During the eight-day National Day holiday, some of us had the chance to see some of the best sites China has to offer. This was in stark contrast to the scenes only a week before, when Chinese streets were filled with people demonstrating against Japan's provocative actions over the Diaoyu Islands and when a few people revealed their violent and ugly side.

While many Chinese expressed their anger through public protests, the actions of some of the so-called protesters were anything but acceptable. Reports came in of Japanese-owned stores being vandalized, burglarized or extensively damaged. Some of the protesters targeted not only Japanese, but also Chinese. A video has emerged showing a Chinese man from Xi'an half paralyzed after being beaten up by rioters just for owning a Japanese car.

The deplorable and downright shameful acts of a few, ironically, undermined the message of the majority of peaceful people protesting outside the Japanese embassy, offices and stores.

However, this was hardly a surprise. There is a violent element in all demonstrations, which a few use for a just cause to give vent to their criminal side, much to the chagrin of the majority of protesters who are peaceful.

The violence unleashed by a few made many people, foreigners and Chinese both, feel unsafe. Japanese companies and businesses hid their signage or closed shop fearing their business would be targeted next. Many 7-Eleven convenient stores, Uniqlo outlets, and several Japanese factories in China downed their shutters because they did not feel safe. Many Chinese, too, felt threatened just for owning Japanese cars and covered their car logos for fear of being attacked by their own countrymen. Many shops flew the Chinese national flag to prove their patriotism.

Chinese were rightfully angry at what Japan did, but a majority of them also disapproved of the violence, harassment and the fear that emerged with the protests.

But why didn't anyone speak out against the violence? Fear. They were afraid that the vandals would target them for standing up against the mindless mayhem.

Chinese have the right to protest against Japan's actions, but they should not pose a threat or hurt others. Those who use nationalist sentiments as a guise to justify their criminal acts have no place in society. Such people want the public to believe that standing up against them is standing up for the other side.

The next time such mayhem takes place, I hope people will find the courage to rise above their fears and speak against those who are harming China's image both outside and within the country.

Matt Dalton, via e-mail

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(China Daily 10/19/2012 page9)