Incident in Wuhan#
During dinner, I chatted with my colleagues about the incident in Wuhan. The mother of the child who was killed in the accident jumped off a building on the seventh day after the child's death. It is rumored that the father also jumped off the building and his fate is unknown. After listening to my colleague's account, I couldn't help but shudder.
Portrait of the Incident#
A young Chinese language teacher in her twenties, a well-off family of three, and an unexpected accident. The perpetrator's revelry, the onlookers' indifference, the struggling mother and father, and an all-powerful "benevolent father."
If Kindness is Not Encouraged#
It is difficult to draw conclusions about the true nature of Chinese netizens based on the furious sympathy, cunning innocence, and gentle pity expressed on the internet. This country has kind people, but also people with malicious intent. This is not unique to China; I believe it is the same in all countries. However, why do many people think that developed countries and the civilized world have a better social atmosphere? I think it may be because in those countries, guilt is not the first assumption, condemnation is not the only tool, and people are not regarded as so despicable. In China, it is the opposite. Chinese people are taught to think in terms of "good and evil, loyalty and treachery," only focusing on righteousness and never on individuals. We define people with the worst aspects of human nature. Without the protection of the rule of law, we can only express our stance through endless emotional outbursts. Today's online bullies may become tomorrow's victims of online bullying; today's indifferent bystanders may become tomorrow's perpetrators or victims. In such a precarious environment, wise individuals choose not to comment, becoming cynics who maintain a balance between intoxication and sobriety. Over time, who will be left to speak, and who will be the intelligent ones to express their opinions? The remaining individuals will be those who lack shame, those who use strong words to argue, and those who are ignorant. It is pitiful and lamentable.
Why Kindness is Not Encouraged#
It is often said that the domestic environment is "cultivating gu," meaning that those who engage in political discussions are often censored, while those who engage in slander and harm are turned a blind eye. It is ridiculous that many people complain about the government's broad jurisdiction, but when something happens, their first thought is still "why isn't the government doing something?" The mentality of ordinary people is similar. Even more ridiculous is that while the government has broad jurisdiction, when it comes to taking responsibility, the threshold is high, and after going through various "relevant departments," nothing can be resolved. The mother in Wuhan who blocked the door and held up banners is not tolerated because it disrupts the overall stability and causes unrest. However, imagine if someone had comforted the grieving mother and dealt with the incident head-on, would we be in the situation we are in now? Stability is the main theme, and even a clear-cut civil matter like this is overshadowed by the "stability" factor. In this world, what can't be covered up by the pocket of stability? Those who were recently bullying others online may become victims themselves, using the same methods against them. What exactly is manipulating public opinion? Where are the boundaries of government responsibility? Where are the boundaries of school responsibility? It is not surprising that there are no clear answers to these questions, or perhaps there are answers in people's minds, but they choose to remain silent. Their hearts are full of resentment, and the world is filled with worries.
Never Giving Up is Chilling#
There is no one who is always right, and there is no one path that is always right. If we deny even this, then we can only wish ourselves good luck as this unstoppable war machine heads towards an uncertain destination. Knowing shame is close to being brave, and there is no greater improvement than knowing and correcting one's mistakes. It seems that the wisdom of the ancients is beyond the grasp of modern people. Glorious things are only feared and revered when they are forever glorious. I am reminded of a scene from "1984," where in this oppressive environment, even passionate lovemaking is seen as a form of rebellion. If the situation deteriorates to such an extent, nothing that happens would be surprising, and only the ordinary people would be carried away by the times, where will the stormy waves take them? Only time will tell.