Practical code better than role models
It has been almost 50 years since Chairman Mao Zedong called for learning from Lei Feng on March 5, 1963. However nowadays, we rarely hear about public altruism. Instead, what we often hear about is officials' corrupt behaviors and the nation's moral crisis.
The current situation is different from that in the 1960s.
At that time, China was undergoing great political and natural difficulties. People needed a spiritual impetus to establish an altruistic and dedicated atmosphere so as to overcome these difficulties. The greatest personal value was to serve others.
That's why Lei Feng became an icon of that era.
As China battles its way through drastic social changes, the values people used to endorse have changed. Despite various activities designed to remember the selfless soldier, his spirit is distant from people living in today's materialistic society.
Since today's young people are taught to be independent and have their own thoughts, the collectivism and altruism for which Lei Feng is highly praised may not fit in today's competitive society.
Modern icons are dealmakers and entrepreneurs like late Apple CEO Steve Jobs. People judge others' success by looking at how much money they have made and how different they are from the crowd.
The pursuit for personal values makes people too hasty to learn from Lei Feng. The spirit of Lei Feng may only be empty words.
We still embrace anything good. That's a moral requirement. But the value of doing good deeds should be accepted by the whole society rather than become alien.
An altruistic icon may not be needed anymore. What we need more are basic rules of etiquette. Social morals would be improved faster if we demanded people stop spitting in the street rather than simply calling for learning from Lei Feng.
The author is a reporter with the Global Times. wangwenwen@globaltimes.com.cn
Lei a human being as well as an idol
Lei Feng has been regarded as a role model for decades. His influence is like Mother Teresa in the West. His pure selfless, altruistic attitude, patriotism and modesty sometimes make people feel distant. But in some ways Lei wasn't that unusual a young man.
We can find many things shared in common by both Lei and today's young people. Lei turns out to have had a surprising yen for fashion.
A few days ago, I went to the Lei Feng Memorial Hall in Fushun, Liaoning Province for the first time. Fushun is where Lei served in the army until he died in a vehicle accident. The photos and materials from Lei's life displayed there could hardly interest me, as I have been quite familiar with Lei's good deeds since my childhood.
But one photo of Lei Feng in an old leather jacket impressed me. Lei looked quite handsome in that photo.
A guide told me that the jacket was Lei's favorite. The jacket, together with a pair of trousers, a Swiss watch and a leather suitcase, are called “Lei's Four Pieces.” These were all popular luxuries in 1962.
I had never seen Lei Feng in such fashionable outfits, as he is usually shown in a green army uniform. To my surprise, he was no different from us in chasing trends and was just an ordinary young person.
We were taught to learn from Lei Feng since our primary school education. I firmly believe that the spirit of Lei Feng is never out of date and should be promoted at any time of history. But his noble behavior puts him within our sight but beyond our reach. His spirit is just too far to be followed.
What we need nowadays is not only a model Lei Feng, but also a real Lei Feng. If the spirit of Lei Feng is to live on and keep its vitality, a benign and uncontentious image is not enough.
As we feel closer to him, we will know that the spirit of Lei Feng is not so far away from us.
The author is an editor with China Youth magazine based in Beijing. yinjunguo@126.com
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