By Situ Weiqun
Translated by Wang Jing
Chris Packham, the emcee of wildlife program of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has recently expressed his "wise idea", saying because pandas have very weak competitiveness in the wild, we should let them die out. According to Packham's logic, millions of pounds being spent in nursing pandas will play a more effective role on nursing other animals, pandas have gone into the dead end of its evolution and they belong to weak species. The conclusion is that:"we should let pandas disappear with dignity." Chinese Version >>
Right after these words, not only nursing experts around the world are exasperated, but also comes a shower of criticisms from Chinese netizens, sharply denouncing that Packham is mentally ill.
With such severe responses, no matter positive or negative, it is the exact effect that Packham pursues. Just as the program he hosts, his "big name" has drawn wide attention in the Chinese market with a population of 1.3 billion, which will definitely help a lot to the audience rating in the future. The goal which is tough to reach no matter how much you spend or how hard you work is now gained by Packham without striking a blow. The deal must be very economical in Packham's eyes.
Tricks featured with gaining attentions by nonsenses and odd things remind me what happened in 2005, when Time Magazine, Asia version, selected Li Yuchun, winner of the Chinese "Super Girls" , as one of the Asian heroes, and many Chinese people was so indignant to call it "national humiliation".
What kind of person should be counted as hero? The explanation of Chinese Dictionary is: "extraordinary and outstanding people, referring to person with splendid ideas, capabilities, or leadership." The explanation of Webster English Dictionary is: "a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities". Liu Shao, Wei People in the period of Three Kingdoms, has given the briefest definition of the word "hero":"smart, outstanding, and brave enough."
It is exactly so. People with extraordinary smartness, bravery as well as great accomplishments can be called as hero; no matter he is a failure or celebrity. The rule of "win-stay-lose-shift" is not applicable here. So, Liu Bang, who was of humble birth and established Han dynasty, is of course a hero, while Xiang Yu, the Conqueror, who got no way out and killed himself with sword on the riverside, is also a hero. "to be a genius while living; to be a ghost hero even after death; thinking of Xiang Yu today; do not willing to escape to Jiangdong." Does not the poem written by Li Qingzhao reflect our view of hero?
Based on this kind of widely accepted view of hero, the attack to the "view of hero" of Time Magazine is stern. Where are "Super Girls" knowledge, bravery, and accomplishments? What kind of hero is she? The competition of "Super Girls" is just a commercial activity aiming with gaining broadest profits. Is not it weird that such commercial entertainment activity can produce the "hero of Asia”? It is too ridiculous to be worth refuting that the Time Magazine took the competition of "Super Girl" which is neither fish nor flesh as a democratically operated new thing to challenge Chinese traditional regulations.
We should see that no matter for Packham of BBC, who advocates to let pandas die out or the Time Magazine, which selected "Super Girls" as the hero, they are all commercial activities of media, aiming to enlarge their impacts and increase rating and circulation. What they have done is pure speculation. So, no matter for the proposal they put forward or the "hero" they selected, they are all results of commercial operation. So, it is really no need for us to criticize, or even view it as "national humiliation."
In the turbulent historical tide, only people with the spirit and charisma of penetrating time and space can become the hero written in the history, while those "Super Girls", "hero", and "elites" like Packham may be in all the rage for a while but will finally disappear with the loss of time.