Chapter 4 Spiritual life in an ideal age

In the 1970s, the "Cultural Revolution" had entered the middle and later stages, and the order of social life had been restored to a certain extent. Especially after Zhou Enlai presided over the daily work of the central government, all aspects of work had changed and improved to the normal track. The "Gang of Four" continued to interfere and make trouble, but the people finally lived in a relatively peaceful era of idealistic spiritual life. Human beings must have spirit and ideals, which are the obvious signs that distinguish human beings from animals.In that era when politics was in command and thought was leading, people's every word and deed were selfless contributions to the realization of the lofty ideals of communism.Although the materials are poor, people seem to be used to this kind of life, and they don't deliberately pursue the so-called wealth in the West. What they pay most attention to is their own political future, the political reputation and great prospects of the party and the country.The spiritual life engraved with the distinctive imprint of the times seems incomprehensible and unbelievable today, but it is true.

I saw an author write in an article: The people of their generation lived on the spirit, and seeing them live very hard, but they were very fulfilling.People of our generation live on material things. They look rich and chic, but they are actually very empty.A good life should be a society rich in spirit and material.I think this is quite philosophical. Faith is the core of the spiritual pillar.The army is the melting pot of revolution, and the Beijing Garrison is a special force that defends the Party Central Committee and Chairman Mao.In order to make cadres and soldiers have a correct outlook on life and values, and sincerely regard Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought as their lofty beliefs, the troops have always made unremitting efforts to study Marxism-Leninism and Chairman Mao's works as the top priority of political study.The company also often conducts exchanges of reading experience and evaluation and inspection of reading notes, which effectively promotes the in-depth development of everyone's reading of the original works of Ma, En, Lie, Sze, and Mao.At that time, the study really could not follow the formality, it was really studying seriously, deeply comprehending, and combining my own ideological reality in the study to improve the deficiencies and shortcomings.Looking back now, although this kind of learning is mechanical and has a certain color of command, it has a huge cohesive effect on improving everyone's ideological awareness, unifying the will and discipline of the troops, and improving the combat effectiveness of the troops.For example, in a large aspect, the entire garrison is responsible for the security guards of so many party and state leaders, so many party and state agency guards, so many important foreign guests' welcome and delivery guards, and so many embassy and consulate guards. , There have been no major problems for many years, which is inseparable from the fact that all security fighters have done a good job in security under the guidance of Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought.From a small point of view, my company’s comrades actively competed to be on the sentry post, rushed to do difficult tasks, cared for each other and helped each other, carried out criticism and self-criticism face to face at the class meeting, did not fear hardship and tiredness, and did a good job in military training. Following the arrangement of the army, he became a volunteer for eight years after serving in the army, and his monthly allowance was only a few yuan or more than a dozen yuan. In the end, he returned to his hometown to work in agriculture without any regrets or complaints.All this is a true portrayal of the work and study of the soldiers of that era.All of these are closely connected with the Marxist-Leninist world outlook and firm revolutionary beliefs established in that ideal era, and it is because beliefs and beliefs guide actions.It is no exaggeration to say that the richest thing we had in that era was spirit.

There was a shortage of supplies in that era, and even the uniforms of the troops matched that era when they were not rich.When I first joined the army, all the military uniforms I issued were made of cotton. In the eyes of people in this era who are willing to return to the basics, cotton military uniforms are very good. But at that time, there was no other material for military uniforms in my country, only pure cotton.The advantage of wearing cotton military uniforms is that they are comfortable, but the disadvantage is that they tend to wrinkle. In addition, they wear point-toe cloth shoes in spring, summer, and autumn, and wear tiger-head cotton shoes in winter. Standing on duty in Tiananmen Square, this kind of clothing looks a bit rustic. , It is not in harmony with the magnificent square and magnificent buildings.But at that time, no one felt that the cotton military uniform was soiled. They all believed that the cotton military uniform with a red five-star and two red collar badges was a symbol of revolutionary military uniforms and a symbol of equality between officers and soldiers, which was conducive to the unity of officers and soldiers and was also conducive to combat.I have seen military uniforms worn by soldiers or embassy attachés from many countries on the street, and I have even seen military uniforms worn by officers of the Korean People’s Army who have always been friendly with my country at the Beijing Hotel.Although military uniforms with large brimmed hats and epaulets give people a sense of heroism, they are still inappropriate in a politicized and revolutionary China. They are not as simple and neat as Chinese military uniforms.This is also an ideological reflection that politics and spirit are above all else in that era. In the second half of 1971, which was also the second half of my first year in the army, the entire army gradually changed the materials used for singles, overalls and overcoats to polyester-cotton blended fabrics, which is often called "deliang" military uniforms. After the production of "Zeliang" military uniforms, they were first tried on by troops in the Beijing Garrison, and the effect was very good. This military uniform is not only flat, wrinkle-free, but also wear-resistant, which greatly improves the quality of the military uniform.Once, a comrade-in-arms surnamed Fu who joined the army in the same year as me was on duty at the Beijing Hotel. Su Yu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Military Commission and a general who was working at the Beijing Hotel, walked up to Xiao Fu, lifted the corner of his clothes, and twisted and said: It is "definitely good".It can also be seen from the meaningful words of the old general that the change of our army's clothing in 1971 was also an extraordinary event.But whether we are wearing cotton uniforms or Dacron military uniforms, we all stand on the sentry post energetically.The Turkish military uniform should also stand out from the military and the country.

Vigorously carrying out anti-corruption and anti-corruption education is a political education carried out by various troops in the Beijing Garrison District all year round.The security force is located in a busy city, and the soldiers are all in adolescence. During the security work, they all come into contact with local comrades, especially when they are on duty in some public places such as parks and streets. In summer, some lovers who regard the sentinel as the god of protection will do all kinds of intimate actions next to the sentinel.Soldiers are often exposed to these love scenes, which will inevitably cause one or another kind of thought fluctuation in their hearts.In order to prevent problems before they happen, the army often carries out the activity of studying the "Nanjing Road Good Eighth Company" to educate cadres and soldiers to establish the fine tradition of hard work, plain living and hard work, advocate not eating out or buying socks outside, and resolutely implement that soldiers are not allowed The local regulations on dating have maintained the spirit of the security forces.A certain company and a certain class of our battalion who have been on duty at a certain post in Zhongshan Park all year round were also awarded for being a model of resisting corruption and never sticking to it.

Singing revolutionary songs is the most effective, resonant and synergistic political work that can most improve the morale of the troops.In case of the occasion of the whole camp activities, the company will carry out the duet of pulling songs;Revolutionary songs were sung loudly even before meals, during exercises, and during marches.Revolutionary songs with touching words and majestic and high-pitched melodies filled the ears of the soldiers. Although monotonous, they made the soldiers high-spirited and high-spirited.Sing the revolutionary songs of that ideal era and accompany us through those passionate years.

The army is an ideal and passionate work and life, and so are all walks of life.Just a small example can explain that ordinary people at that time also put politics, ideals, and spirit first in their work and life. In 1973, when the superior delivered the document, he heard an unforgettable foreign-related story.One day, a master worker wearing worn-out and greasy overalls came home from get off work, and on his way home, he encountered an ill-intentioned Western reporter who was chasing him to take pictures of him as a "poor" worker.With an idea, he walked into a fish shop and said to the fish salesman: I didn’t come today and I was in a hurry to change my work clothes. A foreign reporter wanted to take a picture of me and create a negative impact on our country. Hurry up and give me two fish to dispel him. shooting ideas.When the salesman heard that it was a major issue related to the image of the country, he immediately picked two big fish and skewered them together for him.The worker happily came out of the aquatic product shop with two big fish in his hands. The foreign reporter saw that the worker was dressed in shabby clothes but was carrying two big fish in his hands. Taking a photo would not mean that Chinese people are poor. I had no choice but to give up.Seeing that the reporter left, the worker returned the fish to the salesman.The perfect performance of the worker and the salesperson became a good story in Beijing for a while.It deeply reflects the patriotism of the Chinese people at that time to safeguard the honor of the motherland and not let anyone tarnish the great motherland.

At that time, in order to make people's historical materialism pure and pure, to establish Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought and beliefs firmly and firmly, and to establish communist ideals firmly and firmly, all kinds of ideological education were officially approved education, so it was monotonous. And boring.Especially in terms of literary and artistic life, the "eight model operas" dominate the world. Although these operas have exquisite lyrics and beautiful singing voices, they are like eating only one kind of food, no matter how delicious it is, it will taste the same.In order to change our country’s monotonous cultural life, in the early 1970s, after censorship, my country successively translated and imported a number of foreign films from socialist countries such as North Korea, Vietnam, Albania, Romania, Yugoslavia, the former Soviet Union and Hungary. The contents of these films Most of them reflect the collective spirit of class struggle in the country, combating foreign invaders, and solidarity and cooperation.Foreign films such as "Lenin in October" and "Conquering Berlin" from the former Soviet Union, "The Flower Girl" from North Korea, "The Eighth Is a Bronze Statue" from Albania, "Wave of the Danube" from Romania and Yugoslavia all gave me It left a vivid impression of foreign lands, and also enabled us to further understand the heroic deeds of the people of all countries in fighting the fascist invaders.The most watched foreign films in those years were North Korean films. North Korean films smoked in the flames of war are unique in their rich flavor of gunpowder, undisguised true feelings and realistic style. The emotional world and the prominently strengthened concept of patriotism and inspirational theme not only influenced and nurtured several generations of Koreans, but also deeply educated and inspired Chinese concepts.

"The spring scenery in the garden can't be closed."In the mid-1970s, despite the interference of ultra-left ideological trends, our country's literary and art workers carefully filmed "Entrepreneurship", "Sparkling Red Star", "Unforgettable Battle", "Long March Songs", "War Flood", "Reconnaissance" A large number of domestic excellent feature films such as "Soldiers" have greatly enriched the cultural life of our people.I remember watching "Sparkling Red Star" in the auditorium of the Ministry of National Defense. The auditorium of Nuo University was full of seats, and many people were still standing in the aisle.When watching the movie, people's staring eyes and hungry expressions seem to engrave every montage in the movie in their minds. When they saw the tragic scene of Pan Dongzi's mother being set on fire by Hu Hansan, many people were shocked by the montage in the movie. The plot of the story was deeply moving, and I couldn't help but shed tears of sympathy.These excellent films make the audience have a strong admiration and nostalgia for the thousands of martyrs who died. The hard-won happy life, hard work to do a good job.

In July 1975, in response to the "Gang of Four" obstructing the release and screening of the film "Entrepreneurship", Mao Zedong wrote in his comments: "There is nothing wrong with this film. It is recommended to pass the release, and we do not demand full blame..." and adjusted the literature and art policy.Since then, some banned films have resumed production.I remember watching "Red Flowers on the Tianshan Mountains", "The Legend of Wu Xun", "Honghu Red Guards", "Secret History of the Qing Palace", "Fifty-Six Yamamoto", "Midway Island", "Ah!A large number of banned Chinese and foreign films, such as "Navy", "A Pair of Red Dancing Shoes", and "The Guest on the Iceberg".The resumption of these long-banned films has broadened people's horizons and absorbed different spiritual nutrition from the film.I remember that in 1975, the Chinese Revolutionary History Museum held an Iranian oil painting exhibition.At the entrance of the oil painting exhibition, there is a huge painting of a nude girl lying on her side. This is a clear contrast to the normal paintings of landscapes, birds and animals a few years ago, which were considered "black paintings", and the so-called "black painting exhibition" was organized. comparison.If it weren't for the adjustment of our country's literature and art policy, although it is a foreign oil painting exhibition, an exhibition with nude women cannot be held in China.