Communist China

Dear Mao,
I admire the fact that your photo graces Tian'amen Gate overlooking the Square of the same name. After all, in 1949, you changed the country to be the People's Republic of China (PBC), a socialist, communist state. You deserve to have your photo up.


I like what you did to the square, making it very Stalin-esque and totalitarian looking. It looks communist to a tee. Also, I like how you take 'jaywalking' seriously by having armed policemen on elevated stages to catch would be criminals.

But when I look around Beijing, is it really communist?? I mean, taking a cab from the airport, I saw lots of Mercedes-Benzes and Audis zipping down the freeway. Isn't that material excess? Construction is happening like crazy (are you excited the Olympics is here in 2008?), and skyskrapers are everywhere. These buildings don't look very socialist like the ones surrounding Tian'amen Square. Also, everywhere I look, I saw a McDonald's or a Kentucky Fried Chicken. Is Colonel Sam the appropriate representative for the Socialist party? I always thought that he and Ronald McDonald were viewed as Capitalist pigs? And all the shopping malls and stores selling non-proletariat stuff. What gives? I'm confused Mr. Mao. The thing that confused me most though was this, in the Forbidden Palace grounds, a UNESCO world heritage site, and a massively impressive collection of buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties.

This photo of Starbucks in one of the gates at the Forbidden Palace. When you get a chance, could you please explain.
I do like some of the signs that I've seen here, Mr. Tse-tung. Like this one for the 'Punch Place'.

Is this a passive/aggressive type thing, and that guy to the left, is that who I get to hit? Also, I like this sign explaining the process of doing laundry.

I think I would have been lost without the explanation.
Anyway, please get back to me about the Starbucks thing.

I know you're a star out here, but it would be great if you could write me back.

Thanks,
Long time listener, first time writer


PS. If I'm correct, doesn't this sign translate to,Dónde está Ché Pelotas?