Tragic Tangent

So the last time I blogged was for Spring Festival and my trip to MengCheng, Anhui, China. Again, the trip was great, but I had the unfortunate experience of witnessing a most tragic event. As question, concern, and tears ran across my face, All I wanted to do...could do... to make sense of it all was write.

After boarding the bus to head back to Hefei, Grace and I were in very somber moods. Goodbyes are never easy...even if it isn't your family. Not even five minutes into the ride, we hit traffic. Now I expected this three hour trip to take 5. I put my music on, and began to gaze out of the window. There was truly something peaceful about the countryside. I was just about to cover my face and doze off when we reached the cause of the traffic. A man lay next to his moped on the ground. His body uncovered and surrounded in blood. Of course, I gasped. But, soon realized I was the only one taken back by this. Two officers we casually smoking and talking. They stood with their backs turned away from the body, and facing the street. Meanwhile, traffic directed itself, and spectators contaminated the scene of the accident. The weather was misty and it began to rain. I assumed no one at the scene was family. No one seemed to care much. They just watched as if it were TV. As we crept on by, I noticed the last two witnesses to tragic scene. Two children... an older girl holding and covering the eyes of a younger boy. The looks on their face. The lack of concern by the adults. I was beyond confused. I felt as if I had watched a thief just walk away with their innocents; and adults, whose lives had succumb to having no real reaction at all. The new year had just began, and this man would be here to see it.

What happened? Was it an accident? A homicide? An accidental homicide? Who did it? Why are the police standing around? What is this a break? Where is the yellow tap? Could that man still be alive? Where is the ambulance? Was it not worth the risk to try? Who is preparing to tell his wife or his mother that their loved one is dead? Is this what they will see when they arrive on the scene....cops smoking, and people poking at the body? Has the family even been called? Why isn't his body covered? Is there no respect? Does anyone notice the children? Where are their parents? Is this there relative? DOES ANYBODY CARE?

I couldn't begin to answer these questions. I did not understand how or why people could be so careless or thoughtless. Are there just that many people that one life is so invaluable. My students asked me once if I loved China or not. I honestly replied, "no". lol... They were of course shocked. I told them that China doesn't love itself. Therefore, no one else can either. As a people, they are becoming more educated in an effort to reach the cultural standards of the developed world. Yet, in any situation, they will fall back to tradition. They are smart enough to know better, but they won't do better. Why? because of tradition. To them, the concept is simple. The population has decreased. So, it is okay. Forget the fact that this man will be missed. Forget that those onlooking children will be scarred. They carry a sense of "oh well" and they move on. I have become invested in this country. I play a role, like many other foreigners, to prepare people to live among "developed" civilization. Yet, I feel like my Dad before I started to drive. They aren't ready. I feel like they are sleep walking. I need them to wake up!

And this goes for people all the way around the world. Don't be afraid to meet the bar and then raise it. Take pride in your appearance. Define your own standards. It is only by the world around us that our greatness is measured. To help anybody else, you must, first, be a benefit to yourself. Everyone must do their part.

So now my tangent is over....Thanks for reading... As always you are in my prayers, and I hope I am in yours! Stay tuned!