China, then and now

I took this pic in remote mountains in an advising trip on water supply. See the single corn plants in each depression among the rocks. There was a drought and the peasants were blaming the Government. When I mentioned forestation, an old peasant said to me (with the officials present): Chairman Mao told us to clear the trees and plant corn instead. I had read all of Mao's works, but no Chinese ever wanted to talk about him: It was not fear, it was passionate hate. The terrible famine under Mao was too recent. In those years the CIA did not worry about China overtaking America but if China would be able to feed itself. The pic shows a stone water reservoir for rainwater, with Communist propaganda attached. Rotten field mouse carcasses floated in the stinking water.

I did the Wall too; now my daughter is climbing the very same steps. I hope she learns Chinese.