To preface, it is correct that the cultural revolution was a mistake and to a certain extent revisionist, along with causing great harm. However,
I watched the documentary “how Yukong moved the mountains” a while back. It’s a good watch if you have the time(and trust me, you need a lot of time), and honestly I can’t help but feel a little jealous.
The documentary shows worker self management, military egalitarianism, etc. (I’m unsure how much these things exist in China today. I know workers control the means of production but I dont know the spirit in which said management occurs over there, per se. And the military I just know very little about)
Its astetics, and I know this. I also know it doesn’t matter whether the cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice. But in my, perhaps a little too idealistic, heart, I do wish we could eat our cake and have it too. Have that same society so focussed on socialist principles while also having the development of modern China.
Idk, maybe we’ll see in a few years as china develops into a modern socialist country, but for now I like fantasizing, alright?
Edit:I think maybe boring is the right term for it. When I study revolution and imagine potential revolution, I don’t tend to imagine a result that’s similar to my own current existence, just slightly better. I want things to be radically different, avant-garde even. Even if i can logically reconsile the necessary requirements for the development of higher stages of socialism, my emotional part wants more.
I think the CultRev in China, how it was conducted, was a mistake and, according to my Chinese friends, nothing was accomplished.
Like, nothing was accomplished then, and certainly nothing lasted beyond it.
Also, How Yukong Moved the Mountains is kinda biased against those that wanted to stop what was happening and doesn’t tell the full story.
Edit: I should specify that on the local level, some of it was good, but not on the wider level, it was bad, imho.