Word: mao
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...freedom, true democracy and true human rights" echoed through the early winter dusk. Thousands filed past "democracy wall" at the intersection of Chang An Avenue and Hsi Tan Street to inspect wall posters castigating some members of the ruling Politburo, policies decreed by the sainted Great Helmsman, the late Mao, and by implication, China's Chairman and Premier, Hua Kuo-feng...
...poster campaign was the most dramatic expression of popular feeling in Peking since the death of Mao in 1976. In the largest single incident, 6,000 demonstrators, marching 30 abreast, paraded through the streets chanting slogans seldom heard in the People's Republic since the Communist takeover in 1949: "Long live democracy! We will never turn back!" Their destination was T'ien An Men Square, site of what had up to now been the most extraordinary political happening in China's recent past. In April 1976, throngs had congregated there to protest the removal of wreaths left...
...Clean Government Party, the Vice Premier renounced any designs on that prestigious job. "I am too old and I wish to live longer," he explained. "A younger man is better for the job." (Hua is 57.) Similarly, al though few experts believe that the protesters would have denounced either Mao or Hua without Teng's permission, he chided the author of a wall poster that described Mao as being "70% good and 30% bad." Said Teng: "Mao was better than that. I myself am only 60% good...
...group of Peking citizens whom they would vote for as Premier if there were free elections, they quickly shouted back the answer: "Teng Hsiao-p'ing! Teng Hsiao-p'ing!" Teng himself dismissed the calls for his elevation in an oblique, Olympian answer that was worthy of Mao himself: "This is a normal thing and shows the stable situation in our country. To write big-character posters is allowed by our country's constitution.* We have no right to deny this or to criticize the masses for making use of democracy. It is wonderful...
From an endorsement of T'ien An Men, it was a small ideological step to allowing public criticism of Mao. Radical supporters of the Chairman had been responsible for condemning the mourning of Chou-who was, of course, Teng's protector and guide. The Central Committee's hallowing of that 1976 ceremony was a subtle way for Teng to humiliate his old enemies...