We live in Shenzhen.
Yesterday, when my mom was in a taxi home, she heard the driver muttering, “I have stopped my work for the entire 2 last days.”
“Why so?” curiously asking.
After a while of silence, he sighed: “I have been riveted by the TV, watching closely what was happening in Sichuan about the earthquake, not feeling like to budge at all…”
Listening to my mom tell about a common cab driver in a coastal city thousands of miles away from the epicenter, nevertheless pouring all his attention to another part of the country, I understand why the quake this time should be called a trauma of the whole China ——no matter where one is, what one does, he/she has been in these days mentally and even physically, a lot of them, connected to where people have been suffering the most.
Thrilled, panicked, confused, poor at utterance, then bursting into an emotional crack, finally into deep pathos, this mental process might have stricken a great many of the 1.3 billion Chinese in these days, regardless of the remoteness of their being from the epicenter.
At this point, all Chinese are all the same. That’s why shortly after the quake, a saying emerged on hundreds of net forums, websites, and text messages:
At this moment, we are all Sichuaners.
Survival stories————————————-School came to be where funerals happened.
Shattered schools formed the most agonizing pictures in this earthquake. Their easy collapses took thousands of innocent children away. The authority has promised to check who should be responsible for these shoddy constructions.
A shattered school
Precious young lives were buried by such a low quality, but also a lot got saved, primarily, by their teachers.
Among those names tied to the crisis and unforgotten by China, teachers’ take up a notable place. They brought hope to children.
This girl teacher is only 20. In the school in Shifang where she worked, she ran time after time into the 3-story teaching building to save the best she could. While at the last time she got buried forever. 13 students were saved by her.
In Shifang as well, a reporter from Chongqing recorded how a girl got her life saved by a teacher.
王周明是名年轻教师,是50多名学生的班主任。地震发生时,他指挥学生分两路,从教室的前、后门逃生。房屋垮塌的一瞬间,他一个箭步冲上前去,把还没跑出教室的一名女生推出教室。这时,一根粗大的横梁打在他头上,他的头盖骨被击碎……
Wang Zhouming is a young teacher, who takes charge of 50 students. When the tremor occurred, he led the students to escape from 2 ways, the front and back door separately. Exactly at the time when the house crumbling to dust, he rushed to a girl and pushed her away, hit dead by a crossbeam on the head himself.
At the same school, another teacher protected 3 girls with her own body.
Moreover, in a middle school at Deyang, Hanwan town(德阳，汉汪镇）, a rescue crew described what he saw on the relic:
我们发现他的时候，他双臂张开着趴在课桌上，身下还死死地护着4个学生，4个学生都活了！”
When we found him (a teacher), he stretched his arms lying on the desk, with 4 students protected under his body. They are all alive, except the teacher.
In a report from China-army net, a journalist told what he witnessed at a kindergarten in Beichuan county, where so far over 8000 have been killed.
很快，这个叫成思羽的女孩也救出来了。此刻，战士被眼前的场景惊呆了——在孩子身边，竟紧紧地围着3个雕像般凝固住女老师。显然，她们在生命最后的时刻，用自己的躯体保护住了孩子……
…..Very soon, the girl named Cheng-siyu was rescued. But the soldiers were then stunned at the scene——right around the kid 3 statue-like female teachers were embosoming her. Obviously, they protected the kid at the last moment of their life.
Beichuan (北川）county, a devastated town, a dead place, fell down in the quake waves. Troops spent quite a few hours before they managed to enter the town due to the landslide and broken roads.
How a journalist described such a flattened place is here
记者摸着巨石,踩着泥泞,手脚并用,好久才能下到几十米深的县城。当记者进入灾后的川北县城时,实在不敢相信眼前的惨状:整个县城内的楼房几乎无一完整,大部分被夷为平地、一片狼藉,几处废墟还冒着浓浓的黑烟。抗震救援的车队、人群不时掠过。
而更令人恐惧的是,每一处堆积如山的废墟下,都可能埋着受困的群众。据了解,这个拥有1万多人口的小城,目前确切证实成功逃生的仅4000余人。
I followed huge rocks and creeped upon mud with my hands and legs, taking hours trying to down to the county meters below. I could hardly believe what was exposed in front of me: not a single house is intact, most of them flattened, all the mess, and a few relics still smoking. Trucks and rescuers rowed past.
A more grisly fact is that under every huge debris there could be trapped people. As far as I know, only 4000 of the total 10000 here have survived.
The town witnessed numerous touching, saddening moments.
In the first days the town is hardly accessible, because the roads had not yet been repaired.
Thus little rescue was available. But even before the first soldier managed to rush in, 7 teachers had led 72 students to fight a way out, along a winding path in the mountains to the world outside. They marched for 6 hours, during which they had to avoid all the falling rocks and periodic aftershocks, and pouring rain.
The 72 kids were finally safe.
The thirst for survival drove many to risk all the adversity to struggle a way out. A couple went further than the teachers and students aforementioned. After collecting some money from their shattered house, the couple spent 30 hours trudging through 6 mountains and running to the world outside.
And so were this pair of children!
The brother, Zhang-jiwan, carried his 3-year-old sister on the back, and rushed out of Beichuan County. They had spent 12 hours before the reporter took the picture and helped them to Mainyang. Their parents were migrant workers, not at home. Their grandparents were too old to walk fast. The boy thus took the responsibility like a man.
Over 1 thousand victims have escaped from their hometown, Beichuan, on feet through the mountains, under falling rocks and rain, to find the new hope of life.
Also in Beichuan.
So many flesh monuments have explained what human nature is.
A personal note of a journalist writes:
在县城一处倒塌的房前，一面平移了四五米的墙壁死死地压在两个大人身上，大人身下又护着一位小女 孩。人们纷纷谈论，将孩子护在身下的肯定是小女孩的家长，危难关头.
In a collapsed house in the county, a shifting wall tightly pressed upon two adults, with one little girl lying under them. People talked over, that it must be the parents that protected their child at the crisis.
People sacrificed more or less for their life.
Yue-yue, a girl whose primary school of totally 500 children was destroyed by a landslide, got buried for 3 days. Her left leg was pressed under the relic, unable to be moved out. The rescuers had to make the tough decision to amputate the leg.
Chen, the doctor, heard Yue-yue imploring: please！Just don’t cut off my leg.”
20 minutes, after the necessary surgery, she was pulled out. And Yue-yue asked,” Am I the bravest?”
Chen couldn’t help but covered his eyes……
But her schoolmate Fan-quanyan was not so lucky. After 60 hours being trapped under the relic, she was saved. But shortly after 10 minutes, not even before the crowd could take time to celebrate, her breath ceased.
A tall and strong soldier kneeled down by her, saying,” sorry, I am so sorry…..”
And the following pictures were taken exactly one day (7 hours, actually) before the earthquake.
The senior 3 kids of Beichuan middle school were taking a chance to relax, as the fate-determined college entrance exam was approaching.
People found the pictures from a blog of Mr. Tang, a teacher there. After the quake, though thousands of anxious netizens were waiting for this blogger, the blog was not updated. People came to moan that the kids were never more, only their smiling preserved. The middle school had 1200 students buried in this tremor.
But finally, reporters from South Metropolis Daily found the teacher, and the great news is, all the kids on the pictures were safe! Their building narrowly escaped the disaster.
How many more survival stories should I account to record so deep a cut on China but so strong a will of Chinese for survival? It’ll never be sufficient.
What could have supported those victims' will of survival after being buried under the relic for tens of hours, in a confined space, without sustenance, without a slight voice from outside, and without any light?It might be just a bottle of Coke.
The boy, Xue-Xiao, 17, was finally rescued out after 80 hours stranded. His first words are: “I want a Coke…”
“Sure, soon!” rescuers answered.
“And cool Coke.” He added.
The Coke boy
The boy was hotly discussed on the internet, the footage recording the scene by CCTV widely circulated. Some thought Coke should really pay him for the advertisement, and some questioned the boy was too addicted. But most people just thought he was so optimistic and innocent.
But those chiding the boy of saying so trivial a thing should be regretting. The boy’s right hand and leg were all necrotic, soon being amputated. He could no longer take up a coke with his habitual hand.
Another man, after being trapped for 129 hours, got saved. And 2 hours later, he passed away. The tough-minded life passed away at the very last moment.
The story of a mom should be proper to end this article. （A rough translation)
抢救人员发现她的时候，她已经死了，是被垮塌下来的房子压死的，透过那一堆废墟的的间隙可以看到她死亡的姿势，双膝跪着，整个上身向前匍匐着，双手扶着地 支撑着身体，有些象古人行跪拜礼，只是身体被压的变形了，看上去有些诡异。救援人员从废墟的空隙伸手进去确认了她已经死亡，又在冲着废墟喊了几声，用撬棍 在在砖头上敲了几下，里面没有任何回应
She was found dead under the collapsed house, kneeling down, creeping and leaning forward, both hands on the ground holding her body…..
经过一番努力，人们小心的把挡着她的废墟清理开，在她的身体下面躺着她的孩子，包在一个红色带黄花的小被子里，大概有3、4个月大，因为母亲身体庇护着，他毫发未伤，抱出来的时候，他还安静的睡着，他熟睡的脸让所有在场的人感到很温暖。
Suddenly, people found a 3-4 month baby under her body, wrapped in a red-yellow quilt. Because of the mother’s protecting, he remained unhurt. He was sleeping so peacefully, making all the people around warm.
随行的医生过来解开被子准备做些检查，发现有一部手机塞在被子里，医生下意识的看了下手机屏幕，发现屏幕上是一条已经写好的短信“亲爱的宝贝，如果你能活着，一定要记住我爱你”，看惯了生离死别的医生却在这一刻落泪了，手机传递着，每个看到短信的人都落泪了。
When the doctors were examining the kid, a cell phone was found inside the quilt. An already written text message appeared on the screen.
“Dear baby, if you are alive, please remember I love you.”
The baby. Her mother's gone. But isn't it herself a symbol of new life, the new life of all those suffered so much?
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The stories and pictures are killing me these days…. Thanks for sharing and bless them.
May the dead rest in peace. May the people who are alive be strong and live on.
Everytime I look at pictures, tears stream down my eyes. AW, I want to adopt the baby in the picture. Where can I get more information?
I’m so moved by these touching stories these days, especially the great mother. God bless the people in Sichuang province. God bless China.
China’s heroic teachers…
I recently wrote about the problem of po…
Is he an orphan though, sadly his mom is gone, but what about his dad?
Thanks Bob Chen for putting this story out.
I have been comparing CNN reports with other news sources such as Chinese Newspapers etc. CNN is objective to a certain degree this time. However I do not see stories like this. Even John Kennedy did not bother to publish positive news like this. very interesting, do you feel the same?
I am not good at writting poem such as many poems written by Chinese on the Internet.
Here is a simple “HEART” written by me.
(H)umanity relief workers, soldiers (People’s Liberation Army), doctors, nurses, police, and civilian volunteers unite at all fronts to pour out all their efforts to rescue and help
(E)arthquake victims
(A)mid the continuous threat from mother nature such as torrential rain, aftershocks, landslides, and other obstacles. Millions of dollars, as well as supplies such as tents, clothes, food, medicine, and water have are donated to this rescuing effort. We will see
(R)rainbows after this horrible tragic incident. May the deceased rest in peace, and the surviving victims looking forward to a better
(T)omorrow!
Dalai’s visit to Germany is INhuman. At this point he should be raising funds for the victims and preaching peace. He is more evil than I thought he was.
I need to stop reading these at work…
I hope the best for the people and I hope the management of the aid can be distributed without waste and corruption so those people can get back to their feet quickly.
Wei, People like you are needed and appreciated. Your arguments are very rational and good ground for debate. I love reading your comments in different GVO posts. I hope you write a book or something in the future. I am sure it will be excellent sell.
If you’re man, you are sure moved.
[...] Tree under China | Tags: China, Sichuan earthquake | Blogger Bob Chen of Global Voices has a lengthy post filled with photos and stories of bravery in the face of tragedy. The stories have a legendary Lei Feng-like quality; their heroic spirit is [...]
Thanks for all the people who concerned with this disaster. With your bless,we can overcome the difficulties. I am a college student,and I must study hard to contribute to the peace. Thanks again for the ones who support the peace.
Poignant pictures and moving stories. It is bittersweet to see the teenagers playing together lightheartedly on what was the last day of their lives for some.
It moved me to tears. At this moment, the world just plain hurts.
@Knights:
Thank you for your kind words. I look forward to logical conversations and debates with you and others on this site.
On this thread however, I hope there will be solitarity on remembering the victims of this earthquake.
Thanks for the story update.I almost cry at work! It’s not easy to hold the tears back and it’s even not easier for those that lose their loved ones. T.T
We could see human nobility in times of need.
May God bless their souls and I pray for the alive to be strong.
China is strong!
These happenings are genuine, sincere, and all bursting out of the human nature; Their illuminating power could by no means be overstated, or blemished.
I have to say that they are so prevalent in these days that one could not be called objective if he’s to ignore all of these.
Indeed, we’ll care the efficiency of distribution of aid, the shoddy constructions rocked down in quake, and keep an eye on any corruption, but I just feel compelled to first wirte down the stories of LIFE before going further, beacause they are destined to become the collective memory of this nation.
And thank you for all your care!
@Knights
i can’t confirm how the little baby now is. His story is one among the numerous sent back by hundreds of journalists from the front line in these days. And sincerely, it’s hard to assert 100% of this sort of stories 100% true, as not all of them have accompanying pictures or third-party confirmation (impossible in that kind of messy relics all over, I think).
But I tried my best to choose those with solid ground, with pictures. Even so, it’s impossible to tell them all.
The baby’s story is assured and retold in an offcial charity performance of CCTV.
These few days I read so many moving stories..gradually, I started to worry that all the media are trying to search for moving stories might provide a driving force of faking stories. If so, it will destroy and insult those real heroes.
I would like to suggest to take it as “simple is beauty”. The whole thing has been very moving already. I am really proud of Chinese people.
Just worry about media.
Live versus Death
May 12, a devastating earthquake struck central China with Wenchuan County as the epicenter, killing at least 40,000 people and injuring other 300,000. The death toll is expected to be much higher in this deadliest quake to hit China in 32 years since the 1976 Tangshan earthquake in which over 200,000 lives were claimed.
The magnitude 8.0 quake came so sudden at 2:28 pm when all walks of life were busy with their own trades that tens of thousands of people were buried by bricks, cement beams and mounts of debris within a few seconds. The whole nation responded with a speed and a scale that the world has never witnessed to dig out the trapped and help the suffered. Just two hours later, Premiere Wen Jiabao flew to the center of the still-tremoring disaster area to direct the rescue operation while over 100,000 PLA soldiers, armed policemen, fire fighters and other professional rescue personnel were mobilized and marched into the vast quake-hit areas by air, road and even on foot.
The race with time and death has been on and not a single second wasted. Tears, prayers, encouraging cheers are filling every corner of the country. One after another, thousands of heart-broken stories are seen live on TV or read in papers. Even a stone-hearted man will burst into tears after reading them.
Here are only a few of them:
Teachers leaving behind a best lesson
In this powerful earthquake, school buildings suffered worst, leaving few undemolished. Teachers, however, demonstrated tremendous courage and bravery in saving the lives of their students.
Tan Qianqiu, teaching director of a school at De Yang, was found dead in a kneeling position with arms holding round a desk under which four pupils survived.
When 29-year-old Zhang Miya, a teacher at a primary school at Ying Xiu was pulled out from under the rubbles, he had been dead, but in his arms were two living pupils. As his arms were so stiff, firmly holding the children, that the rescue workers had to cut off his arms to release the survived children.
24-year-old Gou Xiaochao, a primary teacher at the village of Yong Anba, could have escaped. When the quake struck, he directed evaluation of the students. He carried one student downstairs, and another two, and when he was on the way downstairs with two more under his arms, the building collapsed. Both his legs were broken and chest badly hurt but the students under his arms were intact. Villagers rushed to his rescue, but he uttered in great pain his last words, ?I?m going, go get those kids!?
Mother?s last words of love for her baby
When solders dug out a young woman, dead, they couldn?t believe their eyes. The young mother?s body was in an arched position, kneeling, hands proping against the ground. Under her chest was her baby girl, only a few months old, soundly asleep, without any slight injury. During checking the baby, rescuers found a hand phone hidden under the baby?s clothes and a message was still on the screen: ?Dear baby: If you are alive, remember mom loves you!?
Those solders of iron will all cried aloud
A similar story: another young mother was found dead in a position of protecting her baby in her arms. The baby ,again safe and sound, was still sucking milk from the breasts of the dead mother.
Strength of love keeping fiancée alive
?What a round moon it is tonight!? was the first sentence said by He Chenxi, a female bank clerk, after she was pulled out 102 hours after she was engulfed into the debris. What kept the 26-year-old would-be bride alive had been her fiancé? s endless cheer-up. From the moment when she was discovered, her fiancé Zhen Guangming kept staying by her side, talking to her, cracking jokes with her and, most importantly, discussing with her about their marriage ceremony. According to Zhen, he asked her what her favorite wedding gown was, Chinese style or western style.
It was the power of love that created another miracle of life. When asked what on his mind after seeing her dear girl again, the plain-looking man said lightly, ?Love for ever.?
A policewoman?s faith
Had it not been for the disaster, Qiu Min were unlikely to be known by a billion people. Now she is a national heroine, but not for any grand feat, but for her tenacity and perseverance. An ordinary policewoman, Qiu Min had worked in a different place with her family. She lost 10 beloved people including her 2-year-old daughter and grand parents. But she was not overwhelmed by the blow, or to be more accurate, she just had no time to grieve over her great loss, for she had to plunge herself into the intensive rescue operation immediately. She had to work around the clock to settle those who had been evacuated from the demolished villages. Working day and night with little to eat, she eventually fainted. After awaking, when asked to take a rest, she told reporters that the best way to remember the deceased was take a good care of the living.
A little boy?s salute to solders
More than ten hours after the start of the earthquake, a little boy of three years old was carried out from the rubbles by the soldiers. Though still in a weak condition, with blood stains on the face and the broken left arm in plaster, the boy kept saying thankful words and lifted his right hand with great difficulty and saluted the soldiers. Young as he is, the little boy moved all the adults who saw this shocking picture by his little heart of gratitude.
Staring May 19, three days after the earthquake, China declared a three-day national mourning for the tens of thousands of people killed in the earthquake. At 2:28 pm, the exact time when the ground began to shake, citizens nationwide stood in silence three minutes to mourn for the victims, while air raid sirens and horns of automobiles, trains and ships will wail in grief. This is the first time a national mourning ceremony has been set up to honor ordinary people, which will bring the whole nation together tighter.
Strong ，Chinese
I am deeply moved. The first time I as a Chinese felt our country are as one.
Hope the died can rest in heaven.
Americans would never understand……
14:28：Earthquake Happened
14:46：China National News Website - XinHua accounced the news
15:50：The Government meeting for emergency solutions
16:00：Due to cut down of communications, 2 helicorpers were sent to Sichuan to understand the situation
17:00：Wan Jia-bao went to Sichuan
18:28：Sent out Sichuan polices and armies to rescuse team, total 2,900 people
18:44：Chengdu & Sichuan sent another 5,000 army to Wenchuan to join the rescue.
19:20：The Army commander team arrived Sichuan
Local officials do not have authority to instruct the army. They must report to the central Government. After the earthqucke, from collecting information, figures, report to the Central to emergency meeting, the Chinese spent less than 2 hours. Then immediately set up plans and sent army to Sichuan. It seldom happened in anywhere else in the world.
Within ONE DAY, already gathered and sent 20,000 army to Sichuan for the rescue.
Now, let us look at the disaster in New Orleans in 2005.
29 Aug 2005 06:10am
A big storm attached New Orleans. 48 hours ago, the National Weather Center already announaced warning. George Bush warned that the storm may destroy New Orleans’ water barrier.
5 hours later, FEMA request to send 1,000 people to New Orleans for the rescue.
At that time, American president, George Bush were having his vacation in a fram in Texas. After receiving the news of the storm hit, he continued his vacation until Wednesday, and then decided to stop his vacation. On the way flying back from Texas to Washington, Airforce One fly over New Orleans to “inspect” the situation.
30th & 31st Aug, Bush called Southern Pines Electric Power Association twice, requested them to immediately repaired and restored the power station in Missisippi.
The White House Rescue Team was set up after 36 hours of the storm hit, and decided to start work “tomorrow”.
30th Aug, there were big scale of armed robbery and set fire. A tourist asked for help from a cop, the answer he got was “Go to hell, it’s every man for himself”
31st Aug. 1,500 cop got order from the Central to abandon search for alive people, and changed their duty to keeping public security & order in place. Curfew was announced.
On the same day, chief executive said on TV, “army already entered New Orleans, they are good at firing and killing…., if neccessary, they will ……” by 1st Sep, there were 6,500 army in New Orleans.
2nd Sep, chief executive requested anoth 40,000 cops to the city for keeping “public security”. The most ridiculos thing was that, someone opened fire to the rescue helicopters and cops.
Another ridiculos thing was that, there was a bridge connect New Orleans and the West shore of Missisippi River. After receiving 6,000 people escaped from New Orleans, the local government decided to close the bridge, and asked those who run from New Orleans to go back there. And frighten those refugee that they would shoot if they approach.
Americans would never understand, why Chinese Army did not carry any guns to Sichuan?
Americans would never understand, why Chinese Army after walking 21 hours in the mountain under the rain, they could immediately start the rescue duty?
Americans would never understand, why did Chinese Army give their only food & drinks to the refugee rather then eating them?
Americans would never understand why, that Chinese people were so happy when they saw the army, and knew that they are safe?
Again to Knight:
“Global Voices seeks to aggregate, curate, and amplify the global conversation online - shining light on places and people other media often ignore.”
And my post might, sincerely, deviate from this goal, as its source is domestic mainstream media.
But the problem is that, these stories, one very important part of the crisis, don’t get as much place as they deserve in some western media, so that it might strangely come to be non-mainstream in international media world. (or maybe I don’t read enough)That’s why I concern them. So forgive my violation……
And John did very great work about how the internet react to the quake,as seen in his post days ago. Another crucial aspect it is.
We are both trying to make the picture complete.
Thank u for the quesion.
very touching. the disaster teaches us to cherish what we had possessed..just compare our life with theirs.. the so-called pressure we felt in daily life would die away..
i believe those who survives would be fearless facing adversities in the rest of their life. Bless the victims…
Strong ，Chinese
Strong PEOPLE. The world cares about what is happening in Sichuan because the stories are of human interest. The courage and will to live shown by those buried in the rubble reminded me of those who survived the collapse of Sampoong Department Store 13 years ago. I think people in almost any country could make a connection to China’s earthquake heroes because the human spirit is universal.
@Bob Chen:
I have enjoyed posts from both you and John Kennedy. I am moved by all the tragic, heroic, and uplifting stories of the earthquake, but I also appreciate reading posts on other topics.
I believe that somehow, someway this may open the chinese goverment up to the FACT that we are all one race..the human race…and we need eachother. Freedom isn’t a political statement..freedom is a birthright to all men.
Imagine the love and support that could pour in, if fear and suspicion wasnt so present.
From the Chinese history and past experience, I wish that we have learned. Hope that Chinese will be fully united to face all future situations forever even in the peaceful time. Chinese will be forever strong and will also contribute more to the World’s Peace and Humaneness, in a moderated way.
Although the Earth and Universe keep on changing and vibrating throughout the eternity, but the True Spirit of all human races remain as Eternal True.
What we can learn from the quake?
what the world can learn from Chinese?
Please share your ideas with us
We all feel sad ,but we never depressed ;we all burst into tears ,but we never complained;we all feel tired ,but till now we never give up ,because we are all Chinese!
Long life China ,tomorrow will be another day ,everything will be fine !
Sichuan’s earthquake is all over the world people’s grief. We are very sorry about what has happened, and I believe that the Chinese are strong people and they’ll go through this earthquake.
The world can learn much from the Chinese, as they are very honourable and devoted to family and friends.
All the Armenians grieve with you.Bless victims…
Mariam from Armenia
I agree that the mainstream media, and all media, stay away from good news. I am often dealing with bad news a bout China, because there is a lot I find, but when something good happens it’s all that much more special.
The CCP says that Chinese people are stupid beasts that can’t participate in thinking for themselves and are not civilized enough to handle human rights and freedoms. But this shows that the Chinese people are not beasts, that they do have hearts, and they should be allowed to express their sense of justice, their sense of compassion and humaneness. This is a tremendous breakthrough in the new Chinese future.
Do you think some day that Chinese will be able to share this sense of compassion for people who want human rights in Tibet, for Falun Gong people, for dissidents and people ho are persecuted by the CCP? I truly hope so, and I hope this spark of civilization will grow and grow and grow and created a TRULY harmonious China where freedom of the press, freedom of thought and freedom of religion are trusted, where people are respected and the rule of law is followed.
My respects.
This is a tragedy, but we all have learned from this.
Besides teachers helping students to escape and sacrifice themselves in this tragedy, other moving stories also make me feel so SAD.
Here are just a few examples of the many stories.
- A mom died protecting her two month old baby from debris. She entered a message on her phone
“Baby child, if you are able to survive, always remember I love you.” The baby made it. The child’s father who was out of town will name the baby girl her mother’s name to remember her.
- A two year old girl was protected by the bodies of her parents. She was rescued hours later.
- A police woman’s family of 10 including her two-year old daughter all died in the tragedy. The only other surviving relative is her uncle. After she got the news, she put her own emotion aside and continued to help the victims.
- A doctor whose child was among the trapped students buried in the rubbles, he also put his own emotions aside, and continued to help the victims.
- A three-year old boy bowed to the soldiers after being rescued.
-”When we found him (a teacher), he stretched his arms lying on the desk, with 4 students protected under his body. They are all alive, except the teacher.” When asked if they were hurt, of course they were, but the 4 surving students shook their heads, because they were greatful to be saved by the teacher.
- The babies in one camp were crying for milk while it’s been shipped, a mom volunteered to feed other people’s babies, 7 or 8 of them, her breasts milk.
-villagers used their own resources such as rice, vegetables, and water to supply the victims.
- One man cooked meals that could feed several hundred people daily.
What can we learn from this?
We laymen learn that in time of tragedy, we should learn to put others before ourselves such as sacrificing oneself for one’s own family/friends/victims. We should learn to be collective in time of crisis such as extending a helping hand to the victims. We also learn that
The Chinese government also learned that it’s imperative to be open about this which they have. The Chinese gov also learned that by responding swiftly (which they have) could save lives and prevent epidermic disease. They also fixed the dams that threatened to break. If the dams broke, there will be more tragedies much worse than the earthquake. The Chinese government are investigating about the building codes and bow to punish anyone builders who cut corners.
The slogan from the Chinese government to the (PLA) people’s liberation army is
“The earthquake tragedy is your orders, time if life!”
May the deceased rest in peace, and bless the living victims a sunshine tomorrow.
Where is the proof that CCP say Chinese are stupid and brainless????
CCP or PRC - People’s Republic of China treasures her Chinese people. They mobilized two divisions of troops within four hours to the earthquake hit areas. This marked the highest number of PLA mobilization in Chinese history.
To: Liu Shi Chi
The quake is a natural evolution and unevitable, readily emergency preparedness and building structural could be improved.
See the light of compassion and humaneness that have beeing shining without boundary.
See how and why the Chinese Army is being respected by the Chinese.
See the Leader of the Chinese Government act upon the quake, how they aid their people.
See the light of salvation after the quake.
May the light of humanity and righteousness always shine upon the World , there will be no meaningless competition and peace will be generated, “Heaven is the place on Earth” regardless of any futher Natural Diaster we will be facing. Human create “Heaven”, it is not a place only for the Death and what we call “god”. It is here and now, if we want it to be.
Hi Chan,
You are sooo close to The Kingdom Of Heaven.
Only one thing missing…One name that when you are alone you can cry out to for truth.
I dont know how to say Jesus in Chinese…
He is the only one who can bring The Kingdom of Heaven to earth.
Oh, if you would just cry out to HIM…The Jesus that took the sins of all mankind unto himself..became sin, so that we could become righteous.
CALL TO HIM TODAY AND HE WILL ANSWER.
Hi Randy,
I am Chinese, and I know who is “Jesus”-耶苏 from the Holy Boble tell me so. He is a Great. “Son of God”. God and Jesus are one. Father and Son.”Jesus love me, this I know from the Holy Bible tell me so.” Jesus said he is the Son of God and we are all brothers and sisters. So that mean I am also son of the God and you are, ..and all of us are.
In the Holy Bible said somthing with similar meaning like that “there is a temple of God inside everyone” so that also mean God is with us always and we are one with God also.
The “God” in Jesus is the same “God” in you and me and ALL, regardless of human races.
How long have you been crying to “the name of Jesus” and the “Heaven” did really appeared infront of you on Earth?
It is the righteous, positive and true belief that we have, can benefict us.
I believe in the Jesus saying “Temple of God inside everyone”, so pray inwardly with Faith, and you will be answered. And furthermore, I also believed in Buddhism ” Diamond” inside me in the “Diamond Sutra” “金刚经”. I believe that the “God” mentioned in all religions is the Same one and it is inside all. I also believe and respect all other religions in the World.
All are brothers and sisters, father and mother…..regardless of races.
Anyway, my belief is there is only “one” in the Universe, and it is the “same” inside all human races, we have the same one inside, regardless of the terminologies and religions. And the “One” can be communicated by communicating inwardly, “praying with Faith”.
I always respect all religions and belief. I do not want to force my belief and opinion to anyone. I am just answering to your question.
I am not preaching any religions over here, as I am a believer of all religions and I really can not just preaching one of them.
I was referring to the way the CCP uses all sorts of propaganda to control people. The use slogans and planned emotional responses to control the Chinese people, they use the media to control the thinking. The say that human rights are something that the Chinese people cannot handle, they say that free speech leads to chaos, they say that the Chinese people only have the right to ask for money and food and are nothing more that beasts according to Darwinian theory and marxism. I would have to go into my studies to find the specific examples. Maybe we’ll save it for another time since this is a thread to think about the earthquake. It is a good question though.
So the U.S.A in particular and the west is not using media to control their people?
see recent olympics protests and http://www.Anti-CNN.com
the majority of innocent and nice Americans turn into evils by Bush and CNN et al.
wake up
carryanne:
I find it extremely distasteful and inappropriate that you are using this tragedy as an opportunity to push your political agenda.
I am no big fan of the CCP, but your CCP bitching at a time like this just shows that you’re nothing but a political opportunist. If the alternative to the CCP is people like you, I would have to ask you go away. But please forgive me if I don’t say it politely.
Angry as I am at political jackals, such as yourself, I am touch by the outpouring of humanity in the face of this immense tragedy (my thanks to you, people!). It gives me a ray of hope that there are people that can put aside their political differences at times of need and come to each other’s aid. Something for you to think about.
Solidarity in our humanity!
Kain
Hi Carryanne
Do you need money to buy food when you are hungary ?
Don’t need to think, the answer is definitely “YES! ! !”
We ask for food when we are hungary, the moment when we are born, even cry out loudly….yes those starving in hunger should be feeded and aided, this is compassion, human right and humanity…..
Do you watch TV and read your News paper everyday ?
“Yes” So your thinking is also controlled by your media and propaganda which you have read…..every day
What is the objective and purpose of just saying the word “Human Right” ? Human Right should not lead to and create Chaos to the others. Human Right is Humanity and respect. It should not be used as political means to create
Chaos.
The main differece between Human and beast; Human being can analyse and reasoning better than a beasts before an Act…..
Chinese are so kindly.They are easy to be moved by what is told by TV.However,I here would like to suggest that,beyong the great tragedy,who will be responsible for the lives that have been lost?Is it merely a disaster caused by Heaven,or to some extend,one caused by human?
When people both at home and aboard are questioning why school buildings are so easily destroyed in the quake,a man who is deputy of Education Bureau said that there existed no any poor construction in the school building.However,another primary school just completed that was constructed by some sponsored enterprises stood intact in the quack,thus forming a distinct deferences between public constructing and private constructing in school building.
So I strongly recommend that the administration put a serious invistgation over the construction of all the school buildings,endering severe punishment to those who were involved in the poor construction of the poor buildings.
Dear Davidwang,
You already have your answer as you have also already make your recommendations…..
Davidwang,
You already know as you have already make your Strong recommendation.
Jesus said that HE was THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIGHT…
And that NO MAN can go to The Father but by Him.
You see Chan…..Soon…Jesus will caome back to earth…to put an end to all the suffering..and every man..in every nation..will bow their knee and confess Jesus Is Lord….
He created all things…and all things are HIS…even the dust your body is made of.
There is a referance in The Bible about China specificaly..written 2000 yeaRS AGO before the prophecy written was even possible…Now China is the ONLY nation on earth..that could possibly fufllfill it..
Do you know what that prophecy is?
Jesus said whoever believes in Him and Him alone HE GIVES POWER TO BECOME SONS OF GOD….
If your not born again…..your not a son of God…He very much wants you to be..but your not.
Randy,
When the twin towers fell, did Jesus come to the rescue? No, it was Bush, despite the fact I find his policies disgusting, we have to admit that he did come to the rescue.
When the Sichuan earthquake occurred, did Buddha come to rescue the victims? No Buddha, China’s PRC came to rescue.
Every religion is meant to teach us morals etc. We should learn, but not take it too literally, we will end up like Da-LIE lama.
[...] the Chinese internet moved out of its three-day mourning period earlier this week following the 5.12 earthquake, many questions remain to be [...]
Randy,
Your thinking could not affect me, as I also found my own, it is Myself and Ourselves are equal.
No more meaningless preaching by you, as I found that you don’t really understand the True Meaning of your own Religion. You have set boundary to “True Love” by using “The name of relogions”.
Please go and read more, open your mind more widely and understand more with your heart not by the Words.
It is the Positive and Moral Belief of each that can help . . .regardless of what religions
Religions have created Chaos and Wars in the History.
Religion has been miss-used……
I agreed what Knight has said.
It is the Strong Positive and Moral that a person has, which could benefict himself/herself and ALL others.
The door for Hell And Heaven is always open for You and Me. Our thinking is the Key to open each door.
If you go to Heaven, would you come to save me in Hell ?
Anyway, I will save myself even I am in Hell as I have a Strong Belief in me…
Then so be it………
yeah,
Why so many students were buried and killed?
Whether it had something to with the buildings is still unknown!
I would like to send my sincere HOPE to All.
H means “Healing” to all. Physical and Mental
O means “Optimism”-The belief that everything will improve and good will ultimately triumph over
P means “Passion”-Enthusiam, Boundless Ardent Love
E means “Endeavour”earnest and conscientious intend to do or accomplish something successfully from now
With HOPE, lives carrying on with True puropse….
everything will be better and better…
My warmest blessings to ALL.
Randy,
Although I do not fully agreed with your preaching, but I respect your belief, as long as the belief is moral and righteous, I am sure it brings benefits to you.
There are many paths for humans to travel on the way to finding Truth.
There is an old proverb which states “No matter what path a human may travel, it is My Path; no matter where he walks, it leads to Me”
God bless you
Chinese people will and should keep an eye on the relief effort and implement the supervision work.
But, we’ll surely face hindrance from many directions. It might be a key point to see whether CHina could track into a virtuous circle.
Will the government be so benevolent? Or people so resoluted?
Knights: Please forgive me, but I do not know as much about America as I know about China, frankly I find America a lot less interesting. I like paying attention to China because of the long and interesting history. The people have more depth and you can learn a lot more from China than you can from America. Currently though, America is actually more normal, stable and peaceful than China although it has it’s major downfalls of course.. Knight, tow wrongs dont make a right. So if someone says a criticism, to make a similar criticism of someone else does not solve any problem.
Chen,
“Human Right is Humanity and respect. It should not be used as political means to create
Chaos.”
I agree that human rights is humanity and respect, that would include freedom of thought of course right. But I think because of a different type of education, I don not see human rights as a instigation of chaos. I definitely think having a justice system is good, also moral codes are good for a positive society, but these come out of respect and humanity, so human rights does not mean chaos, I think it means justice.. I don’t think we disagree but maybe you think I am using human rights to promote chaos? I am not.
“The main difference between Human and beast; Human being can analyse and reasoning better than a beasts before an Act…..”
I agree with this. And I think that human beings have great potential, as can be seen by the earthquake volunteering and such, so I think China should give more credit to people as great people and not treat them like caged beasts who need to be manipulated and guided by state enforce ideology
carryanne,
Sorry, if what I have said had hurt your feeling.
I see Some politician use “the name of Human Right” to create Chaos to other, and they are happy to see that.
Of course is not you now, beacuse you have the same belief.
Maybe some time later, you will see “Who” I am talking about, as “Who” in the World has been talking so loudly and so many about “Human Right”. Of course, I did not refer to “Lincoln”, he is a Great Man of Human Right.
See for yourself, please.
carryanne,
“not treat them like caged beasts who need to be manipulated and guided by state enforce ideology”
Please be reminded to reasoning properly before you used the word “beast” when you are describing human being.
You are the one who treat human being as beast as you have actually think and use the word “beast” to describe them.
Don’t just say so and you haven’t not done
You have already done the Act without proper reasoning ….wake up..wake up…
I said that it is wrong to treat people like beasts.
That only your blinded remark or accuse again without proof. Who is them? Who is the people?
Reason
Carryanne, Although I respect your own opinion, I have to disagree with you about America.
“frankly I find America a lot less interesting. I like paying attention to China because of the long and interesting history. The people have more depth and you can learn a lot more from China than you can from America.”
I think we all can learn from both China and U.S.A as both have unique characteristics. The former has five thousand years of civilization, and the latter has 400 years. Five thousand years is a very long time. China has experienced famine, war, and glory in ancient times. She had experienced humiliation in the last century. She just recently experience rapid progress. Yes, we can learn alot from her history, her people and her culture.
Although the U.S. is a young nation, despite her current economy condition, she’s still the world’s most powerful nation as I am typing this message. We can learn from her capitalism, advance technology and science.
It looks like China is gradually moving away from communist and toward democracy. Let’s give China a chance.
ctd
I did not say two rights make a wrong. I am saying every nation regardless of their government system always uses some type of propaganda to direct their people to think in certain ways. Good case in point are CNN, BBC, Xinhua etc. . .
Both Political Democracy and Communist are good ideologies and philosophy of human civilisation.
Both have been make used by narrow minded Politicians and Wars has been created in the World and bring harm to their fellow country man and human beings.
A democratic government is not better than a communist and communist government is not better than a democratic.
One is not higher than the other.
A country may be poorer or not advance than the other. The rich is not higher than the poor.
The only difference (Good or bad) between two type of government system is how the Government can really make use of each ideology to bring benefits to their nation, citizen, people and contribute to the Peace of the World and all Human Races..
can anyone plz tell me..how is th little baby (who’s in soliders hands in pic).. who is taking care of baby?? i cundt just control my tears when i see this baby.. plz tell me
vijaya, I saw or heard the news that the baby is ok, she reunited with her father. . .
I love China,I love all Chinese people.Chinese people are great.
i feel very sorry for all the people…..hope they rest in peace…..