Let's Just Flatten China
I know, I know, this morning I was fretting about nuclear war. But after reading this, I think it's time to just flatten China completely.
At the White House State dinner on Jan. 19, about six minutes into his set, Lang Lang began tapping out a famous anti-American propaganda melody from the Korean War: the theme song to the movie “Battle on Shangganling Mountain.”
The film depicts a group of “People’s Volunteer Army” soldiers who are first hemmed in at Shanganling (or Triangle Hill) and then, when reinforcements arrive, take up their rifles and counterattack the U.S. military “jackals.”
The movie and the tune are widely known among Chinese, and the song has been a leading piece of anti-American propaganda by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for decades. CCP propaganda has always referred to the Korean War as the “movement to resist America and help [North] Korea.” The message of the propaganda is that the United States is an enemy—in fighting in the Korean War the United States’ real goal was said to be to invade and conquer China. The victory at Triangle Hill was promoted as a victory over imperialists.
Just flatten the whole Middle Kingdom. What do you say? So it would be the end of the world. At least we'd go down with honor.
- Comment (58)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (2)
Comments :
Dec '10
Re: Let's Just Flatten China
I doubt rather seriously it would be the end of the world. More likely, their stuff would malfunction.
Dec '10
Re: Let's Just Flatten China
Wait - you are blaming the Chinese for celebrating a military victory?
The people who carry blame and shame in this case are the pianist who chose to play a Chinese triumphalist anthem celebrating a military defeat of American forces -- and the President who obliviously allowed him to do so.
Dec '10
Re: Let's Just Flatten China
When you spend the first two years bowing to despots and hugging South American dictators, don't be surprised when hosting a communist country at the White House they would feel comfortable insulting you to your face.
Or maybe our president has some sympathy for the sentiments expressed in the song. Hmmmm?
Oct '10
Re: Let's Just Flatten China
They have sown the wind, let them reap the whirlwind. But that won't happen. Obama's more likely to do a full kow-tow to Hu Jintao instead.
By the way, I believe there's supposed to be a remake of John Milius's classic Red Dawn coming out soon, with Red China as the enemy rather than the Soviet Union.
Dec '10
Re: Let's Just Flatten China
If only that bothered Obama, he'd know what it was like for somebody to scratch their face with their middle finger in his direction.
Oct '10
Re: Let's Just Flatten China
Indeed. Is there even such a thing as a pro-American Democrat these days? Lousy quislings, the lot of them.
Dec '10
Re: Let's Just Flatten China
Agreeing to lower our standards of living so that we could more effectively compete internationally would be a better approach, but I suppose that most of us would prefer to just sit around until sending out the nukes is the only option left. I am firmly opposed to lowering my standard of living, by the way.
May '10
Re: Let's Just Flatten China
Hmmm. Leveling China might be a bit intemperate.
How about if we return the favor by having someone -- I don't know, Jewel? -- belt out a rendition of "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" at the Tiananmen gate, right at Mao's portrait.
Edited on Jan 23, 2011 at 12:02pmJul '10
Re: Let's Just Flatten China
I remember watching an interview on television of Billy Idol. I don't remember who was interviewing him, but what I remember about the inteview was that that host was making fun of him and he was either too dense, or not intellegent enough to know he was being insulted.
On television that's funny.
In foreign relations that's frightening.
Dec '10
Re: Let's Just Flatten China
For what it's worth, this Wikipedia article states that the Epoch Times (the source for this story) is said to be run by the Falun Gong.
Edited on Jan 23, 2011 at 12:12pmMay '10
Re: Let's Just Flatten China
Better yet: we could just give them Lady Gaga. For keeps.
Dec '10
Re: Let's Just Flatten China
Have you never heard Pete Seeger whistle the marching anthem of Mao's army, "Three Rules of Discipline and Eight Rules of Attention"? I'm not aware that he ever had the chance to perform it at a White House state dinner for a Chinese premier, but otherwise the principle is exactly the same.
Jul '10
Re: Let's Just Flatten China
Next time, Randy Newman should provide the entertainment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Du3WhHrrNgs&feature=related
Dec '10
Re: Let's Just Flatten China
Claire, have you ever seen "Fail-Safe" (the 1963 version, not the rotten remake with George Clooney)? I can tell that you and Prof. Groeteschele are soulmates: he's the nuclear-war theorist who urges the President not to try to recall the bombers accidentally dispatched to nuke Moscow, on the theory that with one successful strike on the heart of Mother Russia, the Communist system will fall. (Later events showed he might well have been right.)
With all the tension between the autocracy of the Chinese Communist Party apparatchiks and nomenklatura on the one hand and the ordinary Chinese people on the other, it's not yet clear that the people would rise up to dismantle the rule of the Party in the wake of a big embarrassment or defeat to the Party. It's on the other hand very clear that the People's Liberation Army shares few if any of the qualms of the Soviet Red Army about using the most ruthless and devastating force against its fellow citizens.
Oct '10
Re: Let's Just Flatten China
These people are so lacking in the awareness department that I have to wonder if any of them even picked up that this was happening.
Jan '11
Re: Let's Just Flatten China
Good to know that artists are bravely standing up for human rights, freedom, and against tyrann . . . oh wait . . . . .
Sep '10
Re: Let's Just Flatten China
Just keep telling yourself 2 things Claire:
(1) We are in a new era of civility.
(2) Dinesh D'Souza's thesis about anti colonialist Obama is crazy.
As you were.
Jul '10
Re: Let's Just Flatten China
This is just the Middle Kingdom reminding us that we elected a brain donor for President and, as a hat tip to the ADA (American Disabilities Act, not American Dental Association), he has appointed proud brain donors throughout the White House and State Department.
Just play some of that Children's Obama Chorus stuff. Very soothing.
Jun '10
Re: Let's Just Flatten China
So now it’s knockin’ China flat
On this bad news Sunday
With Claire at the bat
Who can keep the dogs at bay?
Oh my! What can we do?
Give her some Xanex
And introduce her to Hu
So those muscles she won’t flex.
Jul '10
Re: Let's Just Flatten China
Ottoman Umpire: Better yet: we could just give them Lady Gaga. For keeps. · Jan 23 at 12:15pm
There is a problem with the site. It does not allow me to vote "like" thousands of times on the same message.