That brings us to this month. In an article last week, Politico ended its story on Bloom’s resignation with a curious quote. In reference to Obama attempting to forge a partnership between manufacturers in several states and academia — in order to revitalize American factories — Bloom apparently saw something Mao-esque in the way government was attempting to support private business, stating the approach would, “let the great thousand flowers bloom in America.”
If that sounds familiar, it should.
While the correct wording is in fact a “hundred flowers,” there is no question as to where the phrase derives from. Back in the summer of 1957 in the People’s Republic of China, a movement emerged called the “Hundred Flowers Campaign,” during which the Communist Party allegedly encouraged those with diverse view points to step forward and share their ideas with a view to “letting a hundred flowers blossom and a hundred schools of thought contend is the policy for promoting progress in the arts and the sciences and a flourishing socialist culture in our land.”
Of course it was all a ploy, implemented to out as many free-thinkers and dissidents as the regime possibly could. Not surprisingly, Mao punished many who participated in the Hundred Flowers Movement until finally reimposing his oppressive policy on public expression.
Yep, he “executed” them… What do you think our government will eventually do to dissidents? It won’t be cuddly, I guarantee it.
