re: #267 wheat-dogghazi

Mao benefited from having a less appealing alternative — Chiang Kaishek — as a ruler of a new China. Mao succeeded in winning over the poor, rural population to his side; Chiang was less successful in getting a wide base to his side.

A large army supporting Mao kinda helped, too.

And generally, it was the richer, urban population that made it over to the US and had kids. (either directly or through Taiwan). Mao was not a good name for at least a generation of Chinese Americans.

Oh, man, was it a bad name in certain parts of Californian communities…