Originally Posted By bstudent Having grown up in LA, I love Disneyland and have very fond memories there. I had always thought of Disney as being very pro-democratic and American. The Hall of Presidents and even the ending of the Main Street Electrical Parade all attest to this. Now, Disney is cozying up with the largest communist country in the world; a country that vigorously represses human and democratic rights. Disney Hong Kong is basically Disney China. <a href="http://www.thedisneyblog.com/tdb/2008/03/hong-kong-disne.html" target="_blank">http://www.thedisneyblog.com/t db/2008/03/hong-kong-disne.html</a> Mickey in a Mao suit? What the heck? And now plans for a Disney in Shanghai? <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23289783/" target="_blank">http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23 289783/</a>
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Nope, Disney is pro money, as they are a company with shareholders. And China (not America) is where the money is!!!!
Originally Posted By LuLu Maybe I'm just too apolitical, but I'm not seeing Chairman Mao here: <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22779365/" target="_blank">http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22 779365/</a> It's pretty Red tho... Better Red than dead? (financially?) OK, sorry :-D
Originally Posted By LuLu "The outfits will also be available for guests to purchase in March of April." You'll love that, bstudent! Sorry, it makes me chuckle. It's certainly the most stylish Mao suit I've seen!
Originally Posted By ShivaThDestroyer dwb is right, Disney has an obligation to its shareholders and further expansion may be the way to go. From my own perspective, Disney also has a way of uniting fans across the world and although our forms of governments are different, people are people. If they love Disney and The Mouse, we have something in common and who knows what may build on that.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo BTW - red has been the colour of luck in China for 1000's of years, communism has only been around for about 100.
Originally Posted By bstudent I'm glad that the people and children of China will be able to actually go to the place where all the stuff they're making is going (almost everything in the gift stores in the theme parks are Made in China now). Most companies doing business in China have to make concessions to the Communist government. Google in China and you won't find anything about human rights or democracy. I wonder what Disney had to give up?
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Well, Walt was blacklisted for a while during the McCarthyism era, so it's really nothing new. And if you get to the heart of it, what were his plans for EPCOT other than a Communist paradise? The incredible amount of control given to the company in Florida only lives up to the premise that they were going to do something moderately Communist. He was know for being involved in everything and over controlling as well. Makes you wonder if working for him wouldn't be all that different than living in a Communist country. (I know, Walt's a saint, how could I possibly say that...some times it's all a matter of how you look at an issue, and he made his own cases for Communism kind of clear)
Originally Posted By bstudent Yes, I supposed Walt's (Disney's) plans for world domination are probably a bit gentler than the China's Red Army.
