From the Readers

All Chinese owe a responsibility to their parents

(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-10-26 15:06

Comment on "Filial tradition in China withering" (China Daily, Oct 25)

People who can see the winds of change, know how to steer their boats to safety and prosperity.

People who cannot see the winds of change, will only steer their boats into storms, gales, typhoons and whatever there is an English word for winds of danger and have their boats capsized and sunk to the bottom of the sea.

The West where the sun sets, is seeing a fast decline. Why must the Chinese who is only now rising not see the dangers and woes of the West. When the USA went on a rampage using its might, the signs of doom have been triggered yet the Americans did not see them. They were flushed with wealth and power. They lived without a care in the world yet it was very common, their children neglected their aging parents. I have mentioned we should not behave like animals because we have brains. Bear in mind I meant only in general. It is widely known that some animals and birds behave even better than some people. I understand or read somewhere that some birds (crows) do care for their aging and weak kinds. It is as if they are not so called bird brains. The trouble with us is some humans behaved worse than animals who we all say have less brain power than humans.

In the West, it is so easy to throw the aging parents into old age care centers. Yes the grown up children might have paid a hefty sum for maintenance but the care and love so afforded can never be the same as the parental love. The aging parents in such centers would never feel the comfort of home despite the pros and cons of care centers.

It must be remembered that not all parents find it easy to take care of their kids. They gave up a lot for their kids and could not the kids return some favour when the parents become helpless? If we talk about human rights this is one aspect of human right that must be looked into. human right is between people which means it can be applied to parent child relationship too.

My China has been built on this virtue and on this virtue it shall continue to grow. Wealth is not the absolute key to happiness. Happiness is knowing we have done the right thing in this short journey on Earth.

When we give love we shall receive love. What is the point of having tons of money when upon our death bed we reflect and ponder whether in life have we done good and right. Is it any wonder why people like Warren Buffett and Bill Gates are now donating to charity much of their wealth. Surely some unconscious thing has driven them to do what they are not doing. Of course it is their privacy and they will never divulge to the world.

All Chinese people owe a responsibility (love) to their parents. If you have this, then Mother China need not worry.

 

HsunTze, on China Daily Website

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