The culture of shame should be revived

• Source: The Global Times
• [10:33 May 25 2009]
• Comments

On Saturday, Roh Moo-hyun, the former president of South Korea, committed suicide. His reputation as a clean and upright politician had been tarnished by a corruption scandal. While expressing shock and deep sorrow for Roh's death, many Chinese netizens called for revival of the sort of shame apparent in Roh's remarks before his suicide.

While a sense of shame is desirable in public officials, shame should never lead anyone to end their own life, as Roh so tragically did.

In his last posting on his website, on April 22, Roh wrote, “You should now discard me.” He added: “I no longer symbolize the values you pursue. I am no longer qualified to speak for such things as democracy, progressiveness and justice.” Before presenting himself for questioning by prosecutors, Roh told reporters “I can't look you in the face because of shame. I apologize for disappointing the people.”

These words have been repeatedly quoted by Chinese netizens. In their eyes, Roh's strong sense of shame is a contrast to the overwhelming lack of shame among Chinese corrupted officials and even in China's society under the impact of the market economy.

Recently, Fang Weigang, a local official in Guangzhou who has been sentenced to years in prison for bribery and corruption, said in a media interview that “the money given by the people shows their respect for me.” Another corrupted official, Huang Peng, even said in court it was his “personal hobby to hide big sums of money at home.”

At the same time, many industries and professions in China are devoid of self-blame and professional morality. Chinese people have a deep resentment of this. Every industry and every person should have a bottom line for what behavior is and is not acceptable.

Actually, a sense of shame has a long history in China and has been cherished for generations. The “four virtues,” namely “courtesy, justice, honesty and shame,” constitute the principles of being an upright person.

As Mencius instructed, a man of honor should have a clear conscience. This valuable cultural heritage has exerted a significant influence on the Chinese mentality and behavior. As a result, many famous Chinese scholars in old times put a sense of shame as the leading necessary personality trait and linked it closely with the national fate.

Only by reviving China's long lost culture of shame can we truly promote the rebuilding of Chinese ethics. This is extremely important for China at this point in time when the nation is experiencing a transition from a planned economy to a market economy, which is regulated not only by law but also by morality.