My Little Red Book 小红书

 

This is the Little Red Book that I bought more than 50 years ago in the streets of London when I was there. At that time, I think it was banned in Singapore. I have kept it till now, in pristine condition because I have never read its content. Just for keepsake. It is a miniaturized version of the original Mao's famous Red Book used in the Cultural Revolution. 150 pages in all, excluding the introduction, forwards and other non related prints. The Little Red Book was the centre of the Cultural Revolution in China started by Mao. Every Red Guard carried one in their pockets, including the Chinese leaders.

There is a forward by Mao and another by Lin Biao.

The famous Little Red Book aka Rednote is now the rage in the social media all over the world, initiated by the influx of TikTok users calling themselves TikTik Refugees. More than 1 million Americans users have migrated to the Rednote app in a few days and more will follow. What would be the final number is yet to be seen as there is a big pool of 170m Americans looking for an alternative to TikTok in case it is banned on 19 Jan 25.

There is now news that though the law banning TikTok would come into force on Sunday, Biden would not enforce it, meaning a temporary reprieve until they find a better way to curb this app. The political price to pay for any American govt is very high. It would harm and alienate 170m American voters by taking away their freedom of expression, passion and also their source of income. It is now a hot political potato for both Trump and Biden, for the Republican and Democrat parties to chew.

In the meantime, the American users have found a refreshing new site, showing the real China that the American govt has been trying to hide from them, and real Chinese people that are just like them, enjoying the freedom and creative juice of an exciting apps that could also bring them a source of income. The cultural exchange between two real people unhindered by political agenda and biases is in itself a revolution of sort like what the original Little Red Book did. Big changes are going to happen to the young Americans and users exposed to the real China and talking to the real Chinese. 

The veil of lies the American govt has placed over their eyes has been removed for good. They will get to see the real China and the real Chinese people with their own eyes, hear what they say and form their own conclusion of what China is all about. It is unbelievable that the majority of the American people have been kept in the dark about China and what is happening in China for so long in the 21st Century of internet and in a so called free society. The cultural shock, the truth about China and the Chinese people are a pleasant surprise to the young Americans.

Hopefully this will pave the way for better relations between the two people even if the politicians continue with their lies and continue to spread their hate. It would not work anymore. The Ginny is out of the bottle. Seek ye the truth and the truth shalt set you free.