A State Insult with Chinese Characteristics (Good Analysis of Hu's "Punking" of 0)

The American (American Enterprise Institute) ^ | 1/26/2011 | Nicholas Eberstadt

[mojito]

How to evaluate the results of last week’s China-U.S. summit in Washington? Improbably, the key for the entire event may lie in what is usually the least memorable portion of these carefully choreographed occasions: the cultural program at the concluding state banquet.

During the dinner’s musical interlude and following a duet with American jazz musician Herbie Hancock, Chinese pianist Lang Lang treated the assembled dignitaries to a solo of what he described as “a Chinese song: ‘My Motherland.’” (You can watch this on YouTube.)

The Chinese delegation was clearly delighted: Chinese President and Communist Party chief Hu Jintao, stone-faced for many of his other photo ops in Washington, beamed with pleasure upon hearing the melody and embraced Lang Lang at the song’s conclusion (see it on YouTube too). President Obama, for his part, amiably praised Lang Lang for his performance and described the event as "an extraordinary evening."

‘My Motherland’ is still famous in China; indeed, it is well-known to practically every Chinese adult to this very day. But what, exactly, is this “gorgeous” and “beautiful” (Hu’s words) tune that so entranced China’s visiting leadership?

“My Motherland” is not a “Chinese song” in any ordinary meaning of the term. Instead, it is a Mao-era propaganda classic: the theme from "Triangle Hill" (Shangganling), a film in which heroic Chinese forces fight, kill, and eventually beat Americans in pitched battle during the Korean War.

[....]

Unfortunately, this political anthem and its significance were evidently unknown to the many members of the administration’s China team—the secretary and deputy secretary of State, the assistant secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific, and the National Security Council’s top two Asia experts—who were on hand at the state dinner and heard this serenade....

[mojito]

The most brilliant, intelligent, sophisticated WH ever in action.

[Doogle]

...he didn’t think the missile off the CA coast was anything significant....so what’s a song?

[Portcall24]

The author was half right. Unfortunately the o was just preparing us for the future as he sees it. Change to Chinese as the official language here. Changes to our flag. And replacement of potato with rice as the main starch.

[DontTreadOnMe2009]

Of COURSE it was a missile launch. Anyone who knows anything about these matters can see the consistent symmetric turns in the contrail that scream “spin stabilized missile.” A plane simply cannot make those. Amazed that so few can see/understand this...

Of COURSE it was a missile launch. Anyone who knows anything about these matters can see the consistent symmetric turns in the contrail that scream “spin stabilized missile.” A plane simply cannot make those. Amazed that so few can see/understand this...

[PATRIOT1876]

Obama enjoyed the song, but something disturbed him that he couldn't quite put his finger on:

“But this head movie makes my eyes rain!”

;-)

[PATRIOT1876]

^ Simple Jack quote or Obama quote?

[FreeAtlanta]

After the insult to America with that freaking stupid song, the worse president EEEE-VVVV-EEEE-RRRR has the nerve to praise that communist hell hole during the SOTU last night. Donald Trump let in on him on that.

[FreeAtlanta]

I don’t think the stupid teleprompter dependent freak will be able to learn Chinese, even if he had to.

[FreeAtlanta]

They do, but they are promoting a big lie. There is a lot of that going on lately; Man made Global Warming, China is our friend, Obama isn’t a marxist or muslim, Obama was born in Hawaii, etc. etc.

[alecqss]

Don't forget “exquisite” or they won't be happy and might remove the rest of historical stuff along with the bust of Churchill. Or Michelle would stop using shower curtains for dresses...

[tweakDU]

luan qi ba cao, in my opinion.