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Ode to official who takes kid to school by bike
By People.com.cn |
June 7, 2012, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
ZHAN Yunchao, deputy mayor of Wuhu City, Anhui Province, recently became an Internet sensation. He was pictured taking his daughter to school by bike - he rode a simple bicycle with her on the back seat.
That photo, uploaded online on the eve of Children's Daily, sparked a frenzy for it showed the populist style of a government official. However, Zhan was uncomfortable with the media exposure. He asked reporters to downplay what he called a father's responsibility.
The effusive praise Zhan received owe little to his official career, but to his image of a loving father who altered the prevailing public view that officials seldom ride bikes.
Today even those at the bottom of the administrative hierarchy travel by car. Zhan's demeanor is rare among fellow officials. That explained his overnight fame.
And he isn't carried away by the barrage of favorable reports. His composure and humility are laudable.
However, what has really catapulted the deputy mayor to fame is his foregoing of an official car for personal business. The real issue here is that it's time to scale down official car fleets and regulate their use.
That photo, uploaded online on the eve of Children's Daily, sparked a frenzy for it showed the populist style of a government official. However, Zhan was uncomfortable with the media exposure. He asked reporters to downplay what he called a father's responsibility.
The effusive praise Zhan received owe little to his official career, but to his image of a loving father who altered the prevailing public view that officials seldom ride bikes.
Today even those at the bottom of the administrative hierarchy travel by car. Zhan's demeanor is rare among fellow officials. That explained his overnight fame.
And he isn't carried away by the barrage of favorable reports. His composure and humility are laudable.
However, what has really catapulted the deputy mayor to fame is his foregoing of an official car for personal business. The real issue here is that it's time to scale down official car fleets and regulate their use.
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