The Empire State Building's Disgusting Kowtow to China

As a Chinese citizen who lived in China for 23 years until 2006, I find this act disgusting. China wasn't born 60 years ago. The communist party does not equal China. This year is not only the 60th anniversary of that party taking over power, it's also the 20th anniversary of Tiananmen massacre. Did the building do anything for the victims' families in this year?

Most of the foreigners go to China and have a blast in major cities such as Shanghai or Beijing. Yet, they don't see the real China. They don't see the majority: people who were not lucky enough to be born in the cities and have to struggle with China's residence policy, corruption, and discrimination.

Clearly, the building manager doesn't give a heck to these people. Why should he? He's kids were not forced to learn communist theories in school. He's kids can go to the street and protest without the fear of being sent to re-education camps. I have to say the building manager represents a pathetic fact of many foreigners from developed countries: selfish and naive.

Ralph of WA 6:04PM November 07, 2009

I personally think it was a good idea for the Empire State Building to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China. After all, China pays for the War on Terror, our federal government operations and payroll, our consumer credit, and our entitlement programs, etc. By being America's banker, China is in effect the financier of freedom, liberty, democracy, and the American Way. So why the fuss about the Empire State Building?

Jeff of OH 9:13PM October 17, 2009

It's always easy to blame others.My understanding of a lot of Americans is that they know very little of events outside the U.S. Most don't even bother to know. They feel that their country is the world. As one writer puts it, why single out China. I believe if not for the civil war in China and the communists rise to power, China would be in a more advanced state. The reporter who wrote this piece may not acknowledge it but ask your leaders, leaders of Japan and countries who fear the rise of China. They would rather the 'dragon' is still in slumber. The U.S. population is about a quarter that of China's. Yet it's already experiencing problems in governance. China, with its much larger population is even more difficult to govern. Any disruption to stability in the country will be disastrous.

India is the largest democratic country in the world. Is everything working well? I believe there's no single system that works for every country. China's political system may be communist but the people's ways are definitely capitalist. Has the reporter encountered any Chinese who professes about communism?

Events that were mentioned were true but do you seriously believe that the leaders at that time intentionally sacrificed its citizens lives for their own beliefs or gains. You headlined your report "ESB kowtow to China". I think you probably would like the Chinese to 'kowtow' to you. Fortunately for the U.S. and the rest of the world, you have another president who can accomodate others unlike some in the past who will send its troops for no legitimate reason. I would suggest some reading up of what Americans have done to the Japanese, the Vietnamese and others to date. Some call the U.S. the 'policeman' of the world but there are others who will view it as the 'bully' of the world.

All said, I'm thankful that there are a lot of Americans who will not share the same view of this reporter. Please be professional about your reports. Thank you.

sam 1:46PM October 10, 2009

This stupid racist unintentionally got it right: "for commercial purposes". It may have been red and yellow to honor the hardworking folks who keep our consumer goods cheap and our dollar afloat.

TBF of IL 11:11AM October 05, 2009