Today I Learned

Obligatory: I didn't technically learned of it "today", I was like 6-7 years old when I was in I think Grade 1/2 when they started doing that, I didn't know what it was called at the time, nor understood its significance; to me, it was basically seemed like just another ritual similar to lunar new years when people prayed to dieties. I left with my parents to the United States soon after.

Then about like a few months ago, Lemmy discussions about US Autocratization brought up those memories again so I looked it up and and briefly skimmed it. Today I read it again in more details.

Excerpts:

During the Cultural Revolution, and especially during the Mao Zedong era, joining the Young Pioneers was practically mandatory; although not mandatory today, it is still required in primary and secondary schools. However, the subjects taught are more about how Mao Zedong founded the country or how China rose.

Young Pioneers consist of children between the ages of six and fourteen; upon reaching the age of fourteen, members automatically exit the Young Pioneers and may optionally go on to join the Communist Youth League.

Most elementary school students are Young Pioneers by the time they graduate from grade school. Most of the schools require students of the right age to become Young Pioneers. As of the end of 2023, the number of registered Young Pioneers in China is 114.807 million.

Young Pioneers are immersed in CCP ideology and wear red scarves as a symbol of their commitment. Joining the Young Pioneers is seen as a normal part of growing up, a rite of passage, or a social expectation in China.

The red scarf (Chinese: 红领巾; pinyin: hónglǐngjīn) is the only uniform item. Young Pioneers are often referred to simply as "Red Scarves"; the investiture ceremony often consists of new members having their scarves tied for them by existing members. Children wearing red scarves are a ubiquitous sight in China.

Ah yes this red scarf shit. This is the part the I remember the most, cuz that scarf was annoying as fuck. Its basically like the "ties" (like you know the ties of a western suit? those ties) teens in US Highschools have to wear. Very annoying. I never complied with the tie policy when I was in highschool in the US, I would've also try to disregard it had I remained in China. Its not even about the disagreement with the politics, I fucking hate authority (whomever they may be) telling me to wear a uniform, especially these red scarfs (China) and ties (US), like it makes my neck feel so uncomfortable. (But yes, in hindsight, also fuck the politics that the red scarf represents.)

Young Pioneers must salute when raising and lowering the national flag

Lol, are schools military academies?

The Young Pioneers pledge is:
Chinese: 我是中国少年先锋队队员。我在队旗下宣誓：我热爱中国共产党，热爱祖国，热爱人民，好好学习，好好锻炼，准备着：为共产主义事业贡献力量。
Translation: I am a member of the Young Pioneers of China. Under the Flag of the Young Pioneers I swear: I will love the Communist Party of China, the motherland, and the people; I will study hard, strengthen myself [lit. exercise well], and prepare thus: to contribute my strength to the cause of communism.

🤔 Sounds familiar, my fellow Americans? Oh yea, pledge of allegience. 👀

Why does nationalism always have the same patterns?

Making kids do pledges is so fucking creepy...