The photograph of Wu Tianjun, the acting mayor of Zhengzhou, Henan province, standing barefoot to drain out stagnant water has sparked a heated debate among netizens. While some have called him the "most respectable figure", others have said that he has "made a show" out of the incident. But what the acting mayor did on that fateful day is exactly how a responsible official should act during emergencies, says an article in Liberation Daily. Excerpts:

A "barefoot mayor" is nothing out of the ordinary because that is exactly what the working style of officials should be. An official who mixes with the people and works among them is much better than the one who sits in office and only gives orders.

But why does the natural working style of an official evoke criticism from the public and attract accusations of "making a show"? People who question everything, even something that should naturally come with a job, need to reflect on their mindset. There indeed are officials, and we know it, who attempt to make a show out of almost everything they do. Perhaps that is what makes some people question even genuine officials' actions.

But people are wrong to see genuine actions as "suspicious". Instead, they need to understand that every official should cherish his/her job and do the best he/she can.

Many mayors do try to shoulder their heavy responsibilities to relieve people of their worries and provide good administration.

We should applaud such officials not only for "going deep among the people", but also for their plans, strategies and efforts to solve problems by leading from the front.

China Daily

(China Daily 08/03/2011 page9)