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Letter 43
Monday 24.05.10
I feel that I this morning have come deeper into one of the chinese
secrets.
"This is sensible", Carly said, and it is, why?
The red army liberated China in 49. From thousands of years with
emperors, warlords and hostilen counties (like the europeans). The red
army is the protector of the people. When a disaster happens like the
one two years ago, it`s the red army soldiers who jump out with
parachutes over Maoxian as symbol that the governmental helpis on its
way. It`s the red army soldiers, who this samee night exhausted arrives
in Maoxian after marching 100 km. It`s red army pilots, that fly the
helicopters bringing survivers to the hospitals in Chengdu.
The red army is the BASIS of China.
It`s synonymous with the people.
One can ask what made the leaders loose their heads in 89 and use the
army against the "people". Even they had the excuse that it was only
some young rebels they wanted to punish, but actually the students was
backed up by the people of Beijing to a degree (as far as I`ve learned)
that makes it a very loose argument. And actually what happened caused a
lot of innocent lives, so it evolved to the most shameful thing
regarding the modern chinese peoples soul.
So this incident had to be put away whatever it would cost.
That`s why it`s not in the books. But just this, that it`s not allowed
to talk about, does that EVERBODY does. And how do you know, you`re not
allowed to talk about it? You learn from the oneb that tells you.
Because he also tells stories of what happen if you do.
Did they really consider the consequences or did they loose their heads?
The first I believe. They couldn`t live with the risk of things
escalating to other cities. Then they would be in REAL trouble. Better a
smaller stain, you could try to wash away, than a big one that would
keep spreading.
They created a problem. The never failing leaders (in a short term) and
the never failing army got a stain on their clothes, that is not to get
rid of. No washing will do. Carly was 5 years old at that time, but she
knows what she has to know...
The homemade mysli reach my expectations. All the stock of fruits and
yogurt goes down: a banana, an apple, an orange and 3 small cups of
yogurt.
I finish the letters from yesterday and have my first chinese "buisness
call". When I see its a local no. I know what it`s all about. It`s the
trip to the Jingdi emperors grave. There hasn`t shown up more people
until now, so we`re only three, but if I want to "sign up" for it, we
will go, and if more show up the price will be reduced.
I start walking for the Han Tang Inn to pay. I should have stayed there.
Now he even tells me I could have the reduced price even it`s the other
organisation they are member of. I couldn`t two years ago, as far as I
remember. It`s situated in a small street which around dinner time is
transformed into restaurants. There`s no room inside, only kitchens, so
the pavements are filled with small tables and chairs. Real local. I
wonder what they do in wintertime? The temperature can drop til zero I
guess?
The programme besides is Bell Tower and Drum Tower.
There are surprisingly few people in the first. Maybe because I arrive around noon? One can pay to ring the bell. I had wondered about the schedule. There are some kind of musical performances, but the next isn`t until 15 o`clock. Bad timing. On top there is an exhibition of objects from an excavation sometime last year. Unfortunately this is not in english. Specially because der is a photo of a man in handcuffs showing something to the police? Is he maybe the one that found them and tried to sell them in stead of telling the authorities?
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| With Bell Tower in the background | A ceiling in Bell Tower |
In the Drumtower there aren`t many either. Some of the drums are night
watchman`s. The night was divided into 5 times 2 hours, so every 2 hours he had
to beat the drum. I`m glad we don`t have this in Birkerod (my hometown in
Denmark).
I enter the hall 15 min before a performance will start. All the small stools
are apparently occupied. But there are some with bags on. This means either that
it`s occupied for somebody who will be there in a minute, or that someone just
put the bag there in stead of on the floor. I think the girl is waiting for her
friends but the three elderly persons?
Oh no, it`s not occupied. Please do sit down - not in english, it was nice
something happened now we`re just waiting. They never say what I expect them to
- or maybe they do but in another way, but I do understand that the lady with
the curly hair is 56 years old and I can tell how old I am. And I agree to that
Shaanxi is a nice place. I tell them I`m danish and this the lady can talk about
for several minutes to her friends. Isn`t it marvellous?
Later when the "conversation" has died out I can hear she asks the man if he
doesn`t speak english? But he`s forgotten it all it seems. Lots of smiles and a
humorous atmosphere is the result and the entertainment can start.
I record with my MP3-player in one hand and take photos with the other hand. I
feel a little like a magician.
Afterwards I speak some with an american - older than I , I guess - who`s from
California. He tells about Solvang which is familiar to me. He had ancestors in
Helsingborg (Sweden). The world has shrunk lately.
It`s time for the supermarket, new loads for the mysli.
I meet one last time with Carly who`s been to work, a new week has started. 8-17
every day. She have to get up early in the morning. She buys some bread stuff
for me. It`s a Shaanxi speciality.
My beer for 2.20 shows to be bigger than usual. 600 ml beats 500. You get even
more in the supermarket.
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| Mixed culture | Polterabend |