Two generations' parades, the turns and shifts

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-09-23 15:37

Dong Zhenggang, a postgraduate student at Tsinghua University, sun-tanned from the drills, says students' views should be taken into consideration when National Day celebrations are planned, to encourage more enthusiasm and make the celebrations more lively and diverse.

"There are many more ways to show our love for this country," Dong notes.

Last year, when Beijing Olympics torch relay was marred by Tibet separatists and other forces, there was an outburst of indignation from Chinese youngsters around the world who organized themselves to protect the torch. They also targeted at lopsided Western media reports that they thought to have humiliated China.

They took to the street in parade, besieged Western supermarkets, and established websites to slash biased media like CNN.

Peng Liangfang from Dongcheng District education commission in Beijing, says it's normal that the students have different perceptions of the parade than their parents' generation, as they are influenced by multiple cultures and tend to express their ideas openly.

But she insists that drills for the parade are a good test of their will and health if they can carry through the arduous discipline. They've buried themselves too much in online games or after-class tutoring.

"Give them some time, and they will find out the meaning some day," Peng says.

Maybe Ji Yulin's daughter will see it differently some day. But for now she already misses her piano untouched this summer.

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