RISING STAR: Sa Dingding made fame in China after she won the BBC Radio 3 World Music Award for Asia Pacific in 2008 (XIE XIUDONG)

A Desirable Award?

At the beginning of 2010, Gongcheng Yao Autonomous County in southwestern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region issued a new reward policy. It says that any young people in Gongcheng who are recruited as a civil servant for Central Government agencies will receive a prize of 60,000 yuan ($8,784) and those who are recruited as a civil servant for Guangxi regional government agencies will receive 30,000 yuan ($4,392). In a word, the government of Gongcheng is encouraging local young people to work for the government at various levels.

Local officials said the reward was meant to encourage employment—with no strings attached. But why does it only reward those who become civil servants? Obviously, the government of Gongcheng has ulterior motives.

The reward is an indirect way to "bribe" its future superiors so that Gongcheng can get more favorable policies in the future. It is in effect a "money-for-power" deal.

Take a look at the young people who might be recruited as civil servants. The prize is given by their hometown government, and it seems inappropriate to refuse local goodwill. But if they do accept the prize, there is a possibility that they might develop the bad habit of taking money and properties from subordinate governments. How can they remain honest and clean themselves in the future?

Yangtze Evening Post

Bad Philanthrophy

It's reported a student in one of prestigious high schools in Shanghai went home and cried after she had been listed by her school as qualified to receive a student stipend.

Her parents called the school, strongly protested the stipend and requested their daughter be delisted.

To support financially troubled students by offering stipends is supposed to show love and benevolence. But some organizations just do not know how to express their kindness in acceptable ways. For instance, the publication of recipients' personal information might seriously hurt some sensitive children's self-esteem. In extreme cases, the recipients are even requested to write regular thank-you letters to their supporters.

Charity should not be available solely as a show, but to benefit and show respect for recipients in a favorable way.

Studies show poverty poses enormous pressure on children, who easily become frustrated, leading to a series of psychological problems such as self-abasement, isolation and difficulties in social activities and communication.

Therefore, if schools really want to help needy students, they should respect students' privacy and offer stipends in an anonymous way, because many students from impoverished families do not want others to know about their poverty. In this way, stipend-receiving students can live on an equal footing and enjoy respect at school along with other children.

Yangcheng Evening News

Award Syndrome

After Sa Dingding won the BBC Radio 3 World Music Award for Asia Pacific in 2008, the singer-songwriter-producer garnered great popularity when she went back to China.

But before that, Sa remained obscure for years after she began singing. Let's put aside her real strength and make an assumption: Would she be this popular if it were not for the international award?

Nowadays, an increasing number of people and organizations have become eager hunters for international awards, and may take whatever means to acquire one of those to prove their capability so as to establish fame domestically. Some have even lobbied foreign organizations to set up awards specially dedicated to themselves. Considering that not many people have been abroad and have little knowledge of "international awards" of any kinds, those people may then be successfully brag about their recognition by overseas markets to make good sales.

Blind worship of foreign awards is a representation of lack of self-confidence. It would be disastrous if this mentality were rooted in our cultural genes.

China Youth Daily

Snow Problem

During the New Year holiday, Beijing was hit by the heaviest snowfall in nearly six decades.

Cabs were rare on the streets, because many taxi drivers took time off. Commuter buses also ran behind schedule. However, due to the New Year holiday, most people stayed at home and so traffic proceeded quite smoothly.

The Beijing Municipal Government announced the suspension of primary and middle school classes on the first workday of 2010. There was no doubt students would meet severe difficulties on the way to school and home in such an inclement climate. If all students had been asked to go to school, how intense would have been the pressure on the public transit system?

Actually, the school closure offered an opportunity for students to learn something about harsh climatic conditions and about how to deal with this type of severe weather.

But citizens are expecting further "warm" policies, such as the extension of subway service times when taxis are not available on days when there is snow, and so on.

Beijing Times