The Leader is Dead

By Nicole Lanzo

September 9th 1976

Beijing times

Beijing~ Mao Zedong, our leader died today on September 9th 1976. Mao Zedong was aged 82. He did a lot of things for China in order to make it a better place. Mao had been in poor health for several years. He declined visibly for at least six months prior to his death. Some reports have said he has died from Lou Gehrig's disease. Lou Gehrig’s disease is a disorder which causes muscle weakness, which can lead to death. At five o'clock in the afternoon on September 2, 1976, Mao suffered a heart attack, which may have contributed to his death.
    Before this event Mao had many accomplishments. Mao was one of the historic figures of the twentieth century. He rose into power by commanding the Long March. Mao was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Cultural Revolution. Mao was born into a peasant family, so he wanted to make everything about China better. He was in charge of the Four Olds. The Four Olds were Old Customs, Old Culture, Old Habits, and Old Ideas. Even though people were embarrassed or scared of things that may have happened to them by the Red Guards, it was Mao’s way of changing China From old to new. Mao was in office for 33 and ½ years and had many accomplishments throughout his 82 years of life.
    Lin Bao, a witness of the Cultural Revolution had her home searched by the Red Guards. About here experience, she said, “I don’t think Mao did the right thing. A few years ago, Mao’s Red Army searched my home. I was 13 at the time. As I am now 16. I will never forget that day. My little sister Lin Yu got her doll taken away as the doll was wearing Four Olds for clothing. She was very upset because she had  this doll since she was born. I am against Mao because I think he did the wrong thing”.
    Yang Changming is a Red Guard who worked for Chairman Mao. Yang thinks Mao was a great leader. This is what he had to say. “I worked for Mao as long as I can remember. He was a great leader and always tried to do what was best for China. He showed great power and enthusiasm. He taught me a lot as a Red Guard and he always said how we were doing the right thing, helping China become greater”.
    The Leader is dead, but we will always remember the greatness of him. For some people they won’t even think about Mao because of all the trouble they went through because of him.