Kind lessons for robber and society

A media report last week of how an elderly woman foiled a robbery attempt and even saved the wounded burglar's life has triggered debates among netizens.

Li Jianhua, a retired teacher from Weihai, Shandong province, was attacked by a burglar in her home but fought back bravely. The man stabbed Li on her head and neck. He was also injured in the fight. In the end, the 19-year-old robber collapsed, partly because of injury and partly because of the psychological strain. He asked Li to kill him. Li said to the boy: "You are my son's age. Your parents must have undergone many hardships to bring you up. How can you do such a thing? If you have difficulty, I can help you. Now you go; I won't call the police. Or we go to the hospital." The young man was so moved that he called her "Mom".

Readers were divided in their understanding of Li's action. An online survey found that 55.2 percent of the netizens supported her while 38.4 percent expressed disapproval. While expressing admiration for Li's kind-heartedness, the second group said she was too lenient to a criminal, citing the story of a farmer and a snake, and even accused her of conniving at the crime. The first group said she did nothing wrong for she was trying to save a "degenerating soul".