The Chinese Communists have found it expedient to have two types of
propaganda: one which is directed at foreigners and follows strictly
the Moscow line; the other maintained for domestic consumption. The
home propaganda concentrates on Chinese affairs and plays down the
foreign and international angles. Slogans, or catch phrases, are
evident everywhere, on billboards, in handbills, on posters, in the
press and on the air channels. In this way, the slogans are repeated
over and over again, until everyone becomes thoroughly familiar with
them. Throughout China are heard the shouts of the victors—SERVE THE
PEOPLE! PRODUCE FOR THE PEOPLE! RESCUE THE WOUNDED! BEAR SONS FOR THE
PEOPLE! The latter is one of the most surprising in a land that has
an annual death rate of a million from starvation and is presently
suffering from the worst famine in years!
The slogans are often illustrated and used as picture posters.
Gay and colorful, they frequently show a prosperous looking group
standing or sitting before an enormous basket overflowing with
luscious fruits and vegetables. The caption: HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO
WORK FOR THE PEOPLE! Billboards and handbills in villages and towns
are, of necessity, simple and elementary, while in Shanghai and
other large cities they are more elaborate and sometimes quite
sophisticated.
As in Germany before the war, and in Russia today, the Chinese
concentrate on the children. These are often separated from their
families when they are very young and sent to special schools away
from their homes. The Chinese Communists, like the Soviets, are
making every effort to destroy family life and ties, since family
loyalty competes with their training program. The first and only
loyalty must be to the State. In some schools, youngsters have been
given new textbooks which begin with the verse:
“I do not love my Mama. I do not love my Papa. I love only my Country
and Mao Tse-tung.” Other books show pictures of Generalissimo Chiang
Kai-shek and other Nationalist leaders and characterize them as
enemies of the State who are “to be killed on sight.”
Children, otherwise well brought up and, prior to the new schooling,
devoted to their families, return to their homes and face their
parents with: “We don’t love you any more. We are leaving home and
will fight the Nationalists ourselves, wherever we find them!”
Some of the propaganda is directed against foreigners, especially
Americans. The children are taught to repeat little songs in which
Americans are called “greedy and vicious capitalists,” and they are
shown cartoons depicting Americans as two-headed pigs being kicked
out of China.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account