The phrase "What can be, unburdened by what has been" resonates with themes found in revolutionary movements, including the Chinese Revolution, by suggesting a radical break from the past to envision a new future. Here's how it parallels with the Chinese Revolution:
Vision of a New Society: The Chinese Revolution, especially under Mao Zedong, aimed to create a new society free from the shackles of feudalism, imperialism, and traditional Chinese culture, which were seen as oppressive. Mao's vision was for a society where the proletariat would rise, unburdened by the historical inequalities and class structures of the past. This mirrors the idea of envisioning "what can be" when one is not limited by historical precedents or conditions.
Cultural Revolution: Mao's Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) was explicitly about erasing the "Four Olds" (old customs, culture, habits, and ideas) to make way for the "Four News." This was an extreme attempt to be "unburdened by what has been," where traditional Chinese culture was seen as an impediment to the progress of a socialist state. The destruction of cultural artifacts, the re-education of intellectuals, and the promotion of revolutionary art and literature were all part of creating a new cultural landscape, unburdened by traditional values.
Economic and Social Reforms: The Great Leap Forward was another example where Mao tried to leapfrog China into communism, bypassing stages of development that had historically been necessary for other nations. This policy was about imagining what China could be in terms of industrial and agricultural output, unburdened by the slow, traditional paths of development.
Philosophical and Ideological Shift: The Marxist-Leninist-Maoist ideology promoted in China was about a complete transformation of society, where the past was not just to be learned from but actively dismantled to make way for a proletarian state. This ideological shift required people to think beyond their current conditions ("what has been") towards a utopian future ("what can be").
Destruction and Reconstruction: The Chinese Revolution involved significant destruction of old systems, whether they were political, economic, or cultural, to make way for new structures. This mirrors the sentiment of being unburdened by past limitations to build anew, a concept that resonates with Harris's quote when interpreted in a revolutionary context.
Mobilization of Youth: Both the phrase and the revolutionary tactics in China involved mobilizing youth, who were seen as less burdened by the past and more open to radical change. The Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution were primarily young people who were supposed to embody this new, unburdened future.
The phrase, when paralleled with the Chinese Revolution, highlights a common theme in revolutionary thought: the necessity of breaking with the past to forge a new path. This isn't just about physical or economic change but also about a psychological and ideological shift where one's vision for the future is not constrained by historical or traditional norms. However, it's worth noting that while the sentiment might align with revolutionary ideals, the practical outcomes in historical revolutions like China's have often led to significant human suffering and upheaval, suggesting that being "unburdened by what has been" can come with profound costs.
https://whetscience.substack.com/p/the-subversive-truth-behind-what