Revolution is Not a Dinner Party

               When reading Revolution is Not a Dinner Party, I could not help but think of the Holocaust at the same time. While there were differences between the two events, in my mind I was constantly linking the events in my mind. One thing I found different was how within this book and throughout the Chinese revolution the upper class were affected much like the family of Ling. It is weird to see the upper class such as doctors taken away from their families. When I think of revolutions I tend to fall toward thinking how the lower classes are affected and suffer while the upper class can avoid most conflict.

                It was very interesting to read through the part of the political officer moving in next to the Chang’s. Having to speak softly about political issues and be careful about what Comrade Li overhears would be a huge burden. Once the Comrade moved in and people started disappearing, I could not imagine the feeling of seeing other families disappear and be living near those families. I tried to relate this to something in the United States, and could not think of anything where family members were taken away, especially among the upper class. Once Lings parents were taken away, I linked this to as if my own parents were taken away and I wondered how life would even keep on going.

                Throughout this story I kept thinking about how hard it would be to lose everything and keep on going with life. When I find out about things such as the Chinese revolution, I am saddened because while I have known heartache and sadness, I know nothing compared to the pain that all of the Chinese went through with this revolution. Another shocking fact is that as a class we will get to meet and listen to someone who experienced and lived through such a terrible time. I find myself very excited to listen and learn about the revolution first hand. While there is positives to doing personal research and reading texts such as Revolution is Not a Dinner Party, to meet and talk to someone who lived first hand can not be overlooked.

                Although I am very excited to get a chance to listen and talk about this in class, there is also a part of me that is sad because this has to be a hard subject to speak on.  One thing I am very curious about is the Red Guard and how wide their reach was throughout China? Along the same lines I am curious about when the family members were taken was it forceful, during the day or night, and if family members attempted to intervene when family members began to disappear?

                In the beginning I knew nothing about China and while I feel like I have gained a basic knowledge of the Chinese revolution, there is still so much more I can learn. When reading through this book, I came to realize just how sheltered I have been. While I know there is a lot that goes on in the United States, I need to open up to more things that have happened outside of the U.S. and become more culturally and worldly informed as to better understand where people are coming from. Reading through this book gave me a look into another culture and allowed for a chance to expand my horizons.