Sun Zhen, a traffic policeman, is excellent at his work but he failed to take care of his wife and newly born son because he was too busy for the 26th Universiade's preparations and opening ceremony in Shenzhen. His son later died, prompting some netizens to blame him for not fulfilling his duties as a husband and father. But Sun doesn't deserve such harsh criticism. Society does need models, but that does not mean people should be made to work harder even at the cost of ignoring their families, says an article in Qilu Evening News. Excerpts:

Thanks to micro blogs, we have got the real picture behind the political glory of the "security star of the 26th Universiade". We feel the sorrow, regret and self-blame of a young father, instead of an "inhuman tragic hero" from Sun's and his wife's blogs. Sun became a "model worker" only after being made to work 12 hours a day since Aug 5 and be ready as a stand-by for others.

That not only explains why Sun couldn't return home, but also gives a picture of an ordinary man of flesh and blood different from a sculpted model. We are not trying to judge the special measures taken for special occasions. But authorities need to reflect if they should stop hoisting "model examples" by exaggerating and excessively glorifying their contributions.

The public has seen enough of such "tragic heroes". Those who portray such "models" should realize that they do not necessarily yield the desired effects by making individuals serve group or national interests at the cost of neglecting their equally important family duties.

To some extent, "artificial models" like Sun are victims of the heavy pressure imposed on them. Hopefully, the authorities will stop trying to create more "tragic heroes".

(China Daily 08/17/2011 page9)