But what you quote is not at all the same as your previous "paraphrases". What you
said earlier is an distortion and exaggeration of what you quote below. "Guiding
principle" does not include the details and specifics. But the other thing you leave
out is that Mao Zedong's thought , which in large part references Marxism and
Leninism, is highly CRITICAL AND MATERIALIST THINKING. So for the masses to be guided
by Mao thought is to for them to think critically and based on the way things really
are. This is the complete opposite of religious or dogmatic thought. The words you
quote specifically mention opposition to dogmatism. It calls for "revolutioniz(ing)
our people's thinking". This is the complete opposite of "bootlicking" and your
distorted paraphrases of this passage.
The Cultural Revolution may have had many failings , but one of its failings seems to
have been masses of people going overboard in criticizing the status quo and
traditional thinking. It was the complete opposite of "bootlicking".
Charles Brown
>>> Brad De Long <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 06/28/99 07:24PM >>>
>Henry,
>
>Yes, it seems something of an exaggeration to say Lin Biao was
>saying that all are to think as one ABOUT EVERYTHING as, Brad sort
>of implies.
To me the most horrible thing is that it isn't *anything* of an exaggeration:
Mao Zedong thought is Marxism-Leninism of the era in which
imperialism is headed for total collapse and socialism is
advancing to world-wide victory. It is a powerful ideological
weapon for opposing imperialism and for opposing revisionism
and dogmatism. Mao Zedong thought is the guiding principle
for all the work of the party, the army, and the country.
Therefore the most fundamental task in our Party's political
and ideological work is at all times to hold high the great
red banner of Mao Zedong thought, to arm the minds of
the people throughout the country with it, and to persist
in using it to command every field of activity. The broad
masses of the workes, peasants, and soldiers, and the broad
ranks of the revolutionary cadres and the intellectuals
should really master Zedong thought; they should
all study Chairman Mao's writings, follow his teachings,
act according to his instructions, and be his good fighters....
In our great motherland, a new era is emerging in which
the workers, peasants, and soldiers are grasping Marxism-
Leninism-Mao Zedong thought. Once Mao Zedong thought
is grasped by the broad masses, it becomes an inexhaustible
source of strength and a spiritual atom bomb of infinite
power. The large-scale publication of _Quotations from
Chairman Mao Zedong_ is a vital measure for enabling
the broad masses to grasp Mao Zedong's thought and for
promoting the revolutionization of our people's thinking.
It is our hope that all comrades will learn earnestly and
diligently, bring about a new nation-wide high tide in the
creative study and application of Chairman Mao's works and,
under the great red banner of Mao Zedong's thought, strive
to build our country into a great socialist state with
modern agriculture, modern industry, modern science and
culture, and modern national defence!
Lin Biao
Mao Zedong thought was to be the guiding principle "for *all* the
work of the party, the army, and the country." Not some. All. Only
the revisionists, the dogmatists, and the other counter-revolutionary
elements opposed Mao Zedong thought.
And (at least until his assassination, presumably on Mao's orders)
Lin Biao was to be in charge of telling everyone else what Mao Zedong
thought was...
Brad DeLong
