The East is Red

Red China on My Mind

I’m back at work and back to the Internet – hurrah! After 6 days in internet-free Xinjiang, I came home to find that my crappy Internet connection in my apartment had slowed to a dial-up era crawl. The good news is that I am at work now, where the Internet is speedy and reliable. (Is it really good news to be back at work? I’m iffy on that one…)

Anyway, I am sitting at my desk listening to the Chinese national anthem and other patriotic quasi-communist songs being broadcast over loudspeakers throughout the airport grounds. (I’ve heard vague rumors there is a sporting event taking place here, but why a sporting event would be taking place on the grounds of Linyi’s airport I can’t imagine.) The Internationale! The East is Red*! It’s a little exciting because this is how I pictured life in Red China before my arrival four years ago  – loudspeakers spewing anthems and propaganda out to the people… That was before I understood that the only thing the loudspeakers would be broadcasting is the latest special price on Nike running shoes.

Anyway, I have been reflecting (to myself) a lot on Red China over the last week. Hard to avoid that kind of thing with the big 60th anniversary show (which was impressive, let’s be honest!) clogging up all the TV channels and our presence in dangerous – not sure if it wants to be red -Xinjiang, walking amongst the hundreds of riot police and soldiers on the streets… but more of that to come in further posts.

Speaking of excitement, a fellow expat who is fluent in Chinese informs me there is a special minivan that drives around Linyi, covered in government slogans espousing the virtues of the one child policy and the glorious Party, among other popular topics. He says that the only English on the slogans is the phrase “Propaganda Bus,” printed in small letters below. I squealed with wonder and delight at the thought of a propaganda bus, and am now on a mission to document it. This is just the sort of communist/cold war imagery that clogs my childhood beliefs surrounding Russia and China. Makes me want to roll down Chang’an Avenue in an old limo shouting “Comrade! You are working hard” and hear that sweet reply, “We serve the people!**” (Side note: “comrade” has fallen so far out of use among today’s Chinese that it has been co-opted by the largely hidden homosexual community. Hard core party members still refer to one another as comrades, however. snicker, snicker.)

*Alright, no actual airing of the “East is Red…” dramatic license taken…

**Oh, and also a bit of sarcasm thrown in for good measure.

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Tagged as: China, propaganda, songs, Xinjiang