It’s no joke. The ideological war called the Cultural Revolution has returned.

The Cultural Revolution was the craziest period in modern Chinese history. It’s also the most tragic. From a Xi Jinping “affiliated” toilet to the frantic nationwide study of his thoughts, there is enough indication that Culture Revolution 2.0 has begun. Some of the crazy Maoist ideas make Westerners laugh. But to the Chinese, the ever more suffocating environment is unbearable. When a harmless joke about two dogs sends the comedian to prison and kills the industry that creates laughs, Chinese people are forced to find alternative ways to express their despair, sadness, and hopelessness. Has the world prepared itself for China’s Cultural Revolution 2.0? The answer may make you laugh and cry.