Cliches of the Century

Ten easy ways to illustrate China vs. India -- and miss the point entirely.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2010

Cringing tiger, hideous dragon:
Certain animal stand-ins are well established: America is an eagle, for instance, and Russia is a bear. Poor China and India, however, are each saddled with two mascots, each a handy indicator of whether Western readers are supposed to be terrified of or intrigued by Asia's emerging powers. Is China a cuddly panda or a threatening dragon? What about India -- a wise, slow-moving elephant or a toothsome, ravenous tiger? 

 SUBJECTS: CHINA, MEDIA, INDIA
 


PENNFLYER

12:18 AM ET

September 21, 2010

flying carpet?

flying carpets, like genies in a bottle or a lamp, belong to the Muslims. the Indians levitate in a serene meditative state, not fly on carpets. there isn't even a carpet in the illustration!

 

APOORVIS

10:26 AM ET

September 21, 2010

hypocrisy

Dear FP-

For a piece about how other magazines are swayed by popular misconceptions, it is pretty ironic that you misused "toothsome." Unless you meant to describe the tiger as "tasty, delicious, luscious or mouthwatering," in which case I should inform you that you shouldn't eat tigers-they're endangered.

 

MARTY MARTEL

11:59 AM ET

September 21, 2010

The tiger will retire while the dragon will rule the world

The tiger will retire but the dragon will rule the world.

That is because Democracy has divided India while Communism has united China.

Democratic India can not eliminate Islamic terrorism in Kashmir while Communist China can successfully assimilate Xinjiang. India can not employ mass migration of Hindus to Kashmir while China successfully employs mass migration of Hans to Xinjiang and Tibet.

Democratic India can not stop its Islamic Imams and Mullahs and Maulvis from spreading religious hatred from mosques while Communist China bans Muslim youth under 16 to enter mosques and forces Tibetan lamas to teach nationalist patriotic courses in monasteries.

Democratic India can not stop Muslims having four wives while Communist China enforces one child per family rule.

 

MAJA007

12:39 PM ET

September 21, 2010

FYI

Rest of the Indians are not allowed to settle in Kashmir.... by law. According to the deal of accession.

But I do agree with your points. Most moderate muslims in India are not too keen on improving their society. Give them four wives and free tickets to hajj and they are happy.

 

DDSNAIK

10:10 PM ET

September 21, 2010

On the other hand, Marty...

Couldn't India be given props that it's even a competition between these 2 nations despite all the authoritative and organizational advantages enjoyed by China ? By your own argument, it shouldn't even be a contest, right ? Yet it is, so...

 

PUBLICUS

10:39 PM ET

September 22, 2010

The trash heap of history

The record shows that totalitarianism and authoritarianism - as with all forms of fascism - inevitably end up on the trash heap of history. Let's hope that in this day and age we don't have to go nuclear to put you there, which is exactly where you belong and precisely where you will end up one way or the other.

The fascist dictatorship of the Communist Party of China which rules absolutely and in its own self interest over the billion plus sheeple of the PRC - and you - are a reactionary force of history which is opposed to all freedoms and all liberties. A people who accept censorship and therefore cannot govern themselves are a people who cannot think for themselves. A government that for 5000 years has insisted on absolute rule, and a sheeple who have accepted it, to include yourself, are on your way to the junkyard of history.

Which is exactly where you belong and go, always and without exception.

Don't think for a moment that fascism as it presently exists in the PRC can ever advance to prevail. The world stops fascism every time. Fascism is inimical to human nature. It's acceptable only the the 5000 year history of the Jung Gwo. The Jung Gwo - the central country, i.e., China - are and always have been a freak of nature country and people. India too, with its one billion plus population is also a freak of nature country, but India is correcting itself in rational and populous ways, i.e., democratically.

China, the Jung Gwo, simply continue to have their censoring controlling dictatorship without any thought of anything else. You are severely behind the curve of history and you are going to fail just as every other fascist dictatorship of history has failed.

Like it or not, chew on that

 

PUBLICUS

10:37 PM ET

September 22, 2010

Marty Martel and all fascists

Have you seen the one child that is the result of the one child policy that China must have because it is a freak of nature country of more than one billion people?

They have empty eyes. The PRChinese are a dull, lifeless, soulless, boring, inanimate people who are pursuing material gain absent any sense of the essence of life or of the meaning of life. They obey, they defer, they accept, they haven't any view or opinion. Their world view is that which the CPC gives them and they accept that. They lifeless, they haven't any heart to their lives.

Which is the result of a censoring, controlling dictatorship of 5000 years. Number one in China is control. In the USA, to name one contrasting country, number one is perseverence in the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. In 5000 year old China, its the rule of perpetual dominance-submission.

Marty Martel, you'll be pleased to know the world is not Burger King. but you'll be displeased greatly to find out you cannot have it your way. You too will go to the trash heap of history. Know that.

Know that with certainty.

 

HANMENG

2:16 PM ET

September 21, 2010

What a silly article.

What a silly article. Magazine or book covers are hardly the place to expect a complex message. Why not complain about Frenchmen with berets & baguettes, or John Bull and the Union Jack? Or the rising sun & samurai?

 

CHMIKE

10:52 PM ET

September 21, 2010

Not to be pedantic, but...

that's a trishaw, not a rickshaw

 

BROTHER MOUZONE

11:35 PM ET

September 21, 2010

dumb article

silly article. you basically take issue with every cover on any book related to india or china? are these those articles you guys at fp think up that are easy, quick, fun to look at, and will appease the general public?

psssh quit pandering

 

PUBLICUS

11:04 PM ET

September 22, 2010

The Economist and FP

Each is globally respected.

They want to cite one another, so what?

We refer to and argue with one another all the time too.

We swat at each of them too.

Hypercritics, grow up.

 

HAMDU

12:43 PM ET

October 10, 2010

CPC gives them

They have empty eyes. The PRChinese are a becertube dull, lifeless, soulless, boring, inanimate people who are pursuing material gain absent any sense of the essencegztlr of life or of the meaning of life. They obey, they defer, they accept, they haven't any view or opinion. Their world view is that which the CPC gives 7ra them and they accept that. They lifeless, they ucakbiletitc haven't any heart to their lives.

Which is the result of a censoring, controlling dictatorship of 5000 years. Number one in China is control. In the 31ciler USA, to name one contrasting country, number one is perseverence in the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. In 5000 year old China, its the rule of perpetual dominance-submission.

Marty Martel, you'll be pleased to know the world is not Burger King. but you'll be displeased greatly to find out yousinema cannot have it your way. You too will go to the trash heap of history. Know that.