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A Young Practitioner's Article on China's Steadily Declining Morality By a young Dafa practitioner in China
(Clearwisdom.net) [Note: The author of this article is a 12-year-old high
school student. He has been studying Falun Gong books and articles daily with
his mother since the beginning of this year. He wrote this article after
reading, "Disintegrate the Party Culture," published by Dajiyuan
(Chinese version of The Epoch Times).] A Discussion of Steadily Declining Morality China, with its 5,000-year history, was a nation where etiquette was valued
and therefore earned the respect of all the world's nations. But today's China
cannot be compared to ancient China. Today, it is proud of its sex industry,
gambling and environmental and moral degradation. Officials are corrupt! Police
and bandits are one family and collude to do evil deeds! People cheat and
mistrust each other and people only care about personal gain. Let's ask
ourselves, what is the cause of all of this? Most likely, someone will tell us
that the cause is the dangerously declining morality. How Can Morality be Ruined, and Why Is It Ruined? Chinese culture has existed for many centuries. The most
precious part is the people's belief in Gods and Buddhas. Why was social convention prevailing and perfect at that time? Because when
the people hold the belief in higher truth in their hearts, they will restrain
themselves and abide by existing law! The ancients said, "There is a god
three feet above one's head." This was said because everyone was in awe of
gods. When people have respect in their hearts, they naturally dare not act in a
self-serving manner. Social morality will naturally prevail. Today, respect for gods is almost non-existent. People no longer believe;
that is why they will dare to do anything. Without the restraint that belief
provides, morality no longer restrains people and law and ethical codes become a
mere mirage. "If a person dares to attack me, I must retaliate." This
precept is substituted for the ancient precept, "Do for others what you
would have them do to you!" Therefore, people are naturally arrogant and
aggressive. Today's proverb is, "East wind blows, the battle drum strikes,
who fears who nowadays in society." This has replaced the proverb,
"The sea accepts hundreds of different (great or small) rivers, that's why
it's so big. The mountain has no greed, that's why it's so strong and
tall." People do not hesitate to cheat others, acting without the restraint
of law and public opinion. Low moral levels have resulted in a series of
undesirable professional qualities: Doctors want a red envelop [containing
money] for treating patients. Journalists want a red envelop for writing news.
Governments want a red envelop for handling affairs. The entire nation only
thinks of money. Now, I want to address the human heart's desire for money and material things
that make the human heart beat faster and have quickened the decline of
morality. Today, what we hear and see are only undeserved praise such as
"good days", "prosperous times, big celebration." Yes, the
perception that China is rising is a misnomer. Yes, we have to agree that the
hardworking and brave Chinese people, bold engineers, tough workers, farmers who
endure hardship, and unceasing foreign investments have built a big country's
"prosperous time" and a prosperous material world on the surface.
However, behind this facade is social injustice, corrupt officials, huge
differences between rich and poor, moral degradation, an abnormal economic
system and suppression of freedom of speech. We need to ask ourselves if such
development serves the Chinese nation in the long run? The above description mirrors the Qing Dynasty's last stage, Shanghai's Bund
with its dozens of historical buildings [The area centers on a section of
Zhongshan Road within the former Shanghai International Settlement, which runs
along the western bank of the Huangpu River, facing Pudong, in the eastern part
of Huangpu District], and then ten miles of the foreign settlements. That area
was one with rampant debauchery, where many glorious dreams were hatched and
where people put on a false show of prosperity. Yet, all of that could not save
the Qing Dynasty from collapse. Today's social prosperity is built on the persecution of minority communities
and the destruction of the environment. It is impossible for us to use one
handsome picture to hide a hundred clowns. We need to face up to the hidden
social crisis and to our national disaster. Zi Gong once consulted Kong Zi about how to rule a nation. Kong Zi said,
"First, people need sufficient food and clothing. Secondly, one needs an
army, and thirdly one must earn the trust of the people." Zi Gong asked if
one would discard one of the options, which one would Kong Zi choose? Kong Zi
said, "Forget about the army." Then, Zi Gong asked to choose just one
option. Kong Zi chose "warm and acceptable conditions for the people,"
and said, "Rather not enough food, but keep trust." This is the main
objective when ruling a nation. If there is no trust, the nation will be
destroyed sooner or later. When we look at our society, we find that everyone lies when they open their
mouth. It has already become natural. Moreover, as they lie, they have already
considered the next lie. It is a common Achilles' heel of today that one acts
and talks one way in public and does underhanded things secretly. One keeps
one's real intentions close to the heart and out of the mouth. In addition, the
fake substitutes in products have reached unprecedented heights -- poisonous
rice, poisonous flour, poisonous powdered milk, fake cigarettes, fake liquor and
fake soybean oil. We are now living in a world of lies. Furthermore,
extra-marital affairs, multiple sex partners, and one night stands have all
become a way of life in today's society. It has become the norm and has even
obtained official protection. Since ancient China, a proverb was known to all people: "Excessiveness
is the source of extreme evil." People had to bow before heaven and earth
when getting married. This meant that gods needed to give their blessings for a
marriage to be legal. In Jin Yong's novel, "The Legend of Condor
Hero," why did Guo and Huang disapprove of the marriage of Yang and Longnu?
Yang Guo was the disciple of Xiao Longnu. A Teacher/disciple marriage was
considered as depraved as incest! Incest and sexual chaos are often the omens of
a country sliding into oblivion. Families are destroyed and morality is
disappearing or already destroyed. Before ending I want to warn that destruction of the nation's culture brings
the decline of morality. In 2005, the "wolf culture" was fashionable
in the entire nation. People in the entire nation adored the "wolf
totem," and everyone imitated a wolf's actions and cast aside the nation's
ancient symbol, the Chinese dragon. It was even viciously attacked. The teachers
of ancient times were role models in their conduct and had great spiritual
strength. Today, romance novels and pornography are the rage. The bizarre and motley,
all kinds of strange things exist. The more strange and warped, the more people
like to see or read it. Literature is like this, and film and television has
even gone beyond depravity. Gory blood and sexual deprivation have completely
destroyed Chinese cultural traditions. Very few can truly understand ancient
poetry and drama. Primary and high school students can seldom recognize
traditional Chinese characters, and people can't read ancestral writings. In
addition, they have not inherited ancestral virtues. The above is how I perceive the world around me. People spitting everywhere,
taking the seats of mother and babies, loud clamoring in public places and other
uncivilized behavior can be seen everywhere and at any time. Someone may claim
that I am too harsh. But, the above are words that come from my heart after I
observed and thought about it. Someone may say that I am too bold and am
"getting involved in politics". But I am merely pointing out the
destructive behavior of today. My intent is to change today's behavior and
restore ancient virtues. Qu Yuan wrote "Long did I sigh and wipe away my tears, To see my people
bowed by grief and fear." Du Fu once complained, "Rich families have
so much food, food that decays. Poor families die from cold and hunger on the
street corner." Were these people involved in politics? If this so-called politics is able to awaken a nation, turn our nation around
from its present decline in morality, bring happiness to the common people and a
peaceful life where morality is valued, wouldn't one say that this is what we
should strive for? I hope sincerely that more people will read my article, realize the truth
about today's society, and consider the fate of the individual, family and
country. The Chinese nation can't be allowed to slide any further into
depravity, immorality and towards destruction! Posting date: 4/26/2007 |