Post 6

The priest of Fuling is a man in his early 80s who survived very harsh conditions during the Great Cutltural Revolution. His church was “was constructed by French missionaries in 1861 (220)”. Above the church there is propaganda sign that talks about the Four Modernizations which are priest of Fuling, Father Li Hairou, who “is more than four times as old as the Four Modernizations (220)”. Father Li is a short man; probably less than five feet but what makes him stand out is his “proud nose” and his bright white teeth which calls "a species of Modernization". He eyes show more emotion then his low and raspy voice.

During Father Li’s mass's they are said in Chinese unless he has pain in his kidneys or knee then he says them in Latin since it is faster that way. However, there are times when he is in too much pain and does not say mass at all but that hardly happens. “He is strong, although he moves slowly  and there is a pronounced dignity in his carriage. Most Elderly people in China have this dignity, because they live in a culture where age commands unquestioned respect… (221)”

The significance of Father Li is that he survived the Great Cultural Revolution who believed Catholicism was a foreign teaching which sent him to the countryside. There he survived poverty, starvation and the torment of the Red Guards who constantly watched him and made march through the streets wearing a sign saying “Down with the Imperialism’s Faithful Running Dog! (223)” This is one of the many stories that Peter Hessler gives about the people who survived the Cultural Revolution and who also believe it was a waste of time. However, Hessler also gives stories about his students who respect Mao Zedong. As an observer of culture Hessler must respect each individual’s ideas and morals for him to really understand a culture such as China's. He could always pick side but then his role as an observer would not be fulfilled.

Mimi Zycherman