Qian Minjie: The Earthquake Changed My Cynicism
A Chinese student wrote on his blog about how he changed his cynical attitude towards China after the Sichuan earthquake.
Qian Minjie, a 23 year old graduate student at Carnegie Mellon University , said that he used to care a lot about the country’s politics and social problems, but was disillusioned after a talk with a college teacher. The teacher, who had been a student leader in the Tiananmen Square protest, told him that the enthusiasm of his generation for a better China had died out.
I was disappointed at that moment, like a furious ox being emasculated. I felt a chill to my bones. I could vaguely see my own future.
From that day on I stopped caring about public affairs. I stopped arguing with others over ideals. I stopped reading books such as A Theory of Justice and turned to English vocabulary books. I buried myself into English exams and strived for high test scores. I learned to be stonehearted. I just frowned when I saw people die in mining accidents in Shanxi province…
Chinese society seems to be prosperous and peaceful. Television dramas feature wise emperors conquering land far and wide. Numerous people dwell in the World of Warcraft and look for their dignity in video games. Bourgeois women carry their Prada handbags and wriggle their bodies in nightclubs waiting for a romantic encounter. Anxiety crawls upon the face of most men who are in their twenties or thirties. Successful middle-aged men teach people how to become a celebrity overnight on camera… People no longer smile to each other. Instead, they contemplate the real intentions behind each smiling face.
Minjie said he chose to escape the country which had disappointed him, and come to the U.S. to experience an open society. However, the earthquake has changed his cynicism towards China.
34073. This growing number has united the country in an unprecedented way. Countless ordinary people in China are joining the relief work for Sichuan Earthquake victims.
There were long queues of people in front of blood-donation vehicles in every city, including a skinny girl who weighed less than 90 pounds. They queued in the lines because they care.
Numerous young people drove hundreds of miles to earthquake-struck areas to provide help. They might be a bit naïve, but they deserve our applause.
Every ordinary individual opened his pocket, and donated part of their hard-earned money to earthquake victims. He might have planned to spend the money on his wedding or buying an apartment. But he made the donation — because he cares.
Countless people gathered in Internet forums, discussing and disseminating various information on the earthquake, because they care. A number of business owners have donated large amounts of money, without a well-functioning tax-exemption system, because they care.
34073, God rest your souls.
50 years later, this nation finally lowered its flag to mourn for the common people – people in Wenchuan, people in Sichuan, and people among us.
At this moment, please believe in the power of the ordinary individuals. Yes, we can change.
If you have donated money and you are worried it might be embezzled, please express your concerns loudly, since you care.
If you are heartbroken and furious at the loss of children to the earthquake, please speak out aloud and question why schools turned into graveyards, since you care.
If you hate those officials who would take relief money into their own pockets, please speak out and ask for the whereabouts of the relief money and materials, since you care.
If you grieve for the 34,073 lives lost in the earthquake, please speak out loud. Please urge the government to allow full development of non-governmental organizations, since you care. Only an open society can have a promising future.
If you feel not only grief, but also love and trust after the disaster, please smile to those people around you, since you care.
Please speak out aloud. Please believe that united we can change the country, as ordinary individuals.
Together, we can make a change.
POSTED COMMENTS: 5 Responses
This guy is really talking from his heart. he is true and free, will he become the next Grace Wang, demonized as a traitor for having wisdom as opposed to mob mentality?
His suggestion to get the chinese people speaking up is a great one. They should have at least the right to speak their minds, but who will set their fears to rest? The CCP will crush all dissent like 1989, we know that.
The parents of the quake victims are not afraid because they have lost their only treasures, their one child, so they are speaking. It is sad that people who feel they have something to lose do not speak out and care. Hope for the best future for all people, wish great wisdom toward Chinese people to fix up the country and return to history of greatess
True liberty takes root in such heartfelt words.
Qian Minjie, your words have changed MY cynicims — and I thank you for it.
[...] about the truth because it is more than they are prepared to deal with. I read a really touching article from CDT that really made me feel a bit [...]
Unfortunately, we are already hearing about mis-direction of aid money and corruption. It is sad to hear of that official are already involved in corruption of the aid money.
I could be wrong, but I have not discovered any article here can be construed as pro-Chinese government, at the same time, majority of Chinese ex-pats are pro government. In this case, is CDT really an objective news and information site? If I am pro-government, I could read xinhuanet.com, sina.com or jfang.com. If I am neutral, I can read Asia Times. If I am against government, I can read Epoch Times. Then what is the value of CDT?