Reflections on the Chinese Dream
The following e-mail was originally posted on February 27, 2018
As I have previously mentioned, February 16 was the day to celebrate the Chinese New Year
However, what I failed to mention is that the Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival and is not simply a one day affair but rather extends for 15 days. In celebration, I went down to San Gabriel on February 16. Usually the festivities begin by watching the CCTV New Year's Gala, the world's most watched entertainment show on New Year's Eve. However, our flight got in too late for that. But the next day (Saturday) was dedicated to sharing a meal with family and friends. Unfortunately, I was observing Lent at the time so I skipped the big meal. However, later in the evening I was treated to a bowl of chicken broth soup with a special (and expensive) sort of reed like fish product along with a side dish of sea cucumber. I liked the soup, the sea cucumber not so much.
The next day (Sunday) we completed another obligation of Chinese New Year by honoring ancestors at the Rose Hills Cemetery in Whittier. In addition to grooming my girlfriend's father's gravesite, we also ventured over to the Buddhist Memorial Columbarium
where we were greeted by the cherub buddhas before reaching the temple itself. Perched on top of a rather high hill, the Columbarium has a spectacular view of the Los Angeles skyline. Viewing the scenery while listening to the chanting music emanating from the temple set a tone for reverence and remembrance. This was followed by the lighting of the incense before going into the temple to pray. For me, it is always rejuvenating to take a few moments of meditation and prayer in such a place of serenity.
Later that evening, after another "festive" dinner, we gathered around the television to watch a rerun of the CCTV New Year's Gala.
The Gala last for 4.5 hours which is far beyond the patience of viewers so the Gala that I saw was a shortened version which apparently did not include the most controversial skit from this year's gala
What I did see was a very polished entertainment show that was interspersed by two rather significant segments. The show itself is multi-generational so that it appeals to all segments of Chinese society. As for the segments, one dealt rather poignantly with people from all ages and stages of life thanking their parents for helping to make them who they are. That is a traditional Chinese custom, but the testimonials are moving nevertheless. The second segment was one trumpeting the success of China's desert reclamation project. Apparently, some 30 years ago, China embarked on an endeavor to reclaim the Kubuqi Desert of Inner Mongolia and now, 30 years later, the reclamation effort is being proclaimed as a success. I was so impressed by what I saw that I came home and read this:
Of particular note for me, is that the entire show and the segments seem to be advancing the notion of the Chinese Dream, a set of national and personal ideals being championed by Xi Jinping, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China.
Xi's expression of the Chinese Dream predates Trump's "Make America Great Again" but it has the same purpose of making China great again. The difference is that China's pursuit of its renaissance is based on well established goals with set timelines and is set on increasing its influence on global matters ... not its withdrawal from them. Despite the hiccup with the blackface skit, the Gala that I saw was a testament to China's success in achieving its Chinese Dream ... and perhaps serves as a wake up call as to what is required if this country wants to achieve ours.
Peace,
Everett "Skip" Jenkins
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