Letters and Blogs

Respecting the elderly

Since I was a child I have been under the impression that China was a country that held its elderly citizens in great esteem both for their guidance and their wisdom. Sadly, I have seen little evidence of that during my current trip to Beijing and Xi'an.

Beijing has a wonderful new subway system that is both convenient and a joy to ride. Having been raised in Virginia I had always been taught to relinquish my seat to the people who were in greater need. Although I am a 55-year-old man who has recently undergone corrective surgery for my back I have happily given up my subway seat to two pregnant women and three elderly citizens of China. However, I did this after seeing several young men in their early 20s bury their faces in their video games and reading material without considering jumping up immediately to offer their seats. They simple did not care.