Why Were Family Kitchens the First to be Destroyed?

The Wall Street Journal(Oct. 27-28,2012) in it's book review of "The Great Famine in China 1958-1962" by Zhou Xun described how Mao Zedong's drive to make China an industrial giant resulted in the deaths of 45 million people.  Mao's goal was to turn China into a "communist utopia and leading industrial nation."  Mao started the "Great Leap Forward" by turning the country into 26,000 communes.  With the help of the military, these communes became work-slave brigades.  Mao's rallying cry was: "go all out, aim high, and achieve greater, faster, better and more economical results in socialist construction."  "Family kitchens were destroyed; even utensils were taken over by the commune or fed to "backyard furnaces" and melted down into useless iron lumps.  All food was served in canteens and distributed according to merit; for the uncooperative, starvation was the punnishment of first resort.  When food ran out the canteen closed and peasants were left to scavenge." Mao went on to say "We can start communism with food, clothes and housing.  Collective canteens, free food, that is communism."  In 1962, Mao was politically outmaneuvered. "The communes were dismantled and China's peasants were able to cultivate and grow and cook their own food once more.  Harvests improved dramatically."  So why were family kitchens the first to be destroyed?  Did not even want to leave reminders, such as utensils, of a more civilized way to eat.  Perhaps we take the freedom to grow and cook our own food for granted.  Perhaps we do not realize how vital it is to our own well-being and our community to cook and eat family meals together.  70% of those applying to our military do not qualify and the #1 reason is fitness- obesity.  The studies show more meals eaten at home result in more fruits and vegetables consumed.  It is important to ourselves to be healthy.  It is important to our national security to have more than 30% applicants qualify.  Family kitchens are vital to the well-being of America.