Life and Death in Shanghai

My mom gave me "Life and Death in Shanghai" to read on the flight to Korea, and I just loved it. It is a must read for everyone but especially for those who have an interest in China/Taiwan. It is an autobiographical account written by a woman who lived through the Cultural Revolution and was placed in solitary confinement for 6 years because she was more affluent and had international friends, and connections. The leadership under Mao Ze Dong accused her of being a "spy for the imperialists" which was far from the truth and they knew it. They used it as an excuse to take all her valuables and keep her in prison.

After reading this book, I was in awe of amount of damage one person ie. Mao Ze Dong could do. He crushed anyone who crossed him and created total social and economic chaos with the Cultural Revolution. He also caused the starvation of as many as 38 million Chinese nationals during the "Great Leap Forward". He kept good health care, clothing and food from the masses, but horded it for himself. Although I'm not an expert on the subject, I feel that China is still recovering from the damage done by this man.

Today while I was reading the scriptures, I came across these verses in Mosiah 29:

"21. And behold, now I say unto you, ye cannot dethrone an iniquitous king save it be through much contention and the shedding of much blood. "

"22. For behold, he has his friends in iniquity, and he keepeth his guards about him; and he teareth up the laws of those who have reigned in righteousness before him; and he trampleth under his feet the commandments of God;"

"23. And he enacteth laws, and sendeth them forth among his people, yea, laws after the manner of his own wickedness; and whosoever doth not obey his laws he causeth to be destroyed; and whosoever doth rebel against him he will send his armies against them to war, and if he can he will destroy them; and thus an unrighteous king (or dictator, or president) doth pervert the ways of all righteousness."

I've never been one to get too involved in politics. I usually left that for my dad and grandpa. Since my mission, I have wised up a bit and realized that you are ultimately responsible for protecting your own freedoms. I've always thought that the government was responsible for protecting my rights, but many rights grated by a governmental body at some point in time have been taken away in the blink of an eye. This book has given me a great desire to always do the best I can to know who it is I'm voting for and to never place total trust in anyone else to protect my freedoms. Food for thought.

ps. Sorry Grandma Laila and Grandma Angela. I know you were hoping for pictures of Lincoln, but no such luck on this post. Well maybe I better post one. Here are his top teeth:

I told ya! They're a mile apart!