Tombstone

Victo Ngai
This piece is for today’s NYTimes op-ed about the “Great Famine” which killed 36million people in China from 1958-1962. ” The toll was more than twice the number of fallen in WWI, and about six times the number of Ukrainians starved by Stalin in 1932-33 or the number of Jews murdered by Hitler during WWII.” “After 50 years, the famine still cannot be freely discussed in the place where it happened…The reason is political: a full exposure of the Great Famine could undermine the legitimacy of a ruling part that clings to the political legacy of Mao, even though that legacy, a totalitarian Communist system, was the root cause of the famine.” You can read the full article here. 
 
It was a very heavy assignment and quite a challenge. My mother grew up during the famine and her best friend’s sister was starved to death. My uncle witnessed cannibalism happened after all the grass roots have been dug up and eaten. And yet, when I talked to them about it, instead of anger/hatred towards the government, they just looked very sad and said ” it’s very complicated.” Mao’s policies is definitely one of the indisputable causes of the Great Famine. However there were also many other factors : blockade from international world due the the fear of Communism; sudden withdrawal of aids and dunning of heavy debt of the USSR after the 2 countries’ friendly relationship fell apart; 3 years of natural disaster…
 
My grandmother was a highschool principal and fell victim during the Cultural revolution. Family members from my dad’s side who were members of the Kuomingtang were executed when the Communist party took over. All of these blood-stained history and mistakes should not be forgotten. However Is it worth it to revolt the government now in risk of a civil war when China has finally gotten back on her feet from a century of poverty, colonization and humiliation?  And when most older Chinese you meet would happily tell you how “life is good now”?  I really don’t know. 
 
Honestly, I don’t know what is right or wrong, just or unjust anymore. Maybe there’s no such things when it comes to politics. This piece is just about the deep sorrow and suffering of my people. 
Thank you AD Matt and Alexandra for this 6 hours adrenaline rush high! 

Posted 6 months ago
847 notes
Source: victongai
  1. coloneljackoneill reblogged this from tealrallythong
  2. lord-of-the-no reblogged this from tealrallythong
  3. tealrallythong reblogged this from victongai
  4. nnaffettss reblogged this from victongai
  5. psqqa reblogged this from lalage
  6. kikociak reblogged this from victongai
  7. teenydieana reblogged this from victongai
  8. opossumking reblogged this from lagubeko
  9. jessaryn reblogged this from lagubeko
  10. cnightcrawler reblogged this from lagubeko
  11. lagubeko reblogged this from emelem and added:
    Victo
  12. breakyourfacewell reblogged this from victongai
  13. permanent-synesthesia reblogged this from victongai
  14. spica0910 reblogged this from victongai
  15. througherlookinglass reblogged this from victongai
  16. overinscribed reblogged this from victongai
  17. makkssimillian reblogged this from victongai
  18. qrious-planet reblogged this from toughshite
  19. neonbloodpaintings reblogged this from victongai
  20. kidxwithxrobots reblogged this from victongai
  21. jajdebitang reblogged this from victongai
  22. charliebronsons reblogged this from charliebronsons-moved
  23. coppertongue reblogged this from worsethingsbetterpeople
  24. wyohkan reblogged this from oxygen8
  25. thisismyrapeface reblogged this from oxygen8