Recently a friend pointed out to me that the Empire State Building would be lit up in red and yellow colors to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the creation of Communist China in 1949. I did some research and discovered that the building was indeed awashed in such colors on Wednesday September 30th until \Thursday October 1st. Fox News highlighted the story under its protest section and numerous New York politicians, both Democratic and Republican, have issued disappointment if not downright condemnation.

 

Ever since the 80s, the Empire State Building has altered its lights for numerous special events, including going blue for Frank Sinatra's 80th birthday, gold for a papal visit, or green for the 70th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz. But honoring a brutal dictatorship with a questionable human rights record? I believe it was inappropriate, distasteful, and unworthy of New York's tallest building to bestow such an honor on the People's Republic of China.

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I also believe that there is sadly not much to be done about it. No governmental agency owns the Empire State Building, for it is privately owned by Wien & Malkin. The management of the building simply stated that the building “celebrates many cultures and causes in the world community with iconic lightings.” As a private entity in a country that celebrates freedom, they have the freedom to do what they wish, even to act with brazen insensitivity bordering on stupidity.