'Uncle Haipeng' symbol of older workers

The out-of-this-world birthday of Shenzhou XI commander Jing Haipeng aboard the Tiangong II space lab recently was indeed a cause for celebration. Children in China and around the world sent video greetings to "Uncle Haipeng".

But beyond the obvious reason for national pride, the celebration also sends a message that is more subtle and also of great societal import.

That is that Jing, someone who is approaching his golden years, would be considered by traditional mores to be apt only for sitting in a rocking chair, tending to songbirds and playing with grandchildren. (And there's certainly nothing wrong with those things for those who choose them.)