Me, The Chairman and Blind Man Musicians

Here is one more reason why China is cool and crazy at the same time. I was eating at a Hunan joint last night (Hunan is spicy). They seated me across from two old ladies at a tiny table since the place was packed. I cannot read the menu there but I know the names of some foods. There is a big framed painting of Chairman Mao dead center on the back wall. It is the first thing you see when you walk in. Outside, there was a blind man led by a little boy playing one of those one stringed violins. In addition to the blind guy there was a mass of humanity walking around as it is a popular food street. Although it is a “walking” street, motorcycles are constantly cruising down it while laying on the horn and the occasional car wades through the crowds as well.

So here is why China rocks sometimes. I was just eating my Hunan food and reading my censored newspaper in the clearly communist restaurant when a kid maybe about 6 or 7 starts making all kind of racket (which is a lot due to the constant sound of jackhammers and people yelling at each other). Anyway, I think this little kid wanted to go give the blind man some money. But by this time, the blind man was down the road. So the grandma gives the little kid 10 RMB and some instructions. The kid goes out front and jumps on his mini-BMX and just wades into the people and starts weaving through the cars and motorcycles. The mom and grandma looked all peaceful like they were doing a good deed by teaching the kid how to help blindman musicians.

So why is that cool? Well, for one thing, it is weird so that is cool. The really cool part though is that this is taking place in downtown Shanghai. One of the biggest cities in the world. Yet, it is so safe from bad guys that parents will let their little kids go riding around until they find a blind beggar guy. At night. In the middle of hundreds of people. I guess people stress about stolen kids back home. If the communists catch kid stealers, those kid stealers are toast. The Chinese love kids. Anyway, it’s one less thing to worry about.

I never saw the little guy come back. He may have been hit by a car but the odds of that happening are pretty low. I think that because even though the Chinese are pretty crappy drivers, they would rather hit an old lady than a little kid.

So when you come to visit, remember that it’s safe from bad guys thanks to Chairman Mao and the one child policy.