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felipeforte@lemmygrad.ml

I do wish I could experience the idyllic parts of the cultural revolution period/mao period in general (lemmygrad.ml)

submitted 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) by King_Simp@lemmygrad.ml to c/comradeship@lemmygrad.ml

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To preface, it is correct that the cultural revolution was a mistake and to a certain extent revisionist, along with causing great harm. However,

I watched the documentary "how Yukong moved the mountains" a while back. It's a good watch if you have the time(and trust me, you need a lot of time), and honestly I can't help but feel a little jealous.

The documentary shows worker self management, military egalitarianism, etc. (I'm unsure how much these things exist in China today. I know workers control the means of production but I dont know the spirit in which said management occurs over there, per se. And the military I just know very little about)

Its astetics, and I know this. I also know it doesn't matter whether the cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice. But in my, perhaps a little too idealistic, heart, I do wish we could eat our cake and have it too. Have that same society so focussed on socialist principles while also having the development of modern China.

Idk, maybe we'll see in a few years as china develops into a modern socialist country, but for now I like fantasizing, alright?

Edit:I think maybe boring is the right term for it. When I study revolution and imagine potential revolution, I don't tend to imagine a result that's similar to my own current existence, just slightly better. I want things to be radically different, avant-garde even. Even if i can logically reconsile the necessary requirements for the development of higher stages of socialism, my emotional part wants more.

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[–] darkernations@lemmygrad.ml 12 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Though you did not state this, it is important to appreciate considering the cultural revolution as a total mistake is not dialectical; they were mistakes made during that time but without it you would not have the lessons learned and the societal progress that is modern China. That does not necessarily mean we need another cultural revolution. However, if you would like to see an alternative timeline without a cultural revolution just look at what happened to India post-independence. Scientific socialism includes the trials and discoveries of that science from which the world can learn from. We do not need to adhere to the low standards of Western liberalism in framing what makes up "right" and "wrong" when analysing history.

[–] darkcalling@lemmygrad.ml 7 points 2 weeks ago

China has of course opened up. As part of the process of development capital and private enterprise have been allowed in, consumerism, etc. This has upsides and downsides but is part of a historical process.

However if you are taken with the way things were in the cultural revolution I suggest you'd strongly identify with the state of things in the DPRK. Due to severe sanctions, isolation, and Juche the culture there probably more strongly resembles in some ways at least parts of the cultural revolution that you mention enjoying than anywhere else except perhaps Cuba.

[–] Makan@lemmygrad.ml 0 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

I think the CultRev in China, how it was conducted, was a mistake and, according to my Chinese friends, nothing was accomplished.

Like, nothing was accomplished then, and certainly nothing lasted beyond it.

Also, How Yukong Moved the Mountains is kinda biased against those that wanted to stop what was happening and doesn't tell the full story.

Edit: I should specify that on the local level, some of it was good, but not on the wider level, it was bad, imho.