Communism on the High Rise

Progressives commemorate Chinese brutality

By Michael P. H. Stanley

Usually illuminated in white light, the Empire State Building is no stranger to a splash of color now and then to celebrate holidays and special occasions. On the night of September 30 into the early hours of October 1, floodlights soaked New York City’s tallest tower in red and yellow to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Revolution. This display offended many New Yorkers and others, and for good reason.

History lesson: On October 1, 1949, Communist leader Mao Zedong announced the solidification of the People’s Republic of China, ending the civil war between the Communists and Nationalists that erupted after World War II. The United States severed diplomatic relations with China after the nation succumbed to communism, and the decades that followed are stained with the subjugation of the Chinese people by their own government, deplorable human rights violations, and a relentless effort to spread communism to neighboring countries. Among other atrocities, the Communists conquered Tibet, forcing the flight of the Dalai Lama, and starved almost forty million Chinese—nearly four times the death toll of the Holocaust—in an effort to industrialize rapidly.

Responding to complaints from uncomfortable spectators, building management pointed out that such displays in honor of the holidays of other countries are not unusual. Though there is no harm in celebrating other cultures, however, it is misguided to commemorate an event that paved the way for such tremendous human suffering. While we are amicable with Germany, a parade memorializing Hitler’s election as Chancellor would raise more than a few eyebrows.

The managers of the Empire State building are not alone in paying tribute to Communist tyranny. When speaking to a group of high school students last June, White House communications Director Anita Dunn offered a tip gleaned from two of her favorite philosophers, Mao Zedong and Mother Theresa. Chairman Mao had this advice for those who questioned his ability to conquer China: “You fight your war and I’ll fight mine.” The wisdom of this statement, Ms. Dunn said, is that “you don’t have to follow other people’s choices and paths.” While she is correct that the Chairman never had to follow anyone else’s path, Ms. Dunn neglects that all of China had to follow his. By her reasoning, one could say that Saddam Hussein, another eminent philosopher, showed great personal fortitude in his decision to invade Kuwait. While it is well and good to extol the virtue of individuality, one should steer clear of doing so by appealing to the exploits of murderous dictators, especially if one is a high level American civil servant. We can only hope none of the students in Ms. Dunn’s audience will be “fighting their own wars” any time soon.

Few would oppose honoring the heritage of the Chinese people, but commemorating their leadership is another matter. The philosophy of the Chinese government, especially as it existed in the decades following the Communist Revolution, is antithetical to American and democratic ideals. Chinese leaders since the Revolution have perpetrated countless human rights abuses while propagating fear, hate, and blind ideology. Rather than illuminating the Empire State building in red and yellow, we should have dimmed the lights in memory of the multitudes that perished at the hands of Communist oppressors. Instead of singing the praises of Mao Zedong, Anita Dunn might have commended the audacity of those who fight bravely to end the brutality of the Chinese regime. The decision of New York City and the White House Communications Director to honor the Communist leadership demonstrates either an apathy toward human suffering or a profound ignorance of history, neither of which reflect well on them or the American people they represent. In commemorating communism, a White House official betrayed idiocy, and an American icon blushed.