Sugaring the pill

Sugaring the pill

Comment on "Patrols and turkey mix in Afghan war" (Page 11, Nov 27, China Daily)

More than surprised, I was appalled to read China Daily's piece reporting the humanitarian and social activities of US forces in Afghanistan on Friday. Not that I don't believe this is actually happening there (after all, the military are people too, aren't they?). However, I can't help but wonder about the good judgment of your staff after seeing this AP report. I can fully understand China's - and its publications, for that matter - wish to show the world its readiness to cooperate and be on good terms with all countries, regardless of their socio-political systems.

What I find hard to swallow is that a Chinese newspaper could come up with a story clearly trying to hide the basic fact that Afghanistan is a sovereign country under foreign occupation, no matter what the pretext for such occupation was in the first place. This story does nothing but sugars the pill.

If this becomes a trend, what should we expect next? A front-page article on how US Marines celebrate Christmas in illegally-occupied Iraq, or in Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba?

To make my point still clearer, would you please hop on a time machine for a minute and travel back some seven decades back here in China. Picture yourself reading an article in a foreign paper about how nicely Japanese soldiers are treating the Chinese people under occupation, and how these soldiers are preparing dishes for Spring Festival. How would you react?

Hope you can understand that imperialism and hegemony are still alive and kicking. No matter how they sugar the pill.

Isidro Estrada, Cuban journalist residing in Beijing

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