What the earthquake has done to Chinese

By Harry Wong

 

More than five million people are homeless in the aftermath of the earthquake in Sichuan province on May 12, 2008, according to the most recent report by the Prime Minister on May 28^th.

Over 67,000 people were killed, more than 20,000 are missing and 250,000 injured. Those left without homes number at least five million.

Although I am not currently in Chengdu, I follow the events in China. Every day I read newspapers, commentaries, stories and reports from a variety of sources. I have also replied to emails from all over the world so as to keep our friends up to date. These I often read through tears, heart broken, but also with courage and hope. I would like to share some pictures and thoughts with you all:

1.         The Prime Minister arrived in the epicenter of the earthquake where rescue efforts began only six hours after the earthquake struck. He spoke to children buried in the rubble, holding a microphone in one hand and a child’s school bag in the other hand.

‘I am Grandpa Wen,’ he said. ‘Just hold on there, you will be rescued soon.’ He reacted quickly to the disaster and is fully engaged in every aspect of relief operations with his heart and spirit, which means a great deal. His actions are opening the hearts and minds of Chinese people all over the country

2.         He [WHO? Grandpa Wen? The Prime Minister?]threw down the phone and shouted, “Just go ahead. You will see. I warn you that our people feed us.” When he got mad at a general talking about sending in troops on a rescue mission, he tried to conceal his bleeding arm, which he injured on broken metal. Chinese people were told that the government loves them and feeds them.

This time, what I am hearing is something to the contrary. What message is he directing to millions of bureaucrats?

3.         Authorities have dispatched more than 130,000 soldiers to assist in the rescue effort. They help wherever lives are threatened, in an area where food and water are very hard to find. They work round the clock, non-stop—sometimes to their own detriment. One young policewoman died as a result, leaving a three-year-old daughter and her policeman husband who works at the same site.

4.         A three-year-old boy with serious injuries, too weak to move his limbs, yet who tried hard to make a gesture of salute to the solider who carried him away from the rubble. This picture, shown on television and posted on the Internet, brought tears like a fountain. The Prime Minister went back to the hospital a week later to pay the boy back with a standard salute. The little boy remembered to show his gratitude to the soldiers even through he was halfway to death. His spirit his empowered us all.

5.         You cannot believe how many journalists are in the epicenter. The Chinese media has been given more freedom than at any other time in history. With so much mass media and Internet, people from all over the world have been brought to North Sichuan. Nothing has been hidden in that area since the earthquake. For example, a shop received some donated food to sell illegally in a nearby town. Sharp-eyed civilians spotted what was going on and reported it to the police. The media followed up.  Soon, thousands of civilians surrounded the shop, waiting until police arrested the suspect. It may have been "normal" corruption, but the criminal did not know that people are really waking up to injustice when they are empowered by freedom of the media. I hope that this kind of story can be heard again and again even though it is disgraceful.

6.         It is tragic to hear that many school buildings collapsed, killing many children and teachers. People are starting to ask WHY! An investigative team is looking into how the buildings were constructed and if there was any corruption involved.  Some provinces have promised to examine all their school buildings to ensure they are safe places for children.  Although The Waldorf school buildings were damaged, luckily no one was hurt. We rent such a rundown building for our school due to a lack of funds. But, it is our task as well to make our school a safe place for our children.

7.         Thousands of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are pouring into Sichuan from all over China. They are covering many areas of rescue and relief effort that soldiers and government organizations cannot. Ordinary men and women -- volunteers with or without skills -- flew, took the train, drove, or walked to North Sichuan to join in the rescue work. People from all over China donated blood, while hundreds waited in line-ups, refusing to leave until the blood bank had been completely replenished. Everyone wants to pitch in and do whatever is needed. No one has ever seen such love and care on such a large scale in China. Every heart is filled with compassion.

8.         Donations made to the relief fund have surpassed historical records with 27 billion Yuan and the number is till going up. And the government has vowed to make sure that the funds are used properly; any misuse will be a punishable offence. I have never experienced Chinese people to be this generous in helping strangers. The expressions of love have gone beyond blood ties, which constitute so much of China’s tradition.  Individual spirit has moved a big step forward in Chinese society once the love people can give go beyond their blood ties. Business enterprises have also taken major social responsibility in the disaster relief efforts. One example is a man who owns a big computer company. He wrote this note in his own hand, posted in his company bulletin board, but it was scanned and posted circulating on the Internet:
“Those who has not made any donation to the relief fund, please resign. Those who has made a donation with unwillingness, please leave my company also. We do not welcome these kind of workers in our company.”

9.         The last thing I want to say is that a new spirit is waiting to be born in China through the pain of this disaster.  We have experienced the shining of a good spirit since the earthquake struck. Many who have suffered the loss of loved ones have been able to experience the true meaning of love among human beings. The government made three days as national mourning date, which is the first time for the dead of ordinary people.

Most people who have been rescued are poor villagers. Many may be migrant workers who perform the menial jobs no one else wants; humble jobs such as maidservants who work in middle-class homes in the cities. They could have been refused treatment in hospital because they do not have the ability to pay. They could have succumbed to their injuries and, in the way of wild dogs, died at the edge of town. Instead, all of a sudden, they have been saved and treated like nobles.

Many lost their lives and suffered from losing loved ones. Hearts are broken, rivers of tears flow from all over the world and we must pay our deepest respect to every lost soul. Yet, out of this sorrow a new spirit has been born into Chinese society. It makes those dead soul are noble to live souls.