Society San Morals

Crime, compared to most countries, is a minor issue in China. None of the police officers in China carry guns, except in Guandong. There is only one police officer for every thousand Chinese people. One would think with mega cites that boast populations many greater that 15 million, that crime syndicates would run rampant throughout China. However this is not the case. Crime is surprisingly low, especially in cities like Shanghai and Beijing. Before the olympics Beijing cracked down even more so on crime. The majority of crimes, around 80% in Beijing, are petty pocket thieves. Why does the country with the highest population in the world, have less crime than much less populated places? Are the Chinese morally superior to the rest of the world? As matter of fact I would argue the exact opposite.  Religion is pretty much non- existent in China. There is no separation from church and state, simply because there does not have to be in China. Chinese people do not go to Church. One student I talked with said he thinks about religion only a few days out of the year to pay his respect to Buddha. Sadly, it was hard for me to argue that Americans are not the same way. Buddhism, has a major presence in China, yet it still is more of a way of living than a worshiping and consistently practiced religion. Confucianism is similar. It stresses the hierarchical relationship, and reaching a state of datong, which is a perfectly harmonious society on earth. Some Chinese may believe in reincarnation, or some in nothing at all. My point is that religion does not take precedence in the lives of the majority of Chinese people. They are essentially a society in which the government instills goodness into its people. This is a scary thought. 

Although China may seem morally superior in many ways, they too have their fair share of problems. The Chinese are a very loyal people. Loyal to their country but more importantly loyal to their family. Maybe the thousand year history of family clans fighting for power, is now somewhat innate in the Chinese. For a Chinese person would gladly help out his fifth cousin with money, but might not give a cent to the beggar on a street they have passed for years. Not that everyone has to give money to beggars. As China begins to emerge as a world power, many diplomats pointed to the fact that the Chinese do business with 'unfriendly' countries. China is the only country that continues to trade with North Korea, if they would stop maybe there could be some resolution there. Also, China will trade with countries like Sudan, where dictators and inhumanity run wild. Even in their foreign policy China shows its lack of interest in a greater humanity for all. There are cases of children disappearing to work in brick and coal mines. And instead of making this public news, it is covered up. Some families are even encouraged to not look for their children by the government. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. 

In recent years, Faith has grown considerably in China. Churches are establishing a presence in China. Disasters like the recent earth quake the Chinese people came together as a country like never before. Amoungst chaos nationalism thrives. Also, in South Africa China stood up for humanity, to show its concern for the less fortunate of the world. As Christianity grows throughout China, so will Chinese nationalism and the belief in making the world a better place for all. It may even be what the Chinese need in order to close their ever widening wealth gap. If the people of the city would reach down and lend the farmers a hand, there is no doubt that China would be a better place to live. I believe God is needed in China, even if it is to just provide a solid moral code. Even if you are no religious, it all around you, and embedded in many aspects of Western life. Christianity is making giant leaps in China, but there is still a long ways to go, before any real change can occur. Hopefully one day we will see China become a leader in world relief.