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Better to keep open minds

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-04-18 08:02

We don't need to worry that the diploma scandal involving a handful of Chinese students in France will shame the image of all Chinese, says an article on the website www.qianlong.com. Following is an excerpt:

Some Chinese students studying French allegedly bought diplomas from French universities.

Although the scandal concerns individual students, it undoubtedly will do no good to the image of China in the eyes of some foreigners. But the problem is the scandal doesn't only apply to Chinese students. Who would bet that foreigners have never committed the same fraud.

As long as the majority of Chinese abide by laws and maintain their integrity, the wrongdoing by a handful of people will not disgrace the nation as a whole.

It's not right to say that this scandal will tarnish Chinese abroad, for it misconstrues all Chinese as an inseparable whole.

Unnecessary verbal fights will come out of this and jeopardize any potential resolution of the problem and subsequent social progress.

Many Chinese do not hold a rational attitude toward the offenses mounted by foreigners.

In their eyes, foreigners and their governments seem to be prepared to attack China or to damage the image of Chinese at all times.

Compared with the diploma scandal, it's more necessary to guard against this irrational mindset.

(China Daily 04/18/2009 page4)