Notwithstanding your disgust with the pomposity, the waste and the bluff, Chinese military parades are often great to watch. Quite a few countries are able to put better weaponry on parade, but few countries are willing to put so much into a military parade to make it look both very festive and overly sublime.
Today’s China is simply unbeatable, if the competition, if any, is all about size and numbers. This is especially true at a time of global economic slump, when China still has means to overspend its budget.
My American friend Robert can’t wait to watch the parade on TV. That’s what he said in his mail. And this is one thing I like about my good friend. He is a happy man who doesn’t always try to look beneath the surface of things. If it’s a good show, he would enjoy it first, and then, if he wants to, he would rationalize motives behind all the niceties and good feelings.
I'm pretty sure you can get CCTV on some satellite providers. DirectTV has CCTV-9, I believe. October 1, this year as always.
Robert knows that political bigotry and self-righteousness are only to spoil his natural love for a culture and its people, which he reckons to be far more profound and interesting than the existing political system. Guess we both agree that we can still enjoy our time on this planet while we can’t choose and fight a system.
However, amidst recent economic woes, pressing security concerns and all-time high of nationalism, this year’s military parade is more likely to be interpreted as a political statement fit for the aspirations for a sophisticated, confident and even aggressive China.
The 60th anniversary is a yawn to the rest of the world, but to the Chinese, they think everyone will be watching in awe. They will be so proud to see their country's military on the march. Some will even say, "why have this force, if we're not going to use it to shove people around?" |