It may sound like your typical Oct. 1 National Day celebration, but it is not.
With China's leaders facing a series of tenacious problems, they are going to extreme lengths to make sure no one gets the idea social order is crumbling or the party losing its grip on things.
Reinforcing the celebrations' message of stability and party control are two ongoing indoctrination campaigns: One is meant to increase patriotism among students, and the second endeavors to deify Deng Xiaoping, China's 90-year-old leader.
One way to ensure party control seems to be a revival of tried-and-true indoctrination campaigns -- well-orchestrated media blitzes coupled with mandatory "study sessions."
A new curriculum, which will form a part of each student's "patriotic education," is being drawn up to stress China's glories, and party elders are touring the country exhorting teachers to make their students loyal citizens.
The second part of the campaign includes studying the newly issued third volume of Deng's collected speeches. The tome is mandatory reading for China's 40 million party members and party sources say 100,000 top cadres are being forced to memorize and recite sections of it.
Deng's theories have slowly grown into something more than the current party line; they are now being portrayed as great works of philosophy that will guide China for decades.
The country will not be allowed to deviate from Dengism for at least 100 years, according to a recent article in People's Daily, the party's official mouthpiece.
"Everyone will see that China is strong and that we are in control of China," said a Communist Party official. What most Chinese will see is a $10 million spectacle in downtown Beijing and the biggest fireworks display in China for 15 years. Popular singers giving "brilliant performances" will be joined by "10,000 workers, peasants, soldiers, students and officials" in a rousing sing-along, Vice Mayor Meng Xuenong said.
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