Published: May 02, 2008
"Patriotism" seems to be a magic word for the Chinese. As long as a Chinese person claims to be a patriot, he immediately assumes the moral high ground. Whatever he or she says or does in the name of patriotism is perfectly justified.
If a person is alone, he or she generally will not behave completely without scruples; but if a group of self-appointed patriots gets together, they become suddenly very brave and quick to criticize others for not loving the country enough. They even divide citizens into two groups: patriots and traitors. The self-described "patriots" feel free to direct nasty remarks and abuse at those they have labeled "traitors."
Under normal circumstances, acts of violence such as beating people or throwing things at them are considered evil. Such actions may incite violent counterattacks, and eventually the police could become involved. Thus, whoever chooses this aggressive approach should consider the possible consequences.
However, in the name of patriotism, people readily engage in such violent behavior without restraint. For example, according to news reports, young people in the city of Kunming in the southwestern province of Yunnan recently organized a protest in front of the supermarket Carrefour, where they attacked people who went there to shop. The French supermarket chain is now under attack in China after Internet articles claimed that its owners or stockholders had provided the Dalai Lama's group with aid in order to support Tibet's independence.
Those self-proclaimed young patriots were shouting, scolding and throwing water bottles at the shoppers, and no one came out to stop them. What's worse, some "patriots" were yelling crazy things, saying they would kill those "traitors," peel off their skin and pull out their tendons, and even rape their wives and daughters.
It is not clear why this odd form of patriotism actually makes some Chinese behave very much like hooligans. Under the banner of patriotism, it appears they can do all manner of disgusting things without shame. Patriotism has become the shield behind which evil and ugliness can hide.
Surprisingly, ordinary people are just going about their lives without raising any complaints or doubts about all this, and without hitting back. Facing the frightening ferocity of these young revolutionaries, most people prefer to give in to avoid conflict rather than argue strongly in the name of justice. Even if some people feel unjustly accused, they will merely look dejected rather than speaking out with confidence.
The term "nationalism" in China is interpreted as loyalty to the nation, or absolute obedience to the state. Individual will and personal freedom are subjected to the will of the race and of the country. The notion of a supreme state is a powerful and engaging idea, and it is no exaggeration to say that almost everyone worships the state throughout the whole of China.
Not so long ago, China grouped its people into only four categories, apart from the military. These were state cadres, state laborers, state farmers and "fourth elements." The last group included landlords, rich peasants, counterrevolutionaries and "bad elements," or public enemies of the state. Among these, the cadres were the most arrogant, followed by the laborers and the farmers, who had no salary. At that time, laborers could easily lord it over those in the class below them by boasting about their salaries.
The power and influence of the state have not changed color in China, even though the times have changed. For example, the members of the national football team are called "state feet," the anchors of China Central TV are considered "state mouths," decent quality cultural relics or figures are referred to as "state treasures," and arts and crafts of so-so quality can still be called "state gifts" if given to foreign guests by officials. And the most desirable occupations for university graduates are state civil servants and employees at state-run enterprises.
In many Chinese hearts, "country" is spelled with a capital letter, while "citizen" is lower case. The citizen isn't essential and can become so small as to practically disappear. However, those who hold the state in highest esteem are in fact those citizens of the lowest status. When those people's interests are undermined by the strong power of the state, they will still praise the nation, as if it somehow gives them greater status.
The poor public does not realize that their tragic misfortune lies in the belief that the nation is supreme and the individual is worthless. In modern countries, even the most humble citizen can claim sovereignty and be an owner of the state, rather than its slave.
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(Zhang Ming is a professor and supervisor of doctoral students at the School of International Relations of the People's University of China in Beijing. He has a PhD in politics, and is the former dean of the Politics Department at People's University. This article is translated and edited from the Chinese by UPI Asia Online. The original may be found at www.ncn.org and zhangming.vip.bokee.com ©Copyright Zhang Ming.)
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