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US envoy sets example of simplicity and humility
By Wang Yong |
September 29, 2011, Thursday
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IN Confucian tradition, one should aspire to follow good examples.
That's why Gary F. Locke, the new American ambassador to China, has earned what The New York Times calls "awe, respect, and envy among Chinese" for appearing simple and humble in public.
In an article published on August 17 ("Photo Turns US Envoy into a Lesson for Chinese"), The Times wrote: "A photograph taken last Friday of Gary F. Locke, the new United States ambassador to China, buying coffee with his 6-year-old daughter and carrying a black backpack at a Starbucks in the Seattle airport has gone viral on the Chinese Internet. The seemingly banal scene has bewildered and disarmed Chinese because they are used to seeing their own officials indulge in privileged lives often propped up by graft and bribery and lavish expense accounts."
Not all Chinese agree with The New York Times.
The Associated Press wrote on September 27: "Gary Locke has been praised for his down-to-earth manner since becoming the first Chinese American ambassador to Beijing. He's also been denounced as a showboater, a neocolonialist tool and a traitor to the Chinese race."
Indeed, Chinese media and netizens are divided as to whether Mr Locke is really a moral model or a political grandstander. But it misses the point to debate whether Mr Locke is putting on a show of simplicity and humility or not.
Part of the people
Whether buying his own coffee at Starbucks, wearing a backpack, flying economy class, riding a bike, or visiting a school for children of migrant workers, Mr Locke does show some of the best of American egalitarian, or indeed, human values today - that is, to be part of the people, not of the privileged.
If Mr Locke lives in private the way he appears in public, all the better. If he puts on a show in public, no problem - his actions show the right thing about an America in straitened economic times.
To praise Mr Locke for his simplicity and humility does not signify in any way that most American politicians are similarly admirable; nor does it mean that by contrast, most Chinese officials are crass, distant and luxury-loving.
It means only that we should appreciate the best in others and reflect on our shortcomings.
So detached are they from the people that many Chinese officials don't even bother to put on a show of being empathetic or close to the grassroots.
While Mr Locke "shows" a backpack, many Chinese officials "show" luxury watches or designer leather bags. While Mr Locke "shows" a cup of cheap coffee, many Chinese officials "show" a bottle of expensive alcohol. While Mr Locke "shows" that he's part of the people, many Chinese officials "show" they are among the privileged.
When you don't even care about "showing" the right thing in public, you really don't care about what the public thinks. If you feel obliged to "show" the right thing, at least you know the public is to be respected.
Ambassador Locke has done the right thing, whether he does it from the bottom of his heart as a humble person or from the top of his head as a smart politician.
At any rate, he knows it's shameful to place himself above the people.
Many of us don't know that.
That's why Gary F. Locke, the new American ambassador to China, has earned what The New York Times calls "awe, respect, and envy among Chinese" for appearing simple and humble in public.
In an article published on August 17 ("Photo Turns US Envoy into a Lesson for Chinese"), The Times wrote: "A photograph taken last Friday of Gary F. Locke, the new United States ambassador to China, buying coffee with his 6-year-old daughter and carrying a black backpack at a Starbucks in the Seattle airport has gone viral on the Chinese Internet. The seemingly banal scene has bewildered and disarmed Chinese because they are used to seeing their own officials indulge in privileged lives often propped up by graft and bribery and lavish expense accounts."
Not all Chinese agree with The New York Times.
The Associated Press wrote on September 27: "Gary Locke has been praised for his down-to-earth manner since becoming the first Chinese American ambassador to Beijing. He's also been denounced as a showboater, a neocolonialist tool and a traitor to the Chinese race."
Indeed, Chinese media and netizens are divided as to whether Mr Locke is really a moral model or a political grandstander. But it misses the point to debate whether Mr Locke is putting on a show of simplicity and humility or not.
Part of the people
Whether buying his own coffee at Starbucks, wearing a backpack, flying economy class, riding a bike, or visiting a school for children of migrant workers, Mr Locke does show some of the best of American egalitarian, or indeed, human values today - that is, to be part of the people, not of the privileged.
If Mr Locke lives in private the way he appears in public, all the better. If he puts on a show in public, no problem - his actions show the right thing about an America in straitened economic times.
To praise Mr Locke for his simplicity and humility does not signify in any way that most American politicians are similarly admirable; nor does it mean that by contrast, most Chinese officials are crass, distant and luxury-loving.
It means only that we should appreciate the best in others and reflect on our shortcomings.
So detached are they from the people that many Chinese officials don't even bother to put on a show of being empathetic or close to the grassroots.
While Mr Locke "shows" a backpack, many Chinese officials "show" luxury watches or designer leather bags. While Mr Locke "shows" a cup of cheap coffee, many Chinese officials "show" a bottle of expensive alcohol. While Mr Locke "shows" that he's part of the people, many Chinese officials "show" they are among the privileged.
When you don't even care about "showing" the right thing in public, you really don't care about what the public thinks. If you feel obliged to "show" the right thing, at least you know the public is to be respected.
Ambassador Locke has done the right thing, whether he does it from the bottom of his heart as a humble person or from the top of his head as a smart politician.
At any rate, he knows it's shameful to place himself above the people.
Many of us don't know that.
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