying. But in the prime of my life I was sent down to do manual labour or have my ideology remoulded not just once, but many times. It would indeed be hard to figure out how much time was wasted in these and other activities such as doing manual work in a factory or in a people's commune, carrying out the "four clean- ups" movement etc. For me the experience was not altogether unrewarding. For one thing, it widened my horizon; for another, I built up a good physique. We may make up some of the material resources lost; nevertheless, it is not likely that we can ever make up for the loss of time, the waste of effort and talent,
The main reason why my country is so backward today in national economy, technology and other aspects is the shabby treatment given to the intellectuals who were made the targets of "transformation" during the Cultural Revolution. They were made to go through a complete change, do manual labour and remould their ideology. Those who were experts in a special field of study were branded as "reactionaries". The present Chinese leadership has now wakened up to reality and has made it known that the country will not run cadre schools any more as they are an unnecessary drain on the country's manpower and financial resources. Some Chinese leaders have referred to the 'payment of tuition fees' and used it to defend the foolish things that they did. Their reasoning is that one must pay to learn and so one ought to pay 'tuition fees' for having learned a bitter lesson from one's wrongdoings.
What have we got for the huge fees we've paid?
The Central Committee's "resolutions on certain historical questions of the Party since the founding of China” has summed
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.