Something About The Four Olds

Something About The Four Olds…

By Jessica Russo

      Chairman Mao started the Cultural Revolution because he thought that it would be good to have a change so that nothing got old. Chairman Mao decided that he would have the Red Guards go search people’s houses to see if they contained any 4 olds.  This is good because the people of China want change.
Some Chinese ideas hurt people like foot binding and arranged marriages. People should be able to make their decisions by themselves. Some habits that changed the hurt is when Chairman Mao wanted to change farming to businesses. People farmed but they do not earn money that way.  General Mao wants to open up businesses and then people will have money to pay taxes.  Mao says that he will use that money  to make China better.  It’s good to get rid of jeans that are too skinny because that is considered a 4 old and so are silk dresses.
     Other people think that it would be better if China kept the four olds.  Some of the 4 olds might be special to some of China’s people and they want to keep special memories. I am right because even if something is special to you, you are going to have to get rid of it sooner or later.  It would be best if we got rid of them!!!

4 Olds, House Searched

                                        August 20, 1971

4 Olds, House Searched

Written By Jessica Russo

    Shanghai-Shanghai Times-The Red Guards are breaking into homes to get rid of the 4 olds.  The 4 olds are old ideas, old customs, old cultures, and old habits.  The Red Guards searched Jiang Wu, Fourth Aunt’s house and Jiang Ji-Li’ home to search the 4 olds in their home.  The search happened because the Red Guards found a picture of Fourth Aunt with a forbidden knife in the trash.  Mao has forbidden citizens from owning weapons.
    Before Ji-Li’s house got searched, the Red Guards went searching to see who still had items that consisted of any 4 olds.  Before Ji-Li’s house got searched the Jiang’s burned pictures that showed old clothing .  Also, they had to make sure that no one found out that Ji-Li’s grandfather was a landlord because then Ji-Li would be considered to have a bad political status. Jiang Ji-Li explains, “we wanted to destroy our 4 olds because we want to prove that we are with Chairman Mao.” Six fingers, who participated in Ji-Li’s house search also believes that destroying the 4 olds is a good idea. Six Fingers explains, “I want to make sure that I am at every house for every search to show that i am with Chairman Mao and destroying the 4 olds.

A Land Covered In Red: Cultural Revolution

Map of China during the Cultural Revolution

Map of China during the Qing Dynasty
   The Qing Dynasty was before the Cultural Revolution.  In 1960’s Mongolia was it’s own country on the North of China.  During the Qing dynasty Russia bordered China on the North and Burma, India, Bengal, and Nepal also bordered China.   

A Day In The Life

A Day In The Life…

By Jessica Russo

     I woke up and got dressed.  I am getting ready for school.  As I walk out of the door, I see a poster of a Da-zi-bau.  A Da-zi-bau is a poster that says hateful things on it.  In my school there are both boys and girls.  In school we study from Mau’s little red book.  The Little Red Book is Mau’s quotes and ideas and he wants people to learn about his thoughts and ideas only.  Kids like me who were a part of the cultural revolution had to wear uniforms.  The people who weren’t part of the cultural revolution didn’t have to wear uniforms.  They had to be careful that they didn’t wear too skinny jeans or clothes made of silk because those are four olds. 

     My house is very simple because we don’t have a lot of money.  Our house has to be simple because when the Red Guards come to search our house they can’t be able to see any four olds.  My parents used to farm but now that the cultural revolution started Chairman Mau wants people to be businessmen.  Chairman Mau rationed food during the Cultural Revolution.  There was not a lot to go around.

Bibliography

Works Cited
Cultural Revolution. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Feb. 2012. <http://kids.britannica.com/‌elementary/‌article-353025/‌Cultural-Revolution>.

Jaing, Ji-Li. Red Scarf Girl. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1997. Print.