GEORGE JOCHNOWITZ
Marx, Money, and Mysticism after Mao
T
here is a zero-risk method that we Americans can use to end
human rights abuses in China. We can point out the fact that the
cruelty of Marxism comes from the writings of Marx. We can do
it here, among ourselves . Everything that is said in America is eventu–
ally heard in China.
The authority of the Chinese Communist Party is based on the
respect that all Chinese people feel for Marx. They may love capitalism.
They may have no interest whatsoever in political theory. But they
believe that Marx was always right and always good . The only reason
that Marxism failed, they think, is the evil of human beings. The gov–
ernment of China can command the loyalty of the citizens because it is
the heir of Karl Marx.
In America, nobody-left, right, or center-ever stops to consider the
possibility that Marxism comes from Marx.
If
only we could talk about
how destructive it is to look forward to a society with no disagreement,
China would hear us and understand us.
An old story used to circu late in the Soviet Union: once there was an
emperor who was very evil and very fierce. He said two plus two equals
six. All the people were afraid of him and agreed that two plus two
equals six.
When the emperor died the next emperor was less evil and less fierce.
He said two plus two equals five. All the people asked themselves,
"How could we have been so stupid as to believe that two plus two
equals six?"
A young mathematician thought for a long time. He concluded two
plus two equals four. He wrote a book to prove his theory. He decided
to take it to the publisher, but on the way, two strangers approached
him. "Comrade," they asked, "what are you doing? Do you really want
to go back to the days when two and two were six?"
The story applies more to contemporary China than it ever did to the
Soviet Union. Chairman Mao was the first emperor. The leaders who
have ruled since Mao, most notably Deng Xiaoping, are the second
emperor. The mathematician who dared to think the unthinkable was
