(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-05-13 08:00

The young generation of Chinese has demonstrated their patriotism during the Olympic torch relay, says an article in China Youth Daily. The following is an excerpt:

By the time the Olympic torch started its tour across the Chinese mainland in Sanya, Hainan province, on May 4, which also happened to be Youth's Day, the young generation of the country had developed more subtle feelings toward their motherland.

During nearly one month before the day, the Olympic torch was relayed in different countries, where it witnessed both joyous greetings and disturbances.

The youths, mainly those born after 1980, have shown their sense of responsibility and love to the country by showing their firm support for the torch relay and for the country to people around the world.

Having grown up in peace and amid the economic takeoff, this generation is used to be taken as self-centered and lacking in responsibility. Some even suspect that these young people, drinking Coke and watching Hollywood movies, might embrace Western culture instead of sticking to their Chinese roots.

But they have dismissed these guesses by demonstrating their love of China openly, firmly and fervently during the recent happenings.

Their patriotism stems from the well-off life since the economic boom, the rich opportunity to watch the world after the opening-up and their self-identity as citizens of a rapidly developing country.

Hidden deeply in their hearts, this love is not easy to detect in their daily life, but it can manifest itself as a strong flame when they find their country subjected to external hurts and insults.

What makes us happier for these young people than just witnessing their patriotism is that they also displayed enough sense. Many of them have realized that the position of a country in the global community depends on its own power. Therefore, the best thing as a patriot is to do his own job and contribute his share to boost the country's development.

(China Daily 05/13/2008 page8)