Official Cars

In keeping with Beijing's status as a national capital, and adhering to 20th century mainland tradition, you see a lot of solid black sedans in the city. It reminds you of Henry Ford's famous pronouncement upon creating the first assembly line for the Model T: "you can buy any color you like, as long as it's black."


Some of the cars have diplomatic plates and shuttle important people to and from the embassy districts, some carry police officers, and some are actually driven by ordinary, albeit relatively wealthy, Beijing residents or their chauffeurs. But most belong to powerful Party officials, and in one of the most bizarre tales I've heard in China, young children are taught to actually salute or wave at black cars out of gratitude and respect for the men or women riding inside.


In the disrespectful West, children -- and grownups -- are more likely to shoot the finger at such authority figures and their rolling symbols of superiority. But in China, authority is not just respected, it is revered and not meant to be questioned. And of course, saluted. Literally.


I often imagine a black car with tinted glass windows rolling past with a corrupt businessman or official in the back seat, and a hot young fashion model half his age riding on his lap. As the car passes some young children on the sidewalk, the man is producing a different kind of salute.


To me and many of my fellow foreigners, a black car is just another black car. Unless it's onyx.
I'd be more impressed if an official car glided by with mini-chandeliers mounted above the headlights, like the ride Issac Hayes' character had in "Escape From New York." But for now, I can only guess who is behind the tinted glass, and imagine riding in the Chinese seat of power myself, young fashion model girl included. Like Wesley Snipes' detective character said in "Passenger 57": "...ALWAYS BET ON BLACK!"