arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

Disney Corporation already under criticsm for such films as 'Kundun', 'Zapata' and numerous other insensitive entertainment products, plans to extend the Will Eisner Wall Street Disney Corporation from it's current holdings in the US, Europe and Japan to the development of 'China Disneyland' on Hong Kong's Lantau Island. Claiming that 'Mickey Mouse will soon be as popular in China as the Big Mac' the proposed 14.1 billion dollar theme park is scheduled to open 2005. Although 'Mi Laoshu', or Mickey Mouse, may be a cash cow for the Disney Corporation, critics of the project cite 'Hong Kong Disney' as just another case of US Cultural Imperialism and neo-colonialism at work in the Middle Kingdom.

(From Steven Bayless' Editorial Cartoons)

If it will become popular, it must be that Chinese people like it. And why shouldn't they be able to go there ?
If it will not become popular, it must be that the Chinese people don't like it. But at least they have the choice.

I understand that one may be offended by such other-culture invasions, but they will not exist if they have no customers. Since we live in a free world, they have the right to build a HK disneyland.
I don't like those McDonald's in my town, so i never visit them. That's the choice i have. But since they are still there, it must be that some people like it, and that's their choice, and i respect that.

Greetings,
Stefaan

PS: i do like all those Chinese restaurants everywhere...

Walt Disney wrote : 'I think of a child's mind as a blank book. During the first five years of his life, much will be written on the pages. The quality of that writing will affect his life profoundly.' With other words : you have to influence the way of thinking as early as possible. That's the role of the media : American people thinks in stereotypes like the characters of Walt Disney : the good and the bad and that's the way they are treating countries and peoples with other ideas than themselves.

Dear Stefaan,

Mickey Mouse is a perfect example of "freedom for the wealthiest". There isn't any society in the world poorer in choice than the American. The only option they have is the dollar.

They have build their society by murdering at least 10 million native people and importing black slaves to do the dirty work. Their recent prosperity is based on maffia money, exploitation of raw materials and labour force in the third world and exportation of their trade deficit. They sell this for freedom, and you are beleeving it !