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The Cultural Revolution was a social-political movement that took place from 1966-1976 set into motion by Chairman Mao. Chairman Mao sent the Red Guards to destroy the four olds (old ideas, old customs, old cultures, and old habits. The Red Guards punished anyone who didn't agree with Chairman Mao's actions. A lot of people died and suffered because of Chairman Mao's actions, some even commit suicide because they couldn't handle suffering during the Cultural Revolution.
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12 year old [Jiang Ji-Li](http://www.jilijiang.com/) is in 6th grade and her life is good living in China. She is happy, confident that she will succeed, trusting in the Communist Party and she proudly wears her red scarf. “Heaven and earth are great but greater still is the kindness of the Communist Party; father and mother are dear, but dearer still is Chairmen Mao.” pg.1
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Ji-Li's parents won't let her audition for the Arts Academy because they don’t want to draw attention to the family.
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Townspeople and Red Guards start destroying the four olds (old ideas, old culture, old customs and old habits.)
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School writes Da-Zi-Bao’s (big posters pointing out people's problems to humiliate them) about the educational system.
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Found Da-Zi-Bao about Ji-Li and her teacher saying that he favored her and they had a relationship. A lesson I learned here is don't believe everything you hear or read. Ji-Li was not shown favoritism from her teacher. Alot of people lie so you have to be careful not to believe in everything you read or hear.
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The Red Gaurds begin ransacking people's homes searching for four olds and confiscating them.
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An old man is beaten and punished for not letting the Red Gaurds use his bike. Ji-Li thinks this unnecessary but still supports Chairmen Mao.
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An-Yi’s (Ji-Li’s best friend) Grandmother was so afraid she would be beaten by the Red Guards like the old man that she commits suicide.
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Afraid that the Red Guards would search their house, the Jiangs had the kids and Grandma go to the park where they would be safe.
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The Red Gaurds target the Jiangs and searched their house.
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Ji-Li starts to realize that Chairman Mao is a Communist Dictator when bad things happen to her family. A lesson that I learned from this is don't judge a book by it's cover. Just because Chirman Mao is the leader of China doesn't mean he is a good person.
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They accused Ji-Li's Dad of listening to foreign radio and arrested him when he was really innocent.
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Red Guards made her Grandmother sweep the streets.
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The Red Guards searched their house again looking for a letter the Jiangs hid. The letter contained complaints about the Rebels at the theater who had arrested Ji-Li’s Dad
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Ji-Li tries to take care of her whole family while her Mom is sick, Dad is in jail, Grandma is forced to sweep the streets and Ji-yun and Ji-yong are terrified of what is going to happen.
"Not me, I'll never be a quiter."
-Ji-Li pg.243 -
She worried her Mom would get detained, her Dad would get beaten to death, her Grandma would get sent away, Ji-yong’s temper would get him into trouble and that Ji-yun was so scared that she would never laugh again
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"Once my life had been defined by my goals...to be a Red Gaurd. They seemed unimportant to me now. Now my life was defined by my responsibilities."
pg. 263 -
I think the author wrote this book because she wanted the Americans to understand the Chinese better. She wanted the Americans to understand Chinese culture. My evidence is she states in the epilogue "If I can help Americans to understand China even a little, I will feel very rewarded. I will have contributedsomething to my country, China, and my home, America. I hope this book is part of that mission."
