Mountain View

   
Yes, I reviewed that very useful Cultural Revolution website when
researching the book.  Some of the details didn't quite match with what I
heard later from others -- although the story was never quite the same
twice.  There was confusion about how many suicide attempts, and exactly how
it happened; I've read a number of Chinese reports that say that Zhao Luorui
was there when Chen killed himself.  But I'm quite certain she was not and
that Chen was being watched by the younger scholars from the kaoguxue
(including Old Yang who I interviewed).
     Polat has a very dark view of the world, much darker than I would ever
have.  But I think it's quite different for somebody from an ethnic group
like the Uighurs.  They've really never had any place in the world, any
control over their fate.  When you think about how much the Chinese were
traumatized by the Opium War, it's minor in comparison -- Chinese have had
some degree of control over their government, language, history, religion,
etc for most of the past.  And Americans were horribly traumatized by 9/11,
responding in very stupid ways from which they are only now starting to
recover their senses -- and that is really a very minor event compared to
what other cultures have experience.  And groups like the Uighurs have never
had any sort of moment at all.  They began to gain national consciousness
during the early 20th century, and by then it was too late.  It only makes
them bitter.
     I suspect that people like that are susceptible to all sorts of radical
ideas.  Polat was not like that; he is not a violent person and he is
actually quite honest, despite his twisted path.  But he'll always feel
resentment for the Chinese.  I don't think it's right, but it's important to
understand why that feeling is there.
     It's similar to the Chinese in Tibet.  Americans always try to take a
logical approach to that issue, explaining that the Chinese don't have a
strong historical claim, and they don't need Tibet, etc etc.  Same with
Taiwan.  But that's really not the issue.  It's important to understand why
the Chinese have grown to care about these places, and what these places
mean to the Chinese.  The logic isn't as important as the emotional reasons.
If history treats people in unexpected and illogical ways, then they will
probably respond in turn.  The day 9/11 happened, I was certain that the
U.S. would respond with some kind of massive mistake.  I didn't have faith
in the country's international sense, but I also believed that traumatized
countries tend to behave badly.
     I'll try to attach some articles here --

Pete