Empire State Bdlg Lights

[Mango]

The nighttime lights atop the Empire State Building are a source of visual pleasure but also of frequent mystery for New Yorkers. What was with all that red last Thursday? It was a nod to the 70th anniversary of “The Wizard of Oz” — ruby slippers and all that. How about the green a few days before that? That was for the Muslim holiday of Id al-Fitr. If you wonder why the Empire State will be red and yellow Wednesday and Thursday nights, it is to honor the 60th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. Looked at another way, it is to honor the 60th anniversary of the Communist takeover.

A Red and Yellow Glow for Celebration, and for Protest - City Room Blog - NYTimes.com

Is it wise to memorialize the birth of a political system and regime that has murdered and/or oppressed millions of its own citizens even to today? Wisdom by any definition should lead us to dim the lights in remembrance and solidarity not brighten them in celebration, or do we kowtow to our current landlord?

 

[Mango]

Received this link in an email. from Fox news fair commentaries, but almost amusing.....;-)

The Empire State Building will blaze red and yellow tonight to “commemorate” the 60th anniversary of the founding of the communist nation.
Here are the top 10 reasons to commemorate the People’s Republic of China:
10. Governments established with the help of the Soviet Union have always made people smile.
9. Communist chic.
8. From mannish female Olympic swimmers to Maria Sharapova – now that’s some Communist progress right there!
7. Mao's “Great Leap Forward” created a famine that killed only 30 million people which isn’t a lot when you have more than a billion.
6. "Tank Man," who stood in front of the tanks at Tianaman Square, is a better magician than David Copperfield, having made himself disappear now for 20 years.
5. One party government and population controls are a New York east coast liberal’s dream!
4. After reading the New York Times, having the ability to shut down the press like they do in China is sometimes my dream!
3. Death Panel envy.
2. Atheist chicks are sexy.
And the number one reason to commemorate the People's Republic's bloody takeover of China...
1. American taxpayers have to suck up to their landlord!
Good grief.

 

[scooterbug44]

Since they seem to do something special w/ the lights for any anniversary or holiday that strikes their fancy, I don't have a problem with them doing it for China's 60th anniversary.

Now, if this was one of the few things they celebrated with lights this year, or it was a country we had sanctions on, were at war with etc. I would have an issue, but that isn't the case.

 

[mtlinscomb]

...maybe they are knocking a few buck$ off our tab in exchange for a light show

 

[kkddbb]

DISGRACEFUL!!!!!

 

[Mango]

Since they seem to do something special w/ the lights for any anniversary or holiday that strikes their fancy, I don't have a problem with them doing it for China's 60th anniversary.

Now, if this was one of the few things they celebrated with lights this year, or it was a country we had sanctions on, were at war with etc. I would have an issue, but that isn't the case.

Yes, but even though some of the celebrations with lights could be considered silly tributes, they are still American on the whole, with the exception of a few religious tributes. This is a tribute that goes against the grain of everything this Country represents.

 

[Winnie]

Yes, but even though some of the celebrations with lights could be considered silly tributes, they are still American on the whole, with the exception of a few religious tributes. This is a tribute that goes against the grain of everything this Country represents.

But yellow and red...isn't that just racist? Maybe it is meant as a backhanded tribute.

 

[scooterbug44]

I guess I just don't see what the big deal is.

We have diplomatic relations with them, we sent hundreds of athletes and our President & First Lady to the Olympics in their country, we welcome visitors, students, and immigrants from their country, we gladly trade with them............

IMO there are many more objectionable things we could be focusing on than a light display on a country's 60th anniversary.

 

[scooterbug44]

But yellow and red...isn't that just racist? Maybe it is meant as a backhanded tribute.

Yellow and red are the colors of the Chinese flag.

 

[Matt J]

Yes, but even though some of the celebrations with lights could be considered silly tributes, they are still American on the whole, with the exception of a few religious tributes. This is a tribute that goes against the grain of everything this Country represents.

Perhaps it's because this is one of the few countries you can live in and have membership in a political party that is completely against it?

[ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Communist_Party]Communist Party USA - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

The thing to keep in mind is that communism has had a major influence in this country socially, economically, and politically.