Mind your Manners - Please!!

A recent article published in Washington DC highlights a unique problem facing the Chinese government as it prepares to welcome the world in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. In a society where swallowing mucus is considered dangerous (thought to be poisonous), spitting in public is commonplace and accepted as a matter of fact. Western civilizations might not view this in the same light. This is only one example of the concern that government officials feel may leave a poor impression of Chinese people for the 600,000 visitors to Beijing.

This concern is so prevalent that it has prompted a book to be written entitled "Doing instead of Knowing" by Zhou Shiji. According to Shiji "if we don't change our habits before 2008 the world will look down on China". The book "teaches people how to establish good habits" he said. "Many Chinese know that their habits are bad, but they don't change because everyone else is doing the same things."

In addition to preaching the negative associations connected with spitting, his book addresses other issues such as cutting in lines, crossing streets against the lights, talking during movies, and cleaning up after their pets. This book goes along with Beijing 's efforts to train its citizens to act in a more civilized manner. The city has hired almost 5000 workers to assist in this effort. They are employed in roles such as "civilized bus riding" supervisors among other titles.

This effort illustrates the importance that image plays, not only on goods and services, but on entire societies. Much of the Olympic effort is concentrated on infrastructure, (roads,and buildings), and other services within the city, but this goes beyond all of these items into culture of the Chinese. Are these practices universally considered to be "wrong", or are they wrong merely relative to other societies?
From an American perspective, I would argue that dodging animal feces on the street, or carrying an umbrella to avoid spraying mucus would not leave me with a favorable impression of an otherwise brilliant city, but a Beijing inhabitant visiting the US may be equally appalled at our lackadaisical driving habits (use of cell phone, eating, drinking, etc).

Perhaps the examples in this book, and the efforts being made are harmless to the people of Beijing, and can in some small way be viewed as progress. Beyond these questionable habits, lies a deeper question: Who separates the good habits from the bad ones and decides to effect change. We will probably have to wait until the fall of next year to have this question answered.

For more information on this article please visit the following link:
http://www.coxwashington.com/reporters/content/reporters/stories/2006/04/30/BC_CHINA_MANNERS30_COX.html