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Published: October 1st 2009
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Yesterday was mostly spent in airports so I don't want to talk about it - except about 200m from our Hotel at 1am I was asked by a lovely girl if I'd like a massage. I don't like massages so i respectfully declined - I think that's the first time I've been asked that, It was weird.
Today is National Day - the 60th anniversary of the Peoples Republic of China, the communist state that was formed by a civil war in 1949 by chairman Mao. Everywhere we have been in China there has been plenty of build up to this week of holidays and I have never seen so many red and yellow flowers in my life. To mark the anniversary there was a huge parade in front of the Forbidden City through Tianamen Square in Beijing. The whole thing was televised and began with thousands of perfectly presented military divisions from all parts of Chinas massive military. This was followed by tanks galore, missiles, bigger missies and even a group of vehicle mounted Nuclear weapons. Then 150 aircraft flew over in turn. At this point I actually felt for the first time that I was in a communist
TANG LION
This is a reproduction of a lion sculpture from the Tang dynasty in front of the Shanghai Museum country. Thankfully after the military there were 100,000 people in groups representing every province, many people groups, most industries and manny other aspects of China today. It was really cool and was a very positive display of national spirit. I think China is a great country and will become more and more influencial as well as face some big social challenges so sticking together as one nation will be very important.
Shanghai is a very different city from any in China that I have been in. I read up on it's history and it is very young, by China's standards and was really a foreign occupatied city that was used to exploit the Chinese.as cheap and even slave labour. So it seems very modern but a bit soulless, perhaps the fact that it was raining on us all day as we shopped that put a damper the city. We checked out 'The Bund", a series of European buildings along the river that have now been pimped out by vulgar brands like D&G, etc. But it is a cool place in it's own way. If you love shopping, this is the place. We are going to check out some more of Shanghai tomorrow before we head off to Beijing.
THOUGHTS ON COMMUNISM - i think Communism like Capitalism is a good idea if you can keep it from getting corrupt. It's certainly better than Facism ! I think diffeerent social systems can work as long as people are the first priority. Now there have been tyrants in all systems of rule, from Emperors, Kings, Presidents and Comrads so obviously there is an inherint problem when people get power. Some thoughts are that in China by 2020 every person will have fre medical care like in Australia, England, France. Obama will be lucky if he can do the same in the USA (and he must do this !) But freedom of religion is very questionable here. People don't get a vote in what happens in China but the American electoral vote counting system is very strange, not to mention lobbying. Personaly i like Australia - vote in your leaders and social support systems for all.
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