Mickey, Maoists Team Up For Some Magic

The Washington Times Insider ^ | Dec. 18, 2004 | Matt Kovac

[bruinbirdman]

HONG KONG -- Walt Disney has teamed up with an unlikely partner to introduce China to the wonders of Mickey Mouse: the country's Communist Youth League, founded and inspired by Chairman Mao.

The collaboration, which Western diplomats have privately dubbed "Mickey Mao," aims to harness the power of the 70-million strong communist movement to promote Disney characters to Chinese children.

Instead of indoctrinating young people in the communist ideology of Mao Tse-tung and the supremacy of the party, the league is beginning to inculcate a new generation in the delights of Donald Duck and the Lion King.

[DoughtyOne]

The party has a firm grip. This simply cannot be denied.

What we then see here is the inclusion of these characters to sell the party line.

Walt would be prowd. NOT! I'm with him on this one.

[aynrandfreak]

I heard a story about how when Kruschev came to the US (same trip at "We will bury you") he wanted to go to Disneyland, but that Walt refused to allow a Communist into his park no matter how much the State Dept tried to cajole/threaten him. I've researched to verify it, but haven't found anything else. Has anyone else heard that story?

[RetNav96]

I Googled Kruschev visit Disneyland.
Looks like security is the only common thread that makes sense for denying Kruschev access.

“Furthermore, Disneyland became a cultural icon. Even world leaders like Henry Kissinger were drawn to the place. Legend has it that during Kruschev's visit to the United States, his major disappointment was being denied from visiting the park. (The Secret Service were concerned that they couldn't guarantee his safety.)”
http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/business/walt-disney/

“Walt Disney was proud of this attraction; he intended to show "the world's seventh largest navy" to Russian Premeir Nikita Krushchev during a trip to Disneyland. The Secret Service was afraid they could not provide enough security in the park, so the visit was cancelled, angering Kruschev and disappointing Walt.”
http://www.burnsland.com/tgd/tomorrowland.html

[aynrandfreak]

It was a liberal American History teacher I had in high school that told me that story. Figures! Thanks for your help. I guess my googles had "communist" in them.

[UncleDick]

Nearly every schoolchild in China already walks around wearing a Mickey Mouse backpack (or at least that's what it seemed like during my recent visit to the PRC). He's a universal character even in foreign, repressive countries.

[rodguy911]

As one who has had many a designs stolen by the Commie/Chinks the way it works is we give it to them and try for a piece of the action or they steal and butcher. Take your choice.

[Texas_Jarhead]

what a shame...