Signposts of a caring society

The national flags, their red color shining, swung across the dormitory of the Beijing Institute of Technology. The students had put up the flags to demonstrate their patriotism.

That was what the caption said about the picture that caught my attention on an online news site. It made me feel good - about the country, about us, but more, about our young people.

Hours later, it was another scene, this time a real one, on the street not far from my office. And, it did not make me feel good. In fact, it made me feel rather bad and more important, made me ask questions - about us, our society, and especially, about our young people.