Dear Comrades and Fellow Reporters,
As I take a moment to write this farewell message memories come rushing back connecting my life as a farmer, with the journey that brought me into the world of journalism. China, our homeland has undergone changes from the tumultuous 1930s to the recent conclusion of the Cultural Revolution. These past years have been filled with upheaval and resilience. We have sailed through times in Yenan reported on Land Reform and observed the passion of the Great Leap. Now as we say goodbye to our role as keepers of history it becomes our duty to capture and document the essence of this period that has shaped our nation. I stand united with you in mourning for our Chairman Mao while finding solace in putting an end to the chaos caused by the Gang of Four.
Now as we pass on this responsibility to a generation there is one task, at hand. Uncovering and presenting layers upon layers of insight into the Cultural Revolution for our readers. During this pursuit Liang Heng, the son of the Liang Shan graciously shared a manuscript that chronicles his familys experiences during that time. I was deeply moved by Liang Hengs memoir titled “Son of the Revolution” which provided an poignant account of those times. As I delved into Liang Heng’s memoir “Son of the Revolution ” there was a passage, on page 82 that caught my attention. It beautifully captures the essence of the Cultural Revolution revealing its fervor and chaotic nature; “We all had to be revolutionaries tearing down the world demolishing the values and completely transforming ourselves from head to toe.” This quote vividly portrays the ideology that fueled the Cultural Revolution. It represents a determination to erase the past establish an order and conform to the prevailing beliefs of that time. The relentless pursuit of change even if it meant dismantling standing traditions and historical legacies was a fundamental principle, during that turbulent era. To truly grasp the nature of the Cultural Revolution it is crucial to understand the meaning behind this quote and to acknowledge the diverse experiences shared by individuals, like Liang Heng. It encompasses their struggles, sacrifices and deep yearning for autonomy amidst an overwhelming wave of ideological fervor.
As we take a moment to reflect on our roles, as storytellers and hand over the responsibility to a generation of journalists it becomes crucial for them to truly understand the core of our history. By delving into memoirs like Liang Hengs and other narratives they have the opportunity to untangle the intricacies of our past and pave the way for a future, in our China.
It has been my pleasure.
Yours Truly,
Zeng Yongzheng
Comrade reporter,
It has been an honor to work with you over the last four decades and see another’s perspective on what has happened in our nation. I agree that the cultural revolution’s drive for constant revolutionary progress at the cost of anything that stood as a memory of a different time is what pushed it to be so radical and eventually violent. Insight like that given by Liang Heng allows us to see how the revolution touched those from all over China in different ways.