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Anti-elitism hurts our society

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-02-18 07:43

The violent opposition to cultural elites reminds us of the importance of showing more tolerance to them, says an article in Nanfang Daily. The following is an excerpt:

Writer Qian Liexian was recently stabbed by two men as he took part in an activity in a bookstore. This terrorist act has thrown all members of the literary circle into a spin.

Obviously, the opposition to cultural elites like Qian has grown increasingly violent in recent years. Yu Dan, a popular professor and writer on Confucius, was boycotted when she attended a book signing activity in 2007. Soon after, Yan Chongnian, a popular historian on the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), was slapped on the cheek by a man who disagreed with his views.

Qian's stabbing takes the violence a step further, directly putting the life of an elite in danger. The ever-growing violence against cultural elites makes us wonder whether they will continue to express their full views or hide part of their real thoughts because of security fears.

These violent attacks are, more than criminal acts, threats to the freedom of speech in our society. We should properly find ways to thwart these violent acts and create a tolerant cultural environment.

(China Daily 02/18/2009 page8)