China's Rap

An old high school assignment in East Asian class. We had to make a rap supporting Xi and battle it out in song against the opposing side.. To this day, this piece amuses me.

So you think under Xi, China’s making the world unbalanced

Let me tell you, he’s undertaking a big challenge

He’s restructuring the People’s Liberation Army

To bring up his country’s power sharply

For he strives to assuage

The citizens’ honor in this modern age

And change the army’s corrupted state

By kicking out people like Guo Boxiong, a greedy degenerate

The ’American Dream,’ some prefer

But the ‘China Dream,’ have you heard

Americans tangle up in conflicts all across the world

So Xi states China’s wings too, must unfurl

But unlike the meddling Americans

With all their arrogance

In many world affairs

Around China is where Xi most cares

Says he, “The hope is that all parties

will correctly view and handle the South China Sea…impartial[ly]…

particularly countries outside this region.”

With no waters containing American legions.

And says Xi to people in business, 

“You should treasure and maintain your public image

As your behaviour and your words have a strong impact on society,

As an example to ­others,” don’t give China notoriety.

Have pride in your nationality,

Show love to the motherland, to the people, to the party.

For a “new type” of relationship between government officials

And private businessmen as he warns against colluding in power-for-money deals.

We aim to be world leaders

In advanced industries like semiconductors, no, we are no cheaters

Chip materials, robotics, aviation equipment and satellites

China with Xi are aiming for new heights

To turn into a cyber power

We will not cower

From the jealousy of overriding

Western dominance which has been backsliding.

Internet Plus will transition the economy

To be driven by services and consumption, Xi’s new policy

To continue the growth of China’s GDP,

Still far superior to any other country you’ll see.

Vietnam, Xi doesn’t despise

He’s trying to repair damaged ties.

Let us not move about separately,

For we share a “common destiny.”

China state media must become internationally influential,

Because China gets a bad rap, to clear it is essential.

Author's Note

The words in italics are from articles that we were given. We had to include at least ten quotes if I recall correctly. (Original writing had them in bold, but this looked weird on here and made those parts stand out too much for no real added reason.)

Reviews

[barleygirl]

You sent me a friend request & my first exploration of your postings is THIS! Amazing! This is a very intelligent piece blended with good rhyme & rhythm. I realize as a school assignment, such detail is required & well-included, but I have to admit there's much more here than I care to digest in one sitting. Regardless, the message is still well-received, especially in these times when we seem to be at a feverish pitch with China. I love looking at both sides, even if I disagree with the viewpoint, so I think it's great for people to be more educated about this huge part of our global existence (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Chryiss]

Yes, I was so enchanted by your piece, Secret Regrets, I just had to send one, hehe~
Oh noes, your first exploration of mine? Haha, probably not the piece I would've wanted as a first, but oh wells, I'm glad you enjoyed it nevertheless. ^-^
Yes, I had some difficulty making a coherent rap story with the amount of information I had to include in a set length of time (we literally did a rap battle lol). I didn't get to chose the side either, but I tried my best formulating an "argument" in that perspective. Just like you said, I love looking at both sides too even if I disagree. I hope in trying to see through other's eyes, I can understand them as well as myself better.
Lastly, I agree about expanding our horizons beyond the country, or like in the US, beyond your state or region. I'm always amazed how in different parts of the world, we still share so many similarities!
Thank you again! :)

[barleygirl]

I was in the speech & debate club WAY BACK in high school (I'm 62) . . . so I was visualizing how such a debate must've been to watch!

[Chryiss]

Haha, well it was certainly an enjoyable way to end the year!

[NotUsinganymore]

very nice Chinese history and satire poem. I think I did spot some satire too.

[Chryiss]

Haha, thanks. I don't remember what I was going for since it was so many years ago when I wrote this, but perhaps it was satire. Certainly, I thought this was an unusual school assignment the teacher made us do to teach history...

[NotUsinganymore]

It was interesting. I did live in china for a few months since I had to wait for the South Korea citizenship at age 15 and a new birth certificate since I didn’t have one. I’m regionally form North Korea.

[Chryiss]

Hm, that's fascinating. I'm not familiar with the procedures of switching citizenships. This is probably due to my limited and skewed knowledge of North Korea, but I'm glad you were able to make it out (?). Then again, there's there rest of your family too, and I don't know the details or difficulties of that country transition of course... ---but anyway, thanks for the input!

[Chryiss]

*there's the

[NotUsinganymore]

You’re welcome. My siblings all died and so did my father. So I had left my mother (who’s most likely dead).

[Chryiss]

I'm so sorry to hear. :'c I didn't expect you to explain what had happened--as I had said, I don't know what it's like to leave a country that I heard was very difficult to leave--but now I feel bad for you having to explain your past due to my assumptions about that experience... Still, from reading your heartfelt writing which is full of optimism and depth, I can see that you found new happiness, and for that, I'm glad.
Thank you for your courage, and keep on sharing your positivity and kindness; it's inspiring to many I'm sure.

[NotUsinganymore]

Hahah it’s fine. It doesn’t really affect me. A lot of the memories I have in that prison labor camp my brain blocked out a lot of the horrors I’ve seen besides the ones I seen when I was a little older.