The following is an interview given by Deng Xiaoping to the Italian Oriana Fallaci on August 21 and 23, 1980. I have included Deng's original Chinese language version at the bottom. The English translation credit goes to People's Daily of China. It gives very good insight to Deng. Oriana Fallaci: Will Chairman Mao's portrait above Tiananmen Gate be kept there? … [Read more...] about An Interview with Deng Xiaoping
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A Conversation with Boi Boi Huong on the Great Leap Forward
Recently I had a chance to speak with Boi Boi Huong (mp3, audio play link below). Her family emigrated to Holland from Vietnam when she was young. While in college, she took a stronger interest in China, and in fact completing her thesis on the Great Leap Forward. The timing of her work was interesting, because this had been just couple of years following 1989. Western … [Read more...] about A Conversation with Boi Boi Huong on the Great Leap Forward
Comparing Lincoln to Mao
If you were ask to give a short narrative for those two very important historical figure, what words were to come into your mind? Abraham Lincoln was consistently voted by US scholars as the greatest US president. He was even immortalized in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. However, don't the ill informed Americans know he is the greatest mass murderer in US history? … [Read more...] about Comparing Lincoln to Mao
(Letter from Joel) Mainlanders and their pasts, Mainlanders and their selves
For me personally, the Mainland's grandparents and great-grandparents are China's most interesting generation. As soon as I could string a few sentences together I was trying to get our neighbours to tell us about their stories and experiences. But Xinran, the authour of China Witness: Voices from a Silent Generation, being Chinese, can go light-years farther in an interview … [Read more...] about (Letter from Joel) Mainlanders and their pasts, Mainlanders and their selves
Prices in the Mao era – a peasant's view
The vast majority of Chinese favor and support the "opening up and reform" period started in 1978. But many are also very nostalgic for the Mao era, a time when equality was guaranteed, a time when socialism in China was far more than just a hypothetical. One simple example is translated below. This article has been spread around numerous Chinese forums, actual origin not … [Read more...] about Prices in the Mao era – a peasant's view