Zhou Dongyuan, a veteran editor and a friend of mine, is a bus commuter. Over lunch, he often shares some anecdotes about things that happen inside and outside the bus, which we both see as a mini society. One that impressed me is the following:

　　“I was waiting in line for the No.332 Bus at the Beijing Zoo Bus Terminal the other day,” Zhou started his story, “when suddenly a few foreign students pushed through the crowd, rushing into the vehicle. After struggling to get on board, I found one of them—a well-built man—sitting on one seat and occupying another.

　　“Then I began to educate the young foreigner. I told him that one seat for one person is the bus rule. He’s violated the rule by taking two seats at the same time. Guess what he responded? He said the occupied seat was reserved for his schoolmate. And before I continued my mild criticism, he shouted to my face in Chinese, ‘Feel strange? What I’ve done is to do in Beijing as Beijingers do!’ Well, I had nothing to say at that moment. I just felt ashamed. When the bus arrived at Beida (Peking University) Station, the guy got off with his colleagues. He even stuck out his tongue and pulled a face at me before leaving.”

　　Having heard Zhou’s story, I didn’t know whether I should laugh or cry. Should we blame the bad habit on the student or someone else? Frankly speaking, the foreign student is a quick learner. This is not his invention or what he introduced from his home country. One of the saddest sights in Beijing is the rude behavior of getting on a bus and hogging the space on board, as we learn in the above “episode.” Not only in Beijing, this is also a national phenomenon. So, maybe the foreign imitators would say: Do in China as the Chinese do. It’s absolutely possible.

　　What is embarrassing and ironical is that there are foreigners who regard our ulcer as a gem. But the bus case represents an uncultured manner, a stubborn social illness that has existed for decades. One should criticize and try to cure the ailment, rather than follow suit in whatever name. Any imitation should be discouraged. If everyone ignored the distinction between right and wrong, a healthy social atmosphere could hardly be fostered. If a youngster is so cheeky as to jump a queue or occupy more bus seats, his soul is polluted. When chutzpah triumphs over reasonableness and ethical creeds, a society is not far from corruption. We must be vigilant.

　　Modern society’s complexity makes people feel maddeningly dependent on others for basic needs. Meanwhile, social density, especially in cities, has them aggressively jostling one another, and even resorting to loud shouting matches for social advantage. The bus problem is just a reflection of the whole society. Some people who worship material progress and have a contempt for ethical education try to seek from the lush growth of the

　　economy the comforting illusion of a moral society in the world. But they fail.

　　Back in the 1950s, I saw my parents try hard to persuade bus passengers to queue up, give seats to the old, the ill and pregnant women, and not to occupy more seats than they needed. Now, we are still crying out for order, politeness and humbleness in public places. Yes, this country becomes stronger and its citizens richer, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the social atmosphere is healthier in all corners and in all trades. At least in passenger transportation, a decent manner has not yet prevailed. This indicates that a cultivation of moral culture is imperative for every citizen. Such a cultural reeducation cannot be replaced by economic development or any material betterment.

　　No nation is perfect. Every nation has its deficiencies. The bus case is, as some foreigners may say, a headache of the Chinese themselves. When I saw a boy being encouraged and given perks by his mother for his combative action in a trolleybus—scrambling for seats, I knew there would be a long way to go for the Chinese to get rid of this bad habit. The major reason for the chronic problem is that there are people who do not bother about such small matters as being polite in a public place, and there is an underestimation of the poisonous nature of an uncultivated manner.

　　Nevertheless, the emotional equilibrium of people is served by the faith that both law and education can improve public ethics, as well as instill a routine of social order and justice. A sustained education of public morality, together with law, purports to put a structure of order, even reason, into life. In addition, to build a decent society, a large number of ethic pioneers and role models are needed. What makes it a promising situation is that there are always such people like Zhou who never give up their efforts to advise people and depollute society.

　　These role models include foreigners. Three weeks ago at Urumqi Airport, a European businessman beside me politely and repeatedly said “Ladies first” and gave way to both female and male passengers, when the Chinese were vying with each other to get into the aircraft. Following his example, some Chinese men held back their impatience and tried to behave like gentlemen.

　　Now, let me go back to Zhou’s story mentioned above. To some extent it is understandable for those foreign students to “do as the Beijingers do.” Like those Chinese public ethics offenders, they didn’t feel guilt ridden. But they seemed to be unfriendly to their host country and its people in that bus incident. I don’t refer to their attitude toward Zhou. Although this type of behavior bothers me, what really has me distressed is that they should help the Chinese to correct their shortcomings, rather than protect and imitate the poor behavior.

　　Those foreigners who criticize China in a bid to help the country improve are real friends of the Chinese people. In this sense, we welcome any critical remarks. We sincerely believe that international exchanges can be conducive to a cleaner and healthier Chinese society. n

　　E-mail: Hblii@263.net

　　By LII HAIBO