Over the summer, several conservative blogs such as Gateway Pundit and Wizbang picked up on a report from the Chinese media that the Chinese flag was to be raised “on White House grounds” on Septembe 20th to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
As I noted earlier this month there was much about the story that suggested it was little more than a hoax; and the White House confirmed that the story was not true.
Well, as it turns out, there was an event marking the 60th anniversary of the PRC today in Washington, D.C.; but it took place outside White House grounds in a public park:
Hundreds of Chinese nationals, students, businessmen and expatriates came together in Washington D.C. on Sunday to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China.
They marked the occasion by raising the red Chinese national flag alongside America’s Stars and Stripes, in a small park just south of the White House. Event organizers said it was the first time the Chinese national flag has been raised in a public place in America’s capital city.
So, once again, a paranoid wingnut fantasy turns out to be untrue.
Quelle surprise
Hundreds? We were almost two millions!
I was there on The Ellipse. 90 minutes of American school kids doing dances and gym routines, followed by the raising of the US Flag while our anthem played, and then the PRC flag. Let me repeat – this was not on the White House grounds. It was in a public park. The Chinese around me – I bet most were American citizens like my wife. But they have national pride like we do. Not many favor communism, but they do love their mother country. All in all it was a pleasant event, most benign, and thankfully not marred by protests from anti-China groups.
I am Chinese,I am really proud of our country.