Smash the Old World!

It's Fine!

Renmin Ribao editorial, August 23, 1966

We hail the proletarian revolutionary rebel spirit of the young "Red Guard" fighters of Peking!

Chairman Mao has said: "In the last analysis, all the truths of Marxism can be summed up in one sentence: 'To rebel is justified.'"

"The Golden Monkey wrathfully swung his massive cudgel,
And the jade-like firmament was cleared of dust."

With Mao Tse-tung's thought as their weapon, the young "Red Guard" fighters are sweeping away the dust of all the old ideas, culture, customs and habits of the exploiting classes.

Peking has been liberated for 17 years. But, as a result of prolonged control and repression by the revisionist former Peking municipal Party committee, the names of many places and shops and quite a few outworn customs and bad habits in the service trades are still emitting a rotten feudal and capitalist odour and poisoning people's souls. The broad masses of the revolutionary people can no longer tolerate this.

Where the broom does not reach, the dust will not vanish of itself. Tens of thousands of "Red Guards" have wielded iron brooms and within the short space of a few days have swept away many names and customs and habits representing the ideology of the exploiting classes.

This is a revolutionary action to destroy the old and establish the new. New names, new customs and new habits glittering with the proletarian revolutionary spirit, have added boundless glory to our great capital, the centre of the proletarian revolution.

Revolutionary signs and inscriptions are everywhere. Everywhere there are revolutionary words and songs. Every street, every store and every trade must become a school for the study of Mao Tse-tung's thought and a centre for the dissemination, implementation and defence of Mao Tse-tung's thought. Mao Tse-tung's thought is illuminating every corner.

This is a great event which lifts up our hearts; a joyous event which fills our hearts with a great happiness.

The revolutionary spirit of the "Red Guards" will enable our country and people to preserve their revolutionary youth for ever.

The revolutionary action of the "Red Guards" is a mighty torrent that cannot be stayed by any old conservative forces.

The proletarian revolutionary rebel spirit of the "Red Guards" is very good indeed!