!!!HAPPY NATIONAL DAY!!!
Today is the 60th Anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The day is marked in China by celebrations and parties all over the country. I have never seen a National Day celebrated with so much excitement and enthusiasm. Even Independence Day in the United States does not quite reach the swelling of pride found in China (this could be in part to the emerging of China as opposed to the Established U.S.)
Different celebrations can be found throughout the country, but the morning’s premier event is the National Day Parade along Chang’an Avenue through Tiananmen Square. The parade begins (as everyday does) with the raising of the Flag. The Parade is broken into two major parts: the military parade followed by what the Chinese call a mass pageant.
The military parade consists of every branch and division of the military: from the navy, army, air force to the mobile missile defense units, the fighters and bombers and the mobile nuclear missiles. While I am not overly impressed by military parades, the organization and discipline of the troops is well done and on par with the great armies of the world. (There has been discussion about not only the advancement in military technologies, but in the professionalism of the army. A point not lost on the Americans who are great believers in the need for a highly trained and organized military establishment.)
The mass pageant consists of floats, marches and performances dedicated to different aspects of Chinese society. The first is the Ansai Drum Dance: a drum sequence that originated as a war symbol and later developed into a celebration of festivals and the harvest. It is an impressive show and by far the most entertaining part of the parade. The Parade continues with tributes to China’s four leaders: Mao Ze Dong, Deng Xiao Ping, Jiang Zemin and Hua JinTao. Followed by ‘Cherry Blossom’ parade that wishes all chines good fortune and happiness. Then Marches to different aspects of Chinese society: agriculture development, scientific developmental, environmental developmental, etc… Then comes the largest section of the pageant, floats dedicated to the different provinces and cities from Inner Mongolia to Taiwan, (oh yes Taiwan). The parade ends with a procession of 5,000 children symbolizing ‘A better tomorrow’.
Over the past month I have had the opportunity to think about the China I have seen and the one you read about. Now I already had a good idea that these two vision would not mesh. But I thought today, National Day, would be a good time to give a brief reflection.
An Important thing to understand about China and the Chinese people (be careful here, since I am about to make sweeping generalizations) is that they are under no illusions about the government, corruption and the propaganda that live with every day. What they demand from their government is in many ways no different then what any peoples do/should demand: a constant improvement of their and their neighbors quality of life (living standards) and a responsiveness to the problems they face both as individuals and as a group. I think I can say with some assurance that the living standards have improved greatly for a lot of Chinese and that the prospects for their children are brighter now then they have been in almost 200 years. By this standard the government has and is delivering. What happens in the future will be interesting. But, if the rest of the world views Chinese people as passive and repressed, it does so at its own risk.
HAPPY NATIONAL DAY!!!
Part II will follow with a description of the evening festivities at Tiananmen Square.
I liked the miniskirts. Nice touch that I’m sure Mao would have appreciated.
I’m all for an attractive army.