Stitch, I appreciate and sympathize your attempt to set the record straight, but I have faith that eventually the historical truth will reach even China. Discovery and accepting the truth is never easy...let me tell you my own experience:
I lived in Taiwan when I was a teenager. During my stay there, I was always taught that Chiang Kai-Shiek is this greatest, wonderful man--kind to his people, impeccable integrity, and all in all the greatest leader in China (and later Taiwan).
It was only when I emigrated to the U.S. later that I found out Chiang Kai-Shiek was responsible for the wholesale slaughtering of Taiwanese when the Nationalists took over Taiwan in the late 1940's. I also read about the profound corruption and viscious elimination of political rivals by the Nationalist (Kuo-Ming Tang) government during Chiang Kai-Shiek's rule of the Mainland in the 20's and 30's. The truth was painful, the truth was unbelieving; I couldn't accept that the man I was taught (well, actuall brainwashed) to idolize was in fact a brutal dictator. But eventually I did come to accept the truth.
One thing you will notice when you debate against Mao- or Chiang- sympathsizers is the frequent refrain: "Yes, he may have done these terrible things, but look at the enormous contribution they made for China..." and then proceed to list all the accomplishments. Well, history is like a weighing machine, and I think when a person is responsible the death of millions of people, the weight of the stink tends to overcome any positive contribution these characters may have made. The historical indictment will come. The one of Mao is just starting, folks. |
