She couldn’t wait until morning. What an exciting time of the year when all the shops closed early,  the smell of scrumptious goose was in the air and friends and family were together again…But it was the special gift – the gift she couldn’t wait to open that allowed her imagination to run wild. How could she sleep? Though she was only seven years old, she felt at one with the country – perhaps with the world… She smiled.

She was tucked snugly in her bed and could see the snow flakes hitting the window. The magic she felt would soon be exceeded by sheer joy – the joy that all good children felt tomorrow morning… But how could she sleep? Her mom came into the room to check on her and noticed she was awake. What was she still doing up, she wondered? She walked over to her daughter and asked why she was still awake. Her daughter explained that she was too excited to sleep – if only she could open her gift now…

Her mom told her that though her father was away – working long hours in the South so that she could lead a better life - he really wanted to be home tomorrow. Maybe next year would be different…Her daughter asked if she believed in something bigger than her country – bigger than the world – the existence of God, perhaps. Her mom told her that some people believe in such things, but there was no place for such beliefs – especially in a country that was progressive and becoming more modern. But for the few who did – it was probably ok to believe, as long as you believed in private…Her daughter persisted, "but do you/we believe in, ah...God?" She wanted to know if her Uncle and Grandfather were in a place like heaven. Her mom looked at her nervously and whispered to her that maybe they did believe and that her Uncle and Grandfather might be in heaven. She went on to tell her daughter that the government does not condone religion and it could be dangerous to even discuss this. And with that, her mom told her daughter to go to sleep.

As morning arose with the coming dawn, the daughter leaped out of bed and ran into the living room. Sitting on the table was her special gift – It looked so simple, delicately wrapped and waiting to be opened. She knew many of her friends were up as well – probably opening their gifts at this very moment. But her mom was at the market – getting the last of those special vegetables that made such an occasion complete. Should she wait? How long would it be? But right as she was contemplating her decision, she heard the lock turn and her mom came through the door with two large bags of food.

"Oh mom", she exclaimed. "Can I open my special gift now?" Her mom asked if she could wait until later, but her daughter wanted to open it now – she simply couldn’t wait any longer. So, her mom placed the bags on the floor and they sat at the table. She began by telling her daughter how good she was – how both parents were so proud of her. She went on to tell her how she represented the future of their proud nation… And with that, her mom told her to open the gift.

The daughter tugged at the paper – lifting the corners until the beautiful paper seemingly fell from the box. What could it be, she wondered? She lifted the top of the box and reach inside. What could it be…what was it…As she lifted the gift out of the box, she noticed how soft it was – like silk. Yes, it must be silk, she thought. As she unfolded it, she saw it was the flag of her country. The most beautiful flag she had ever seen. It had tassels around the edges which made it so impressive. Inside the box was a note. It read: “You have been a good comrade this past year – the year of the horse. You have participated in all of the government-sponsored classes and have performed exceptionally well in the young red guard after school. Our nation’s future depends on the millions of young leaders, once again, to make our nation strong and prosperous. Study hard, don’t engage in any activities that are against the state, and let us know if anyone is not true to our cause – the cause of the state. Please hang your flag in the window to show everyone that there is no higher honor, no higher order than our magnificent state.”

Signed:

Chairman Mao
(Mao Zedong)

She smiled and was so happy that their great leader had given her such a magnificent gift. She looked at her mom and said "I want to be like him one day, long live Chairman Mao." Her mom nervously smiled back and sadly thought of her own father and brother...

Story Note:

As a result of the Cultural Revolution and the pernicious human calamities wrought by communism, socialism, and dictatorships worldwide, millions have given their lives for the right to be free. For those who have been lucky enough to have escaped overwhelming oppression and made it to the shores of democracy, their stories serve as a warning to all who take such freedoms for granted. Freedom of expression, religion, speech, association, and thought were once thought to be the pillars of America and are now threatened by narrowly defined organizations such as the ACLU, the Americans United for the Separation of Church and State  and left wing intellectualists who have tilted the playing field on their own political terms. Their brand of multi-culturalism excludes the majority, yet is fast becoming the standard operating procedure for many institutions throughout the nation. What's more, under threat of legal action, right minded individuals and organizations have ceded ownership of such freedoms for fear of being labeled intolerant, non-inclusive, and culturally insensitive.

Society is permitted to embrace those cultural and religious traditions that are deemed "socially acceptable" by the arbiters of cultural values, while other traditions are banished from the public domain - to be practiced within the confines of one's own home - something reminiscent of Communist oppression...This is becoming the norm for Christian celebrations such as Christmas and Easter. So-called liberally open-minded people will argue that a Christmas parade should really be called a "holiday" parade, since there are those who might not be Christians, yet want to partake in the celebration. As an example, this is the case for Denver's Parade of Lights. The logic they proffer goes something like this: a Chinese person, who might celebrate the Chinese New Year two months later, might be offended because a Christmas parade is somehow exclusionary. Yet, those same culturally conscious decision-makers will not make such distinctions when the Chinese New Year rolls around and impose the term "holiday" on their traditions, while demanding that their New Year's  parade include every non-Chinese group that wants representation.

In the end, it's your freedoms, rights, liberties and culture that are being socially tinkered with, if not completely eliminated. As was the case in Mao's China, the masses can easily be cajoled, herded, and led in a direction that sends those inner alarms blaring. Let's hope that we all heed those alarms and demand the same respect that are afforded other cultures and forms of celebration.