Gong Xi Fa Cai

The year of the golden pig, and Chinese New Year seems to be a popular scene around the world. And Chinese new year greeting "Gong Xi Fa Cai" is the quote of the week on the street. It literally means good luck and prosperity, and it originates from Catonese, as people there have a strong drive for getting rich. Well, in a fast moving society swept to the ground by material values, this is hardly a surprise. And today is the 10th anniversary since Deng passed away, who was a paramount leader in the late 21st century in China, and who imported the idea of market economy to China which led us now into one of the most enviable fast growing economies in the world.

His famous quote "Black cat or white cat, as long as they can catch rats, they are good cats. " on his south tour is probably still resonating in a lot of people's mind, and most of them, thankfully, since they have seen real difference in their lives between now and 30 years ago. The quote itself does sound a bit promatic, you would argue, but it was a big motive and encouragement e that is desparately in need after the chaos and depression of cultural revolution. It serves its purpose perfectly well, and almost in a miraculous way.

However, when part of the nation and people are going in full speed to catch up the western world, I am very glad to see that that this year we have a new focus on the crowd we have long forgotten - the less fortunate ones who need to share the benefits of the thirty years of economic development and make the same progress as we have made.

This is indeed a very positive note captured also in the widely watched new year party hosted by CCTV (China Central TV, not the security camera!). The immigrant workers (the group of people who come from countryside to big cities for work), their hard work, their tough life on the edge of the city, and their strong determination to fight for a better life for themselves and their children had not been recognized, appreciated and admired by the rather spoiled people in the big cities. Some of us used to despise them because they look dirty and eat crap food and live in poor conditions.

When in one of the programmes during the new year party covered by national TV, the children of the immigrant workers living in Beijing said in a clear and determined voice, "when other children compare their parents with mine, I compare my future with them instead." Everyone in my family was touched to tears, and obviously one of the hosts on TV as well. We are not born to be equal, but we should all strive for a more harmonized society, a place where everybody has a future to dream and we should help those, the less fortuntate ones to realize their dreams as well. This should really be the theme of the year, and maybe we could all be happier when we make other people happy.