itment to the CCP, he joined the Red army, and by 19 he was a full CCP member. He took apprenticeship under Deng Xiao ping, China’s leader at that time, Hu Yao bang was one of the front contender’s for the Red Army's leadership, but because of his support for the students protesting for a better educational system and increased democracy he was condemned and spent most of his latter life reading, practicing calligraphy, and taking long walks. I almost walked past my flat; it looked different today, less cheerful. We were lucky to live in a building with more class than many others; no rats, and we had wood floors instead of concrete. Walking on the path towards the gray concrete door, I remembered the night when I was in the hallway and je je was sneaking into the house from one of her ‘study groups,’ she pulled me outside and made me sit with her on the large concrete steps that lead to the door. This is when she said something that I didn’t know the meaning of at the time, in a hesitant matter she said, "No matter what anyone tells you, I am your je je and I will always be." I thought she was crazy, maybe the bitter cold of that February night had gotten to her, or maybe it was fumes vacating the local tannery that we stared at from across the street. This night was the first time I had noticed the sparkle in her eyes, while she lectured me on how I should not be like her. At that moment she was no longer just my sister but she was almost like a Shinto goddess to me, a higher being; she was not part of old China’s ways as Baba said. She did not believe in our traditions, she was a girl, in China with her own political views, a complete oxymoron in these days. Je je was the perfect representation of a new democratic China, one with increased rights for all, freedom of expression and as je je would say with a grin ‘American boys!’ My sister has a massive influence on my life, her kindred s...
