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| China invokes spirit of humble soldier in effort to improve social harmony | China invokes spirit of humble soldier in effort to improve social harmony |
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| When China's most powerful men gathered for the start of its formal power shift last November, six names merited a mention in the outgoing leader Hu Jintao's work report. Five were obvious choices, identified by their philosophical legacies and contributions to the Communist party: Marx, Lenin, Mao and Hu's predecessors Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin. The sixth was a man unknown before his untimely death and celebrated not for leading the way but obediently following: Lei Feng. | When China's most powerful men gathered for the start of its formal power shift last November, six names merited a mention in the outgoing leader Hu Jintao's work report. Five were obvious choices, identified by their philosophical legacies and contributions to the Communist party: Marx, Lenin, Mao and Hu's predecessors Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin. The sixth was a man unknown before his untimely death and celebrated not for leading the way but obediently following: Lei Feng. |
| The humble soldier and Mao-era icon popped up again just before Tuesday's opening of the National People's Congress, which will complete the leadership transition. On Friday the ideological chief Liu Yunshan urged people to learn from Lei's example, strengthening their love for party and country and helping to build "the socialist core value system". | The humble soldier and Mao-era icon popped up again just before Tuesday's opening of the National People's Congress, which will complete the leadership transition. On Friday the ideological chief Liu Yunshan urged people to learn from Lei's example, strengthening their love for party and country and helping to build "the socialist core value system". |
| Tuesday is the annual Learn from Lei Feng day and this year marks the 50th anniversary of the first such campaign. Propaganda chiefs said his inspirational diary was discovered after his accidental death at 21, though others are sceptical about its veracity. Through its dissemination, he began an afterlife as the epitome of selflessness, socialist spirit and devotion to Mao. Children and adults across the country were urged to emulate his deeds, such as sharing meagre savings with the needy or gathering dung to use as fertiliser. | Tuesday is the annual Learn from Lei Feng day and this year marks the 50th anniversary of the first such campaign. Propaganda chiefs said his inspirational diary was discovered after his accidental death at 21, though others are sceptical about its veracity. Through its dissemination, he began an afterlife as the epitome of selflessness, socialist spirit and devotion to Mao. Children and adults across the country were urged to emulate his deeds, such as sharing meagre savings with the needy or gathering dung to use as fertiliser. |
| Since then he has been used by authorities with varying degrees of enthusiasm. Tao Dongfeng, professor in cultural studies at Beijing Normal University, said his latest resurgence reflected growing concern about disintegrating social bonds. In the work report, he was hailed in a new section on improving civic morality. "From the top to the bottom of society, we all feel morality has declined," said Tao, citing the public despair last year when a video showed passers by ignoring a two-year-old who had been crushed by a truck. "They hope to change the situation through Lei Feng." | Since then he has been used by authorities with varying degrees of enthusiasm. Tao Dongfeng, professor in cultural studies at Beijing Normal University, said his latest resurgence reflected growing concern about disintegrating social bonds. In the work report, he was hailed in a new section on improving civic morality. "From the top to the bottom of society, we all feel morality has declined," said Tao, citing the public despair last year when a video showed passers by ignoring a two-year-old who had been crushed by a truck. "They hope to change the situation through Lei Feng." |
| The senior engineer who died after watching the jet fighter he had developed land safely on an aircraft carrier was "in step with Lei Feng" in his devotion to duty. A policeman believed to have drowned this week while attempting to save a tourist's life was described as a modern Lei Feng for his altruism. In recent months Lei has been invoked in schools across the country and has gazed down on Guangzhou's glitziest shopping street from an electronic billboard. Over the years there have been Lei Feng video games and (without official endorsement) even condoms. | The senior engineer who died after watching the jet fighter he had developed land safely on an aircraft carrier was "in step with Lei Feng" in his devotion to duty. A policeman believed to have drowned this week while attempting to save a tourist's life was described as a modern Lei Feng for his altruism. In recent months Lei has been invoked in schools across the country and has gazed down on Guangzhou's glitziest shopping street from an electronic billboard. Over the years there have been Lei Feng video games and (without official endorsement) even condoms. |
| These days he is glossed by state media as a depoliticised Good Samaritan. But Tao pointed out that the first campaign began as Mao faced growing criticism inside the party over the disaster of the Great Famine. The most important feature of Lei is that he "absolutely obeys the party, and Mao Zedong … He lacks independent thinking and reflection," said Tao. Fuller reading of the diary also shows that "he divided the people into different classes: revolutionary, anti-revolutionary; class friends or class enemies … Some of his words are very dirty and brutal." | These days he is glossed by state media as a depoliticised Good Samaritan. But Tao pointed out that the first campaign began as Mao faced growing criticism inside the party over the disaster of the Great Famine. The most important feature of Lei is that he "absolutely obeys the party, and Mao Zedong … He lacks independent thinking and reflection," said Tao. Fuller reading of the diary also shows that "he divided the people into different classes: revolutionary, anti-revolutionary; class friends or class enemies … Some of his words are very dirty and brutal." |
| Even the softer side of Lei can be a hard sell to younger generations. Famously, he said his only ambition was "to be a rustless screw" in the revolutionary cause – an odd sentiment in an individualistic age. "Of course, times have changed. We cannot require young people to darn socks as Lei Feng did [for his comrades] or simply help the old to cross the road," said Tan Huangfang, who spent 26 years as a guide at the Changsha Lei Feng museum and said the soldier had inspired her throughout her life. "However, we can require young people to be warm-hearted, honest people." But others, like Tao, say civic education is a better basis for social morality than ideology. | Even the softer side of Lei can be a hard sell to younger generations. Famously, he said his only ambition was "to be a rustless screw" in the revolutionary cause – an odd sentiment in an individualistic age. "Of course, times have changed. We cannot require young people to darn socks as Lei Feng did [for his comrades] or simply help the old to cross the road," said Tan Huangfang, who spent 26 years as a guide at the Changsha Lei Feng museum and said the soldier had inspired her throughout her life. "However, we can require young people to be warm-hearted, honest people." But others, like Tao, say civic education is a better basis for social morality than ideology. |
| Some are simply turned off by the glaring discrepancies in the official account – such as the numerous, professional-quality photographs that mysteriously captured every good deed by a then anonymous soldier. "A couple of years ago, I read something online and realised some of the Lei Feng story was fake or made up by the propaganda people, so in my mind the credibility of those heroes we studied in school declined," said Chris Liu, a student in Beijing. "Nowadays, Chinese people are very selfish. It's good to promote this spirit to keep society harmonious … I just don't like how the Communist party promotes him as propaganda." | Some are simply turned off by the glaring discrepancies in the official account – such as the numerous, professional-quality photographs that mysteriously captured every good deed by a then anonymous soldier. "A couple of years ago, I read something online and realised some of the Lei Feng story was fake or made up by the propaganda people, so in my mind the credibility of those heroes we studied in school declined," said Chris Liu, a student in Beijing. "Nowadays, Chinese people are very selfish. It's good to promote this spirit to keep society harmonious … I just don't like how the Communist party promotes him as propaganda." |
| Additional research by Cecily Huang | Additional research by Cecily Huang |
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