"I'll forget about my hands, if I have to be crippled, then I'll accept being crippled. In this world, there are many worthy people with crippled hands or no hands at all." Pg.116 Nein Cheng Life and Death in Shanghai 

Word Count:276

    Nein Cheng's text was one that truly intrigued me and inspired me as a woman and a person. Cheng was ambushed, questioned, and tortured so that she would confess to being a part of the cultural revolution. In the very beginning, she started off strong in her belief stating she had nothing to confess even though it would have helped her not to be tortured by the guards. Cheng could have very easily given up and chosen the so-called easier path even though we don't know why they wanted her to confess. Whether they wanted it to kill her the reader will never fully know, but her being a smart strong woman she stuck to her truth and her story. Even though being locked up in a cell with no windows, her hands were in constant pain, and her being retrained she still didn't want to give up.

    Nein Cheng's story is one that demonstrates the true strength of a woman; a woman who had the courage to live her truth regardless of pressure. This quote demonstrates that message as it is her trying not to look weak and give in to her pain but to stand strong and take the situation for the best it could be. She was willing to be crippled if it meant staying true to herself, not only that but took the positive out of an impossible situation. Cheng's whole story is one of true strength and positivity to overcome any situation of oppression. Cheng is giving a strong message to all women even now to stay true to themselves, stay strong, and remain positive throughout all struggles of life.