As a Chinese citizen of 72 years, I advocate a
non-confrontational attitude toward all nations (including Japan).
Patience is a really wise virtue that only comes with age. The
young and hawkish in every generation always bring about ruin to their
respective countries. Just as we criticise those in Japan, US, and other
countries that have the attitude of "standing up" to perceived threats, or even
evidential past injustices (like in the case of Japanese brutality in the WW2
infamy), we should not forget that being bullied is never a simple case of
external evil or unfair behaviours by others. Its root cause is always internal
weakness, corruption, and even power struggle and pride.
Like the human body, a nation is never ruined by external forces,
just as there will always be bacteria in the outside, but it is the body's
well-functioning immune system that keep the naturally occuring bacteria at bay.
In this world, past, present or future, it will always be the same, there will
be threat when the internal system in the country is weak. That is as true as is
the case of the human body defence system.
If China continues to ignore the true problem of cultural
weakness and society's inclination to divert attention to external forces as the
cause of its own problems, it reminds me of some of my unergraduate students
just before I retire six years ago. There are those who simply work hard and
blame their lack of discipline and passion to succeed, and there are those that
always complain about lack of support from friends, relatives, or even the
weather condition, or that of the classmates, teachers, or just about anybody
else, that could possibly stand in their way to succeed.
My observation is that the hardy hearted, with strength of
character coming even from the poorest of families suceeed, whilst the spoilt
brat drift to failures after failures. Perhaps, there is a lesson and cosmic
justice to learn from all of these lessons? It is not where you begin from but
what you make of what adversity that faces you that builds character, attitude,
and invariably, through the long-term, sweet success.
China's most important mission for the next generation is to
develop maturity and steadfastness of character through honestly using history
as a mirror to see what was the weak in our national and cultural values, and
system, and not delude oursleves with too many excuses. We can never change
history, but we can change ourselves by learning from the past with a courage of
honesty with excuses or blames.
Lastly, look at the bigger picture, where the danger lies and not
pick a fight with our Asian brothers and neighbours, even if at present some of
them have short-sighted hawkish leaders, because it will damage our long-term
future for the sake of a temporary good feeling of vindication through forcing
them to recognise their mistakes and apologise. This is because, confucius once
said, we can change oursleves, but we can never change someone, if they refuse
to be changed. The western version of the statement is " the only person you
have control of is only yourself" any other subjugation or coercion on someone
else is only an outward change, it has no real impact on the inside.
Only the wise can be truly be strong, and China with a long
history should be the first to know that, which we cant expect from all other
younger nations; they have to learn the lesson that we had paid for with our
past national sufferings.
The above content represents the view of the author
only.
