One of the major takeaways from this trip has been the conflicted Chinese attitude toward Chairman Mao. I really thought they all saw him as this beloved figure who could do no wrong. Not quite.
Many Chinese we have encountered have openly talked about how messed up the Cultural Revolution was. Our tour operator Mark (his real name is Xiao Fei), has told us several stories about how his family, which was successful and educated, was declared as being “from black roots” when the Cultural Revolution happened and how their life and their success was basically reversed. Members of his family lost jobs and some were thrown in jail – simply for being successful in the pre-communist world.
At the same time, Mark and others talk with reverence about Mao. I sense that some small remains of the Mao Cult of Personality are still alive in this country. The other day, Mark went out of his way to show us one of only 3 remaining Mao statues left in China in downtown Chengdu.
The square that this Mao statue overlooks is a very pretty one and very busy with people. It has fountains spraying water and we could clearly see children playing there… beneath the watchful eye of their “dear leader.”
Like I said, I think the country is conflicted about this madman. They know he was at least somewhat insane and his ideas set them back, but they are also programmed to love him.
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