Dispatch from China: Organized Grief

Wednesday was an official day of mourning across China for the victims of the recent Qinghai earthquake, which has so far claimed about 2,000 lives.

The organized observance touched several aspects of daily life. The front pages of most state-run newspapers were black — many of them depicting scenes of candlelight vigils with minimal type in white font. Bars were closed. Flags flew at half mast. Perhaps most dramatically, TV stations in China canceled regular programming to broadcast, in unison, scenes of rescue teams in action in Qinghai, mourning relatives, officials testifying to the tragedy, and Hu Jintao standing in front of group of survivors shouting words of condolence into a white bull-horn.

Flipping through the TV dial on an official day of mourning in China is haunting for at least two reasons: first, the sad substance of the programming; and second, the chilling monotony of seeing a heroic Hu on every station. Click, click, and still more Hu. Many stations, but just one focus. This is the power of the propaganda office in grief.