The red scarf is a common memory of a generation. When children come into primary school, the first thing they have to face is to compete for the red scarf; only the most obedient children deserve red scarves, and joining Young Pioneers of China. After then, the red scarf will be the monitor of all the childhood: the first time to sleep on it, the first time to write down words on field-character shape exercise book, the first time to salute five-star red flag.

“The red scarf is a part of the five-star red flag, ”says our teacher. After my graduation from primary school, even long after my adulthood, I came to realize that this piece of red cloth is just a part of the patriotic education I experienced. Many wonderful characters were attached to this piece of cloth, but we are seldom aware of the conflicting facts compared with these words.

 

You can love it, you can doubt it, but you cannot ignore it.

 

My red scarf is taken off, but its influence is still in me.

 

紅領巾是一代人共同的記憶。小學一年級，入校的第一次競爭，即始於斯──最乖、成績最好的孩子才配得上第一批加入少年先鋒隊、戴上紅領巾。此後，它會成為童年時光的見證者：第一次將它放在枕下安眠、第一次對國旗敬禮、第一次用田字格本寫作業。「紅領巾是國旗的一角」，老師如是說。小學畢業很久，甚至到成年之後我才意識到，這塊貫穿整個童年的紅布只是愛國教育的一部份──任何美好的詞彙都會被附著於上，然而卻鮮有人察覺近在咫尺、卻與之相反的現實。

你可以熱愛它，你可以懷疑它，但是你不能無視它。

紅領巾早已摘下，但我已然知道，一旦戴上，它就不會離開；