OPINION> Commentary
Sympathies that hurt
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-06-10 08:06

The overwhelming outpouring of sympathy and compassion for the victims in the wake of the Wenchuan earthquake has brought many tear-drawing stories to focus.

As students in the quake-hit areas are transferred temporarily away from home to resume classes, they have a good chance to be overwhelmed by waves of sympathetic greetings, and various special treatments.

All of us want to present the best we have to offer, so that the youngsters, some of whom have lost their beloved ones in the fatal tremor, can feel at home and return to a normal life.

But psychologists have cautioned that excessive shows of sympathy, especially when they are not properly expressed, may lead to undesirable outcomes. The obvious behavior change happened to Lang Zheng, who became a cute celebrity because of a picture showing the little boy lying on a stretcher and raising his hand in salute to the People's Liberation Army soldiers who dug him out from the ruins. The change is said to be a result of incessant inquiries and media interviews. The once-bubbling little boy is now reportedly taciturn.

Quake victims may need to have their tragic personal stories heard, but not necessarily by irrelevant strangers, no matter how sympathetic, or the inquisitive media. We should all listen to medical professionals to decide how to share our goodwill with the victims. It would be sad if we cause damage out of benevolent intentions.

The Jinan education authorities may have set a fine example in this regard. The capital city of Shandong province has received more than 800 students and their teachers from Beichuan, a county right at the epicenter of the Sichuan quake. While arranging fine accommodations, medical examinations, extra-curricular activities and consoling services, the local education departments decided to limit outsiders' access to the guests.

According to their rules, the schools should decline unauthorized visits by any individuals or institutions, or the press. A particular reference for the media says a student or teacher from the disaster zone should not be interviewed more than twice.

Such stipulations may appear to be rather unfeeling. After all, many people want to show their sympathy and support for the victims.

But we should appreciate the idea behind the move. Asking the little kids to repeatedly recount their miserable sufferings, for one thing, does no good to them.

The Jinan authorities have set a good example because they remind us to be careful about the way we express our compassion.

(China Daily 06/10/2008 page8)