Father's Love Like A Mountain, Mother's Love Like A River

Several days ago, I read an article in a friend's blog entitled Father's Love Is Like A Mountain. In the article, he shared with us some memorable moments about his father and how he loved him.

It really touched somewhere in the deep bottom of my heart. My eyes became misted when I read it,coz it reminded me of my own daddy. I am so surprised to realize he has been away from me for twenty years now! I don't want to recall that sad moment when he left me, just let those sweet memories stay with me.

Father's love is like a mountain! It has been echoing by my ears these days and taking me back to those happy moments with my dad.

When I read the article again tonight and was moved again by a buddy's comments there. He compares mother's love to a river ("water" as is the original text) and I think it such a perfect metaphor. Mom's love is so selfishless and profound, and is always with you wherever you are. Mom's love is like water, so clear and limpid, yet so firm and perseverant.

We are small boats sailing on our journey of life, and father's love is like a mountain that is always by our side; Mom's love is like a river ("water" as is the original text), that carries the small boats to the end of the journey.......

Are Chinese Happier Than Americans Or The British?

I read two pieces of news lately, which were quite funny.

No.1: Some Chinese researchers published their findings on the Chinese people's leisure time. The result was amazing. The survey shows that Chinese people enjoy longer leisure time than Americans and the British. In 2000, the total leisure time for Chinese was 6051.2 hours, equaling 195.3days. Chinese people have more time enjoying their lives and must be much happier than Americans and the British. The report then drew a conclusion that China had been at an advanced level in terms of people's leisure time.
Then can we just ask ourselves such a question: Are we Chinese happier than Americans or the British? Now let's come to the second piece of news:

No. 2: Yesterday evening's CCTV News Broadcast released some data on the constitution of the medicare expenses of Chinese people. It shows the individual Chinese bear 65% of their medicare expenses, their working units bear another 20-25%, while the government just bear the left.

It is so funny that a time-and-money consuming survy comes to such a stupid conclusion. They misunderstood what "leisure time" really is. Then what on earth is leisure time? Leisure time is such period of time you may spend without fear of any worries and unsafety. That is to say, almost every aspect that is related to the individual's welfare has been guaranteed. It is at his/her own disposal how to spend this peeriod without fearing that he/she may be fired, or the salary may be reduced.

Then what is the reality in China? Let alone those extremely wealthy guys, most Chinese complain about very limited leisure time. We are facing a lot of challenges and uncertainties now. I have to work hard to pay the mortgage loans, to raise our child, and cover daily expenses. Ror those young guys, they have to earn enough money for a decent home and a well-prepared wedding ceremony). In many Chinese cities, there are countless house slaves, car slaves, and some buy their luxury items by instalments. Some have overdrafted their future income to meet their current needs. Most people are working hard to earn enough for their elderly life.

The above is related to personal behavior. On a larger sense, our government still needs to perfect the social welfare system. In the second news, the Chinese individuals pay the largest share of their own medicare expenses. Many people, especially the elderly, have been heavily burdened with the soaring medicare expenses. What's more, the social assurance system is still far away from being perfect.

Due to the above reasons, how can people feel secure when their future is still in uncertainty? How can they lead a happy life? And How can they enjoy their " leisure time" under such big pressure? They have to work hard to support their family, raise their children,offer them good education and consider their future well in advance. At the same time, they have to earn enough so that they can live comparatively comfortable when they get old.

Unfortunately, our government is not making enough efforts in solving these problems. The healthcare system is being improved. Many complaints arise against medicare system these years and some people are on the bones of their backs because either they or their family members are ill. Making it even worse, the medical expenses are increasing sharply. Though the government is trying to solve the problem,but the achievements are indeed very minimal.

Let's go back to that survey again. The researchers are also trying to find a proper explanation to the contradiction: Why are Chinese still unhappy even though they possess so much leisure time? Ironically,their answer was: because Chinese people are too addicted to some inefficient things--playing cards, playing majiang,.... I'd rather suggest these stupid guys to quit their job for giving such a ridiculous explanation. They didn't even get a clear understanding of what the leisure time was and talked nonsense.

According to their conclusion,China is such a developed country that it can stand side by side with the United States and The Britain? Don't you think the tone is so familiar? Some feverish guys are just murmuring some meaningless bullshit again.

According to what they've found,we can proudly claim: Chinese are the happiest people in the world, it's just like whipping the devil around the stump.