The following post was written by one of my Chinese friends who is an active member of the Communist Party.
What the Party Means to Me
To me, any nation or ethnic group shares one common ideal so that they could be united, fighting for the same goal, such as racial superiority (Tom’s note: this is not a “loaded” term in Chinese), or the same religion. And in China, it has always been moralism. I don’t mean that Chinese people enjoy the noblest morals; it is just that we always try to act upon the unique moral standard which is widely-accepted in the country so that Chinese cultural has survived a long time.
By the end of the Republic of China, the traditional moral standards had been shattered, and there was no such a clear moral guideline then. With the coming of the Party, it restored the long-upheld moral ideals infused with new spirits. Then people found something they could rely on.
So in my opinion, the Party, not like other political parties, is not only about politics, but it is also about moral improvement, and by inheriting Chinese traditional ethic system, it can effectively enhance the nation’s unity and people’s behaviors. And that is why when I joined the Party, I found myself a member of nobler people and tried to behave more appropriately.
It may sound interesting to you, but you should know that traditionally Chinese people have always valued their moral nobility more than any thing else, not material success. That is my personal experience and understanding. I still have much to say, because this topic got me thinking, but I do not want to get too far. Maybe some other time. (Tom’s note: please post comments and questions for my friend below)
How to Join the Communist Party
First you have to file an application in writing to talk about your understanding about the Party and your reasons and determination to join the party, and then the party branches will look into your background, your daily behaviors and your criminal records.
If that is all ok, you will be made as an activist of party application and since then starts the one year long of investigation and examination, during which usually, in colleges, you will have to take no less than 40 hours of courses of Marxism and communist theory studying, after which a branch meeting will be held to discuss the result and you will have to make a report, and your 2 sponsors will introduce your information to the group, and the chairman will present the opinions of the masses they collected beforehand from the people around you; then you might be accepted as a probationary party member.
Here comes another one year long of probation, during which you have to report your progress in all sides regularly. One year later after the approval of the higher party branch, you become an official member. Sometime there will be a ceremony, and you will have to take an oath.
That is the simple introduction of the procedures. Hope I made it clear. There are some parts I left out, which I think will not bring you difficulties in understanding the general process.
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