It was nice that the Empire State Building Co. turned its green lights on the skyscraper five days ago, the day Iranians in New York were demonstrating for a free Iran.
The company said the green was for the 70th anniversary of “The Wizard of Oz,” but the Iranian democrats appreciated the nod to their freedom movement, which has adopted green as its symbol.
So the Iranians rallied joyously under New York’s tallest building aglow in liberator green.
Everything changes tomorrow. The Empire State Building Co. has decided to salute the 60th anniversary of the bloodiest dictatorship in world history by bathing the building in red and yellow. I wish I were kidding.
The yellow is for the the stars on the Communist Chinese flag. The red, I guess, is for all that blood.
Frank Warner
Disgusting.
Posted by: George | September 29, 2009 at 11:11 AM
Yes, and they didn't even try to pretend it was to celebrate the 120th anniversary of the pizza.
You want red and yellow for totalitarian atrocities? Sure!
Posted by: Frank Warner | September 29, 2009 at 11:33 AM
Mao is dead, you know. You've got to pick your villains.
The government of the PRC is authoritarian, nationalistic, expansionist, corrupt, intolerant, unrepresentative, elitist, belligerent, repressive, devious, greedy and potentially very dangerous. Compared to the Cultural Revolution, however, it's a beacon of light. I think it's not even unreasonable to say that they're trying to change. Change is not easy. ... The Chinese have at least grown practical. Economic gains of such magnitude as theirs do not grown on shallow soil. Philosophical reform came first.
The Empire State Building managers are not interested in catering to the cause of Freedom. There are few companies that care in the slightest. Obviously, their freedom of operation matters to them, but not political freedom per se. They don't see it as their job. They only see PR value. They look for ways to make people like them and do business with them. I'm not sure you can expect more. The social context is where it's at. They found a way to mollify the people who wanted the green. Now they have another group to mollify.
Posted by: jj mollo | September 29, 2009 at 03:37 PM
They told the Iranian democrats no.
They told the Chinese totalitarians yes.
That says nothing good.
They're celebrating all 60 years of Communist China.
Posted by: Frank Warner | September 29, 2009 at 05:25 PM