In my post last night (A nation in mourning deserves all we can give ) I quoted a Time article last night that talked about Disaster Fatigue. Well, that is not the story in China. The New York Times has a story of a new page in Chinese history. Many Hands, Not Held by China, Aid in Quake - New York Times
We grew up reciting Confucius saying that all men are born kind, but it takes a disaster like this to bring out the innate kindness of everyday human beings,” said Alan Qiu, 41, an investor in Shanghai. “People are touched by the scenes of children and also the value of life. We grew up in a society where people tend to believe that Chinese lives are of less value than foreign lives.” .... More.
The rise of individual initiative is a huge thing, and central to the strengthening of civil society. And the implications of all that for China's political future is enough to get the pundits talking upthe a revolution. I wish they would keep their mouths shut and let China get on with feeding the hungry, comforting the mourning, and rehousing the homeless. And then maybe getting down to some changing of itself.
Comments