Job market twists people's outlook

A woman in Changzhou, Jiangsu province, who recently graduated from college, quit her job as a bank clerk after coming to know that she had got it through her father's "social networking". The woman, who posted her story on the Internet, has been ridiculed by many netizens. Worse, in an online poll, about 70 percent of the respondents said they would accept a job gained through parents' network, says an article on xinhuanet.com. Excerpts:

Many graduates spend hours, even days, trying just to prepare their resumes to be submitted to companies and government departments, while some can get ideal and well-paid jobs through parents' "networks" without making any effort.

In such circumstances, netizens' reaction to the Changzhou woman's decision is understandable. But it also reflects the sick mentality of people and society as a whole and their disdain for honesty and personal integrity.

What people should be ridiculing is the unfair use of connections by parents to get their children jobs. If, for instance, all college graduates were to depend on family connections to get a job, there would be no need to acquire knowledge and learn skills.

"Social networking", money power and family connections are making a mockery of the job market. The longer this continues the wider will the income gap become.

Youths should, therefore, applaud the Changzhou woman for taking such a bold step. If all job-seekers exhibited the same honesty and courage, society would be a much better place to live in.

Old couples need not slog to help kids

An old couple in Zhengzhou, Henan province, reportedly sweated it out in their workshop making bread and even injured their fingers in the process to make enough money for their two children to buy apartments in cities. The incident reflects the prevailing situation in China where old parents slog to earn money to enable their children to buy a house amid rising housing prices, says an article in Chongqing Times. Excerpts:

With housing prices in large cities shooting through the roof, it has become almost impossible for young people to buy an apartment on the strength of their own savings even after working for several years. So their parents have decided to help them out in their endeavour, reflecting their unconditional and unselfish love for their children.

Traditionally, Chinese parents have supported their children to succeed in life. So it is natural that they choose to work hard and save money to help their children. But no law compels them to work in old age to enable their children to buy a house. Besides, old couples have no reason to sacrifice their health and happiness to support their offspring financially.

As Yi Zhongtian, a famous scholar, once said about teachers: "People usually compare the schoolteachers to candles, who choose to burn themselves to light up people's lives. But I don't agree with such a metaphor or simile because no one should destroy oneself to support others."

The same applies to parents.

(China Daily USA 08/01/2013 page12)