The senior colleague in our department finally left, in a hurry, after the last visit she paid to a customer in the afternoon. I saw her off into the elevator. Another male colleague, once her subordinate, carried personal belongs for her down to the street. For the brief moment when she and I were alone, she said I was a careful person and would have a promising future. Before that she gave every junior colleague a farewell hug. Despite all these, she left in a hurry, without even a goodbye message, which has become so common that people would think of them as holiday broadcast. 

On the same day, email box broadcasts tens of dozens of promotions to managing directors, with some being promoted again within a year. 

Well, above all the title inflations, the sacking, the quitting, it's just a job and nothing more.

On Professor Yang Sued "Counter-Revolutionary"

One university professor in East China University of Polictical Science and Law was sued by two of his students as "counter-revolutionary". It so happened that Professor Yang Shiqun criticised on some of China's current policies during a lecture on ancient Chinese language. Two students were apparently offended. They complained to Professor Yang after class and then went to the police and charged Professor Yang of "counter-revoluntionary" speech.  

The matter was posted on Professor Yang's own blog, which has since been removed. But a reprocuded post could be found here. According to the post, the two girls were actually in tears when they complained to him. Apparently they were really into the belief that any statement against the government was unpatriotic. It then raises the question - does one need to totally agree with the government on everything to be patriotic? If so, where is the freedom of speech? 

What's worse is that this happened on the campus of a prominent university on politics and law. One has reason to believe not all of these youngsters are like these two girls but it is nevertheless alarming that the ideology behind this thinking is worrying. Indeed, as many have observed, China's younger generation are increasingly loosing touch on the country's own history. What these two girls have done would have striken an especially stronger cord in those who have exprienced the turmoil in the 1960s and 1970s. For forty years ago, the girls would have had an upper hand in suing their professor. I'm sure no one would ever wish to repeat that all over again. But could we take it for granted that it never will? Particulary given the current state of mind of the young in China? And given their awareness (or lack of it) of our past? 

熟视无睹之怪现状

The article carries an interesting summary of events in 2008

1. China's customs restricts one Bible per person
2. Sanlu milk powder continues to be sold in Hebei despite its melamine content
3. University teachers will have a more difficult time going forward as they will be no longer allowed to lecture what deviate from party's line.

The last point strikes a special cord in me. Going back to be a university teacher is still my dream. Now that prospect looks dimmer. 

30 years into the reform and opening up,  China is papering up its past history of reforms. Foreig-invested enterprises have been forced into accepting trade unions.

http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displayStory.cfm?story_id=12758848&source=hptextfeature

作为80后，我们必须要《奋斗》。