DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Sister Irene Munoz papers, 1973-2006 | Los Desarriagados Article: ""Chicana Returns From China"" Page 3

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Sister Irene Munoz papers, 1973-2006

Los Desarriagados Article: ""Chicana Returns From China"" Page 3

China...

very concerned about the Russians along their borders. They never brought up Viet Nam or anything like that. They did ask about the migrant workers and what their situation was like, and said that all minorities in China were treated equally. At one point, I was talking to a Chinese doctor and I told him that I was really honored to be here in a medical delegation of such internationally distinguished doctors, being the only nurse in the group. The doctor said, "Well sister, here in China nurses and doctors are treated equal." You know, kind of like don't get hung up on that trip, don't think that you're with somebody really sophisticated because you're not, we're all really equal.
Lauro: Did there seem to be a real true commitment on behalf of everyone to equality and serving the people or did you ever get the impression that this was a policy directed by the Party?
Irene: To me it really seemed like they wanted to work for Mother China and to serve the people and the country. I really realized that this was true when we visited the sheltered workshop. We saw people that were blind and deaf and they told the story of what it was like before liberation, how they had to go around and beg and that no one found them useful for society and how they felt like outcasts. After liberation they decided they wanted to contribute to the country and to serving the people and so they set up little shops. This one man told us a story about how he never got an education because there were never schools like this before and now he has a high school education, is married and is now very happy. His interest in serving the people seemed to be characteristic of the people as a whole. One could see pictures in the factory of individuals who had surpassed their quota in the production of some product and thus contributed more than their share to the welfare of the country. A pretty good incentive.
Lauro: So there was a personal reward for those who really went out of their way to render a better service to the country.
Irene: Right. There's recognition. And everyone tries to out-do everyone else in serving the needs of the people. Isn't that great?
Lauro: Really. Sounds like they've got it together. What were some of the highlights of the trip, your most unforgettable memories?
Acupuncture Anesthesia
Irene: Well, I guess it would have to be the acupuncture anesthesia that we saw in surgery and the operations that we saw, the different procedures used. I saw an operation in the Tuberculosis Hospital in Peking where a man's lung was removed with the use of just one acupuncture needle inserted in his forearm. The needle was twirled while inserted and was the only anesthetic used during the operation. The patient was being coached by the doctors as to what to do while they were operating and was conscious through the entire operation. At one point during the surgery he was eating tangerines and drinking tea while his lung was being removed!
Lauro: Amazing . . . and how old do you think acupuncture is?
Irene: It dates back at least 2,000 years, maybe 3,000 or 4,000. But acupuncture anesthesia is relatively new, maybe within the last seven or eight years.
Lauro: Do you see the possibility of acupuncture taking hold here in the United States or is the Occidental mind not geared to accepting something seemingly so simple from the Orient?
Irene: That's true. But I don't think the American Medical association is too happy about acupuncture. They still have a lot of questions about acupuncture anesthesia. But there is a lot of research being done at the Acupuncture Institute in Shanghai and very technical experiments being conducted on the nervous system there should yield some very interesting results.
Lauro: As a Christian involved in the type of work you're in, could you draw any similarities between the Chinese people and their Revolution and true Christianity?
Irene: Well, but going back to the people, it was quite evident that the people were serving the people. Even  as children they are taught to serve the people, they're taught the teachings of Chairman Mao, the quotations, taught not to be selfish. They say there are no robbers, no prostitution, no V.D., no illegitimacy. To me they just seemed like very sincere docile, warm people. When I look at them I wonder if this isn't the way Christians should be. They seemed to serve the people with joy and love.
Lauro: What did you learn and what do you think U.S. can learn from what's going on in China now?

Adequate Health Care

Irene: What I saw was that everyone received adequate healthcare. I hope that we can imitate China in some ways. We can cut back on the many years of education required to become a doctor like the Chinese have requiring only three years to become a doctor. They've also developed paramedical personnel, "Barefoot Doctors," who undergo 3-6 months training which allow them to do minor surgery, like hernias and apendectomies, and they treat any conditions they've been trained to handle. They go out into the rural areas and reach a lot of people through commune clinics, neighborhood health clinics, etc. They have a lot of hospitals and no one goes without quality medical attention.

El Movimiento

Lauro: More specifically, what do you think the Movimiento Chicano, La Raza, can learn from the Peoples' Republic of China, the people themselves? 
Irene: I think that since we are LaRaza, a family, we're concerned about each other, our goals, our needs, our frustrations ... we can learn from the Chinese that we can overcome the oppression of our people . . . that it can be done, that it is being done. That we should continue forward with the movement and fortify our will to succeed. I think in a sense we are a Chinese people.
Lauro: Would you like to go back to China?
Irene: Definitely. I have so many friends there I'd like to see again.
Lauro: If you have to sum up your trip in some advice to the people in the Movimiento, what would it be? 
Irene: Everywhere we went we saw signs saying "Asian and African countries Unite! or "Workers of the world Unite" and our message should also be one of unity. Carry on the struggle. Serve the people!

Saving...

China... very concerned about the Russians along their borders. They never brought up Viet Nam or anything like that. They did ask about the migrant workers and what their situation was like, and said that all minorities in China were treated equally. At one point, I was talking to a Chinese doctor and I told him that I was really honored to be here in a medical delegation of such internationally distinguished doctors, being the only nurse in the group. The doctor said, "Well sister, here in China nurses and doctors are treated equal." You know, kind of like don't get hung up on that trip, don't think that you're with somebody really sophisticated because you're not, we're all really equal. Lauro: Did there seem to be a real true commitment on behalf of everyone to equality and serving the people or did you ever get the impression that this was a policy directed by the Party? Irene: To me it really seemed like they wanted to work for Mother China and to serve the people and the country. I really realized that this was true when we visited the sheltered workshop. We saw people that were blind and deaf and they told the story of what it was like before liberation, how they had to go around and beg and that no one found them useful for society and how they felt like outcasts. After liberation they decided they wanted to contribute to the country and to serving the people and so they set up little shops. This one man told us a story about how he never got an education because there were never schools like this before and now he has a high school education, is married and is now very happy. His interest in serving the people seemed to be characteristic of the people as a whole. One could see pictures in the factory of individuals who had surpassed their quota in the production of some product and thus contributed more than their share to the welfare of the country. A pretty good incentive. Lauro: So there was a personal reward for those who really went out of their way to render a better service to the country. Irene: Right. There's recognition. And everyone tries to out-do everyone else in serving the needs of the people. Isn't that great? Lauro: Really. Sounds like they've got it together. What were some of the highlights of the trip, your most unforgettable memories? Acupuncture Anesthesia Irene: Well, I guess it would have to be the acupuncture anesthesia that we saw in surgery and the operations that we saw, the different procedures used. I saw an operation in the Tuberculosis Hospital in Peking where a man's lung was removed with the use of just one acupuncture needle inserted in his forearm. The needle was twirled while inserted and was the only anesthetic used during the operation. The patient was being coached by the doctors as to what to do while they were operating and was conscious through the entire operation. At one point during the surgery he was eating tangerines and drinking tea while his lung was being removed! Lauro: Amazing . . . and how old do you think acupuncture is? Irene: It dates back at least 2,000 years, maybe 3,000 or 4,000. But acupuncture anesthesia is relatively new, maybe within the last seven or eight years. Lauro: Do you see the possibility of acupuncture taking hold here in the United States or is the Occidental mind not geared to accepting something seemingly so simple from the Orient? Irene: That's true. But I don't think the American Medical association is too happy about acupuncture. They still have a lot of questions about acupuncture anesthesia. But there is a lot of research being done at the Acupuncture Institute in Shanghai and very technical experiments being conducted on the nervous system there should yield some very interesting results. Lauro: As a Christian involved in the type of work you're in, could you draw any similarities between the Chinese people and their Revolution and true Christianity? Irene: Well, but going back to the people, it was quite evident that the people were serving the people. Even as children they are taught to serve the people, they're taught the teachings of Chairman Mao, the quotations, taught not to be selfish. They say there are no robbers, no prostitution, no V.D., no illegitimacy. To me they just seemed like very sincere docile, warm people. When I look at them I wonder if this isn't the way Christians should be. They seemed to serve the people with joy and love. Lauro: What did you learn and what do you think U.S. can learn from what's going on in China now? Adequate Health Care Irene: What I saw was that everyone received adequate healthcare. I hope that we can imitate China in some ways. We can cut back on the many years of education required to become a doctor like the Chinese have requiring only three years to become a doctor. They've also developed paramedical personnel, "Barefoot Doctors," who undergo 3-6 months training which allow them to do minor surgery, like hernias and apendectomies, and they treat any conditions they've been trained to handle. They go out into the rural areas and reach a lot of people through commune clinics, neighborhood health clinics, etc. They have a lot of hospitals and no one goes without quality medical attention. El Movimiento Lauro: More specifically, what do you think the Movimiento Chicano, La Raza, can learn from the Peoples' Republic of China, the people themselves? Irene: I think that since we are LaRaza, a family, we're concerned about each other, our goals, our needs, our frustrations ... we can learn from the Chinese that we can overcome the oppression of our people . . . that it can be done, that it is being done. That we should continue forward with the movement and fortify our will to succeed. I think in a sense we are a Chinese people. Lauro: Would you like to go back to China? Irene: Definitely. I have so many friends there I'd like to see again. Lauro: If you have to sum up your trip in some advice to the people in the Movimiento, what would it be? Irene: Everywhere we went we saw signs saying "Asian and African countries Unite! or "Workers of the world Unite" and our message should also be one of unity. Carry on the struggle. Serve the people!