Red Guards :: essays research papers

Red GuardsIn the summer of 1966 there was a new effort on the musical composition of the headleaders in China to further control the actions and thoughts of the people inChina. The Red Guards were the force to do it all.A group of kids who mostly in their teens and some in college were putinto this gang. This so-called military force was called the Red Guards.Groups of these Red Guards traveled from the large cities all the way to emptycountry sides. They held big demonstrations at every stop. Their main goalwas to eliminate as many as possible of the customs and traditional thoughts ofthe old China. They participated in Long confines and other activities.The man they looked up to most was a person by the name of Mao. Theycarried huge portraits of him and overly carried banners and flags. Many peoplein the group trice on gongs and drums. Some observers said it looked more likea circus then a political demonstration.They did a lot of things that many thought were outrageous. At one pointthey raced widely by means of Peking denouncing anyone who was in a business. Theyeven made a demand to change the meaning of the colors in a stop light.According to the Red Guards, that because the color of communism is red, thatyou should go on red and stop on green. When the Red Guards added studentsfrom another school or workers from another factory they decorated the entrancewith purple paper, lanterns and a red cloth covered with flowers.People who did not agree with Mao Tse-tung and his teachings were oftendragged finished the streets and forced to wear dunce caps. The main reason ofcourse was to humiliate. This group in time became more destructive. Evensome of Chinas highest leaders were taken. The Red Guards demonstrationslasted through fall, and winter of 1966 and well into 1967.The Red Guards highly looked up to Mao they thought of him as a father whoshared the same views. Chairman Mao greatly influenced many of their decisions.They stormed on to railroad trai ns to spread their ideas coast to coast. Manypeople thought of them as a disorderly young army. Most of their efforts weredevoted to sweeping destruction of reputation and careers. One of their bestweapons were political posters which were about many high political figures.Political people were not the only ones to be embarrassed, professors andengineers were also humiliated by the young group.Many young people agreed with the Red Guards and their point of views.