All together now: "The Internet strengthens the country"
+ READ ARTICLEIs this a good song about the glory of online censorship? Or is this the greatest song ever about the glory of online censorship?
The ode, written by Wang Pingjiu, is a rousing choral tribute to the Chinese system of online surveillance and censorship known as the Great Firewall — and the government department behind it. In recent weeks, the wall has been rising as the ruling party cracks down on virtual private networks (VPNs) and online speech.
As well it should, the song suggests. Here is a translation courtesy of China Economic Review:
[time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”]在这片天空日月忠诚的守望
The moon and stars guard us loyally
为日出东方使命担当
Undertaking the duty of the sun rising from the East
创新每个日子拥抱着清朗
Creativity, every day clean and fresh
像一束廉洁阳光感动在心上
Like a bundle of honest sunshine that moves the heart
团结万物生长的力量
The power of all things growing in unity
奉献地球村成为最美的风光
Dedication to the global village becomes the most beautiful scene
在这个世界百川忠诚寻归海洋
Every river in this world loyally seeks the sea
担当中华文明的丈量
Undertaking the measurement of Chinese civilization
五千年沉淀点亮创新思想
Five thousand years build up, illuminating creative thought
廉洁就是一个民族清澈荡漾
Honesty is the lifeblood of a people
我们团结在天地中央
We unite at the center of Heaven and Earth
信仰奉献流淌万里黄河长江
Faith and devotion flow immeasurable distance alongside the Yellow and Yangzi rivers
网络强国 网在哪中国界碑在哪
The Internet strengthens the country, wherever it goes there too stretch China’s borders
网络强国 从遥远的宇宙到思念的家
The Internet strengthens the country, from the distant universe to one’s longed-for home
网络强国 告诉世界中国梦在崛起大中华
The Internet strengthens the country, telling the world the Chinese dream is rising in Greater China
网络强国 一个我在世界代表着国家
The Internet strengthens the country, every one of us is representing our country for the world.
There are signs, however that the censors are perhaps a little embarrassed by the attention. As the video began circulating, links to it started going dead — because in China, even the songs about censorship are censored.
— With reporting from Gu Yongqiang / Beijing