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Everywhere we see spoiled kids and teens
By Joseph Lim |
April 26, 2011, Tuesday
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DEAR editor,
I read with great interest the piece on the low moral standards off businesses in China ("Economic 'leg' is long but morality 'leg' is short" in Shanghai Daily on April 21.)
I have lived here with my Shanghainese wife (I am a UK citizen) for eight years now, and have watched with fascination, and sometimes concern, the furious pace of development in Shanghai, and across China in general.
The issue of low standards of morality and civic consciousness is one that frequently bugs me. In my opinion, though, the problem starts at the individual level, never mind the corporate level. For example, there is little, if any, evidence of basic consideration for others everywhere you look. People double-park everywhere, blocking traffic and even cars that are legitimately parked. This is simply evidence that in these people's eyes, other people simply do not exist.
Taxis stop to pick up and drop passengers anywhere, with no regard for traffic behind, beside or in front of them. I could go on, but I really want to make an observation far more concerning to me.
If things are bad today, think of what will happen to the country in 20 years. look at the little princes and princesses who are now seven or eight or nine. Doting parents and grandparents spoil these children rotten.
They are brought up to be self-centered, selfish, demanding and are being taught that everything will be done for them.
Already you see and read of those in their teens and early twenties displaying this absence of moral standards. The student who knocked over a woman in his car and then stabbed her rather than help her. The young drivers who lose control of their cars - what are they doing with cars at that age anyway?
Is this the generation of future leaders China wants? What kind of country will China be, if it is run by such people?
Now, today's leaders in business and enterprise are clearly making no effort to set any kind of example for their successors. It's easier to cheat and, to copy, than to genuinely develop initiatives and innovations.
The easy, lazy, dishonest way to wealth is preferred to the proper ways to true success - hard work, honesty and holding on to values. What a pity, that a country with a heritage of thousands of years of moral steadfastness, integrity and respect has come to this.
The government may or may not be aware of these germinating problems. I hope they are, and have plans and strategies to deal with them. Otherwise, in a generation from now, China could take a great leap backwards again.
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