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Red letter day

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-10-01 07:30

The National Day parade is not just about phalanxes of soldiers striding past the Tian'anmen rostrum, showing off state-of-the-art missiles and everything.

It is the civilian pageant, featuring the dozens of festooned vehicles, that follows, the televised carnival tonight at the Tian'anmen Square, and the tons of fireworks that are to illuminate the skies of Beijing, and everywhere, and to enthrall audiences across the country, that will more aptly illustrate the Chinese feelings on such a very special day.

Forgive us for being more or less beside ourselves today, and tonight. There are a thousand reasons for the Chinese to be proud, and to celebrate, on the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic.

For those with haunting memories of foreign invasions and internal revolts, the "Sick Man of East Asia" is now the envy of the world. The once semi-feudal, semi-colonial country, which was on the brink of bankruptcy 60 years ago, is now the world's hope for leading the route to recovery from the latest recession.

For those born amidst the endless political disruptions, the "cultural revolution" (1966-76) in particular, this National Day is an appropriate occasion to celebrate the nation's ultimate return to the track of reason. Indeed, it all started three decades back. But the corresponding national consensus had not been reached until quite recently. Never before were our people and government so aware and assured of the path they have chosen.

For everyone who has been through the years of overall shortage, this is the moment to bid a belated farewell to a bygone era. The economic term that more frequently worries us now appears to be "oversupply". Ours is far from being a real economic powerhouse. But size-wise, we are one of the world's largest.

A plethora of shows have been organized to display achievements over the past decades. Yet none can take in all the positive changes that have brought us where we are.

We all have some complaints. About everyday inconveniences, personal chaos, and even the way things are being done and people being treated. And the status quo is still not perfect. In terms of per capita gross domestic product, we are way behind the world's top 100.

Yet many endorse the assertion that this is the best time to be Chinese. Not necessarily the best, we know. Because we can fare a lot better, as long as we stay on the right track.

Above all the signs of progress, there is something else to be celebrated. Not just by the Chinese, but everyone in the global village. That is the presence of an accommodating new China. Three decades of opening up and engagement with the outside world has transformed Chinese views of the world and cultivated a national commitment to being a "responsible country" and creating a "harmonious world." Something President Hu Jintao may reiterate once more today.

In that sense, there is no outsider in today's festivities. With China getting prosperous, stable and keen on befriending the world, everybody will ultimately benefit.

Join us and you will know that the so-called Chinese nationalism, what we call patriotism, is in no way intimidating.

We are just happy and proud.

(China Daily 10/01/2009 page5)