WHAT HAVE WE WRITTEN?
Here I want to say two things only.
First,what has been the main subject of Chinsese novels,stories,plays and poems during the last ten years?I believe I am not too far out when I say that,apart from some reminiscences about the past episodes in the revolution,we have been writing about the new relationships between men.Yes,these ten years have seen stupendous changes in human relationships.Actions based on seldish motives are criticized.To satisfy his personal greed,a man may take advantage of others and grab at their ricebowls.Of course he deserves to be criticized.To our minds,the tireless“fight”to get rich is not the noblest way of living.On the contrary,only those things which benefit all are worth doing.Sometimes to help others we should even sacrifice ourselves.So our literature upholds public-spiritedness and altruism and comes down hard on selfishness.
Back in the years of the May the Fourth Movement we showed that we were against feudal ideas:this is even more true today.We praise freedom and equality.The women,once cooped up at home,can now go out if they wish,to do work suited to their capacities.You have only to look round to see women engaged in public work everywhere.There are women ministers,factory managers,school principals;women take part in all kinds of construction work,receiving the same treatment as men.No longer weak creatures with bound feet,they have become independent.Human relationships are certainly changing now that men and women are equal.We praise freedom and equality,we praise progress,we condemn conservatism and backwardness.
Secondly,our literature has nothing to do with the cold war or the hot war,but speaks with passion of construction.We can build only in a peaceful environment.We want to build,to change our country which was so poor into a happy land of plenty.For this we need peace.We are not against the people of any country;we have never spoken harshly about the American people;we know the difference between the American people and the ruling class.We have always had great respect for the wisdom of the American people and want to be their friends for good.We are sure,no matter how viciously America's rulers may attack and slander us,the American people will see the truth for themselves.Since the United States' government does not permit Americans to come to China,an exchange of literature at least should be useful.Our works may not be well written,but through them you can see clearly our fervent longing to rebuild our country,our peaceful aspirations and work for peace.