Press Interpreter

A common citizen sent a letter to this newspaper yesterday expressing heartfelt words*

04/22/05 -- Jiefang Daily Editorial Office: I am a common citizen living on Loushanguan road, and a loyal reader of your newspaper. I am writing today because I wish to tell you editors a few heartfelt words.

On April 16th, some people in Shanghai conducted a parade demonstration concerning Japan. The marchers passed by the entrance to our community. At first, we were curious about this parade. We felt that this was a protest against unfriendly attitudes and actions of Japanese rightists, and that it expressed a fervent patriotism. But later on what I saw with my own eyes distressed me somewhat. I saw Japanese restaurants smashed, with shattered glass covering the ground. I had not expected actions of this kind, and I was deeply upset.

These few days I have thought quite a bit. I discussed things with my family several times, and at last I decided to pick up my pen and write this letter. I feel that some Japanese rightists have distorted history, and that they have committed wrongs that have harmed the feelings of the Chinese people. Their actions deserve to be condemned. But the attitude we take should be within the law, rational, civilized, and orderly. Emotion cannot take the place of reason. Inappropriate expression of emotion is harmful to rational thinking and leads to the opposite of decent desires. Honestly, seeing those marchers throwing ink bottles and smashing shops like that pained me greatly. In my opinion, they smashed the larger backdrop of Sino-Japanese friendship; they smashed a good environment for the reform and development of our country; they smashed the fundamental interests of the masses; they caused the good reputation of the Chinese nationality to suffer harm. Should we not be pained or worried?

Arriving at the current state of Sino-Japanese friendship has not been an easy task, and we cannot let harm come to the friendly relationship between Japan and China, which an older generation of politicians have recovered and enhanced through innumerable hardships. We must trust fully the Party and the government, and we must deal with pertinent problems by starting from a view to the far-ranging and fundamental interests of the nation and its people. In fact, the rightists in Japan are in the minority. We cannot treat the entire populace of a nation without making distinctions, and do that which harms our friends and delights our enemies. We need to have a patriotic ardor; patriotism is not only displayed through antagonism, and extreme behavior has even less to do with patriotism.

Nearing 60, I have experienced much, and have come to the profound realization that it is of incredible importance to protect stability and pursue development – to seize hold of development without relaxing. If there is instability, it is impossible to speak of development. If there is instability, nothing can be accomplished. Preserving stability, grabbing hold of development, and taking care of our own business, are in themselves the most effective ways to strike back at the Japanese rightists. Each one of us should take effective actions to contribute to development, and we must fulfill our duty for the sake of harmony. Developing Shanghai to attain today's results, and developing the country to reach today's conditions, has not been easy! We ought to be doubly appreciative. Only by learning how to treasure a lasting, stable development environment, and by learning how to appreciate the good conditions of the rule of law, can we continue to improve our cities and our country.

It is the responsibility of us all to preserve stability and push forward development. In writing this, I hope that I can use the Party's newspaper to urge all the city's inhabitants to do more to benefit stability and development, and to refuse to act to the detriment of stability and development. I hope parents will teach their children not to take part in unapproved activities. Party members and officials have an even greater obligation to conduct themselves according to the law. At the same time, I hope that those relevant departments will manage what they ought to manage; those actions that harm the dignity and authority of the law should not be passed over. We need to be on our guard against people with impure motives who stir up trouble; be sure not to fall for their tricks.

The above are words from my heart; whether they are suitable, I leave to your judgment.

With all respect,

Li Zongxin, Loushanguan resident

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* This letter was printed on the front page of the 23 April edition of the Jiefang Daily, in a highlighted box above an editorial entitled "Following the Law is the Baseline of Civilization". Both were sent out along the Xinhua wire service.

[Jiefang Daily - Shanghai Party newspaper. It is part of the Jiefang Daily Newspaper Group (homepage), organized in 2000, though the paper itself dates back to the Yan'an period. Newspaper homepage]

--Translated by Joel Martinsen

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