China’s New Morality Campaign

Chinese youths are getting too hip, so say the crusaders of China’s new morality campaign, those government censors who are in charge of policing morality among the young for their changing lifestyle and perceived immorality. Case in point is a Chinese reality television show, “If You Are the One,” a popular matchmaking show that reveals basic human desires too “modern” for the government nannies to handle (e.g. a female contestant wanting a wealthy man with a flashy car). The goal of the morality campaign, according to this article, “For China, Modernity Can Go Too Far,” is to “eradicate all social evils” and advocate a healthy, civilized and high-minded lifestyle,” and to bring China back to its traditional morality.

Of course the Chinese are resisting. Some of them argue that with the opening up and reforms, society’s attitudes have changed: “For ages, the government has condoned a materialistic value system, and now they are reaping the fruits of it. To put the blame on the public is just lame.” Others have become cynical, given the many reports of indiscretion committed by the Communist Party officials themselves.

It seems, in this age of openness and information explosion, that Chinese civil society is outpacing the totalitarian march of the Communist Party, although towards a different direction. It should be so. And it would behoove the Chinese Communist Party to be cognizant of the fact that the flourishing of its human capital and the sustainability of its economic prosperity rest on the people’s exercise of their rights. It breeds creativity, inventiveness, assertiveness, and accomplishments, for it hinges on the premise that every individual has the capacity to make the right decisions for himself. The problem with nanny states (and for that matter, theocratic states) is they see the exercise of these rights as a threat to their power.

As to that 24-year old fashion model who, during the TV show, refused a bicycle ride offer from a poor and unemployed bachelor, saying she would “rather cry in a BMW than ride a bicycle while laughing,” provoked, of course, the wrath of government nannies who accused her of possessing a materialistic, “gold-digging” attitude and barred her from the show. In her defense, another contestant argued, “Even if the show is censored, these kinds of thoughts exist in real life.” . . . and added, “She just asked for a BMW; she didn’t ask for a Benz or a Ferrari.” Now that’s another subject for another blog posting.