肤浅的“爱国主义”(PatriotismIsJustSkinDeep)
sino-japan problem is always a sensitive topic, a fuse which can trigger a serial of explosion. some so-called patriots argue that buying domestic products is patriotism and proclaim that in particular all the chinese should reject goods marked “made in japan”.those who are more extreme may smash or plunder a shop which sells japan products or burn any japanese car in the street no matter who owns it.
then, how about launch a war against japan so that we can destroy that malicious disgusting nation which had invaded our mother land then unscrupulous deny the history written in black and white?what if a person, on one hand is a patriot from tip to toe and willing to sacrifice his life to his country if japan dare to wage a war against china(if possible) while one the other hand he is a japanese culture vulture?
what if the shop the mob smashed is owned by a hard working chinese businessman? had they committed a crime? are the masses just venting their discontentment which accumulates day by day because of the appalling unfairness in the reality?is it true we just take japan or international trade as an outlet?patriotism is not nationalistic fever, not intense ethnic emotion. we need to calm down and differentiate ethnical frenzy and moderate sober patriotism.
in addition, there is always danger to ignore the real problematic issue such as political corruption, academic plagiarism, educational unfairness, and social classes polarizing which are screaming for our attention and should be our priority.
what has been called for in the loudest voice is usually the most lacking one. ramble roars in the movie “first blood”-i have done everything for my country, what has my country done for me?! nowadays, we badly need a rewritten version of kennedy’s famous saying “ask not only what you can do for your country but also what your country can do for you.”