Actually, You Don't Understand the People of Guangdong (Book with Pictures)

Author: Ye Shuming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: The typical personality of Guangdong people is vividly portrayed here. They did not complain endlessly or engage in frantic arguments. Instead, amidst a chorus of criticism, they fought tirelessly against the SARS virus while actively sharing "anti-inflammatory" experiences with other affected areas. They did not blame the heavens or each other; work continued as usual, schools remained open, streets were still visited, and life proceeded in an orderly manner. On the other hand, the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress quickly passed legislation requiring "citizens to cultivate civilized and hygienic eating habits, avoid excessive consumption of wild animals, and prevent the spread of diseases from animals." This is the (answer) Guangdong presented to the entire nation. Mutual blame cannot solve the problem. It is better to do something useful than to curse the ozone layer into a hole. The people of Guangdong understand this principle well. However, despite this, the (slander) against Guangdong people has not stopped and has even led to more furious (accusations): "Why isn't the legislation simply 'not eating wild animals,' but instead 'not eating excessively'? 'Not eating excessively' is not an (rigorous legal term); it's as if nothing has been said. Are the people of Guangdong still stubbornly refusing to change after SARS, continuing to eat wild animals?" A netizen raged online: "It was all because of the excessive consumption of wild animals by the people of Guangdong that brought us this (calamity). They still refuse to repent. They brought this upon themselves—may they die and suffer the consequences. Don't drag the entire nation down with them!"，，。 The people of Guangdong replaced "not eating" with "not eating excessively," which reflects a pragmatic attitude. To say that they will never eat wild animals again is pure self-deception. Marine fish are also wild animals; can you say you will never eat them again? From a legislative perspective, if both "prohibition" and "not eating excessively" are difficult to enforce, then it is better to adopt a defensive "not eating excessively" rather than an aggressive "prohibition." This aligns more closely with the spirit of legislation and better protects people's existing rights and order. The 2003 SARS incident not only has high research value in medicine but can also serve as a classic case when studying social culture. From it, we can see the differences between northern and southern cultures, the unique ethnic personality of the people of Guangdong, and their psychological resilience and spiritual state.