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-   -   Another State dinner SNAFU (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=547410)

  • Jan 24, 2011, 11:24 AM
    tomder55
    Another State dinner SNAFU
    You would think by now the President's advance people would do some basic research before they let him embarrass himself and the country.
    Maybe in his first months some of the stuff like sending videos to European leaders that cannot be played on formats used in their countries ,or misspelling the word 'reset ' on the button they gave
    Putin... or not vetting guests at the State Dinner for India... actually the list is bigger than I thought.

    Anyway ,the latest example of the lack of preparation occurred during the State Dinner to Chinese cadre leader Hu Jintao .

    For entertainment ,Chinese born pianist Lang Lang was invited to perform.He played for the President and his guests “My Motherland,” the theme song from a movie called 'Battle On Shangganling Mountain'.

    Shangganling Mountain is in Korea and was the site of a major battle during the Korean War (or as the Chinese call it ;the 'War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea '.

    We call it the Battle of Triangle Hill (October 14 – November 25, 1952).


    During the battle ,the Chinese forces repeatedly fought off attacks from US forces. After 42 days of fighting the Chinese held their position ,and also gained ground at 'Jackson Heights' on November 30. It was a Chinese victory against US led UN forces.

    The movie glorifes the victory . The lyrics call US troops 'jackels' .

    Did the President's advance people really miss this fact ;or did they know the lyrics and the meaning of the song and permit it to be played anyway ?

    Chinese web users are acclaiming pianist Lang Lang's choice of tune.
    Quote:
    Both the Sina and Sohu news portals reposted an article that they attributed to the Beijing Evening News, with the headline: “Lang Lang Played 'My Motherland' at White House, Flaunting National Power.”

    “Those American folks very much enjoyed it and were totally infatuated with the melody!! The U.S. is truly stupid! ” wrote a user named You're In My Memory on Sina's micro-blogging site.
    Did Pianist Lang Lang Dis the White House? - Speakeasy - WSJ

    Indeed... I have an image of the President tapping his feet and swooning over the song.
  • Jan 24, 2011, 11:34 AM
    smoothy

    This is what happens when you surround yourself with "YES" men (known as brown nosers) rather than qualified people.
  • Jan 24, 2011, 02:02 PM
    smearcase

    Incompetence reigns.
  • Jan 24, 2011, 02:28 PM
    excon

    Hello:

    This from the "he bowed to low" crowd. Sounds like the dummy's who locked George W. Bush out of his own house, and made him look like a fool on TV.

    excon
  • Jan 24, 2011, 03:01 PM
    tomder55

    No that was a YouTube moment . This is a disgrace and a national embarrassment .

    US troops referred to as jackals in these lyrics:

    “When friends are here, there is fine wine .But if the jackal comes .What greets it is the hunting rifle.”

    No this is much more than President Bush trying to open the French doors . I'm surprised you would equate them.

    No doubt the President got up and said " I'm Barak Obama and I approve this message".

    What would you expect from a President who put a Mao ornament on the WH Christmas tree ?
    http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009...-zedong-comes/

    Here is what Lang Lang said in justification .

    “I thought to play 'My Motherland' because I think playing the tune at the White House banquet can help us, as Chinese people, feel extremely proud of ourselves and express our feelings through the song. I think it's especially good. Also, I like the tune in and of itself, every time I hear it I feel extremely moved.”

    Later in a blog he wrote

    “Playing this song praising China to heads of state from around the world seems to tell them that our China is formidable, that our Chinese people are united; I feel deeply honored and proud.”

    He resides in NY city where he makes a fortune living the American dream while he plays a song to our President that conveys a message that our troops are jackels in a movie that honors their defeat.

    I hope he took that 747 back to Beijing and stays there.
  • Jan 29, 2011, 11:35 PM
    paraclete
    Some of you have too much time on your hands, not everything is a snide attempt to blindside the US
  • Jan 29, 2011, 11:41 PM
    Wondergirl

    The lyrics of "The Star-Spangled Banner" were set to the tune of a popular British drinking song.
  • Jan 30, 2011, 08:30 AM
    cdad
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Wondergirl View Post
    The lyrics of "The Star-Spangled Banner" were set to the tune of a popular British drinking song.
    And that's why in the house and senate they refer to things as "party" politics. ;)
  • Jan 30, 2011, 08:07 PM
    tomder55
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Wondergirl View Post
    The lyrics of "The Star-Spangled Banner" were set to the tune of a popular British drinking song.
    True .But show me the lyrics that insult the Brit soldier or glorifes their death .
  • Jan 30, 2011, 09:17 PM
    Wondergirl
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by tomder55 View Post
    True .But show me the lyrics that insult the Brit soldier or glorifes their death .
    Brits weren't our friends. Why use one of their tunes? Why not use a tune from France, who modeled their revolution after ours?
  • Jan 31, 2011, 03:16 AM
    paraclete
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Wondergirl View Post
    Brits weren't our friends. Why use one of their tunes? Why not use a tune from France, who modeled their revolution after ours?
    Get a perspective, the British were at this stage brothers, and the issue was taxation. No briton would use a French tune. As the rift developed the rebels looked to France for support which was slow in coming. Europe had more important issues than few colonists and this was demonstrated by the relatively small forces employed in North America
  • Jan 31, 2011, 08:36 AM
    Wondergirl
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by paraclete View Post
    Get a perspective, the British were at this stage brothers, and the issue was taxation. No briton would use a French tune. As the rift developed the rebels looked to France for support which was slow in coming. Europe had more important issues than few colonists and this was demonstrated by the relatively small forces employed in North America
    Britain had just defeated Napoleon and was hassling the young United States along our East Coast and burning our White House. Our national anthem was written during this war (the War of 1812) on October 16, 1814.

    "July 18, 1812, the War of 1812 -- The U.S. Senate, by a vote of 19-13, passes the declaration of war against Great Britain requested by President James Madison."
  • Jan 31, 2011, 02:17 PM
    paraclete
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Wondergirl View Post
    Britain had just defeated Napoleon and was hassling the young United States along our East Coast and burning our White House. Our national anthem was written during this war (the War of 1812) on October 16, 1814.

    "July 18, 1812, the War of 1812 -- The U.S. Senate, by a vote of 19-13, passes the declaration of war against Great Britain requested by President James Madison."
    I stand corrected I thought it had an earlier birth, yes the British did well in that one but in any case it was a popular tune familiar to many

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