Preface
In today's globalization, how to balance "filial piety" and "patriotism"? The life choices of the children of international students have sparked heated discussions. Is it unfilial piety to go abroad to pursue dreams, or is it patriotic to stay at home? Let's find out!
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01. The story of the old age of two families
In today's society, the concept of raising children to prevent old age has long been outdated, but filial piety is still an important part of Chinese culture. Recently, two very different family stories have sparked heated discussions on the Internet, making us wonder: what is true filial piety?
The late life of a couple of professors at Shanghai University is embarrassing. They sent all three of their children to the United States for further study, thinking that they were seeking a better future for their children. Who knows, this decision turned out to be their biggest regret in their later years. When the two elderly people died in the nursing home one after another, none of their children returned to China for funeral. The funeral was given carte blanche to the nursing home, and the children were simply "buried" remotely via video. This indifferent behavior has caused strong dissatisfaction among the majority of netizens, many of whom believe that these children are both disloyal to the country and unfilial to their parents.
In stark contrast to this is the story of another ordinary family. An old man in the last moments of his life had two sons with him. When the old man was dying, the two sons not only did not dislike it, but took care of it more carefully. They wiped their sweat and breathed for their father, and tried to make his father walk more peacefully. This heartwarming footage was recorded by surveillance cameras and widely circulated on the Internet, touching countless people.
These two stories have sparked deep thinking about "filial piety". Some people say that it is already a blessing to be cared for by children in old age; Some people also believe that it is not unfilial piety for children to pursue careers in other countries, and the key lies in whether there is still a place for parents in their hearts. So, in today's globalized world, how do we balance personal development and family responsibilities? For those who are unable to take care of their parents in person for various reasons, how can they express their filial piety? And for those parents who send their children abroad, should they reconsider their plans for old age?
02. Success and loneliness coexist
International education is becoming more and more popular among Chinese families, and many parents dream of allowing their children to go abroad for further education, broaden their horizons, and gain better opportunities for development. This "open-minded" educational philosophy has indeed opened the door to success for many young people, but it also comes at an unexpected cost.
Many parents send their children abroad, looking forward to a bright future for their children. They are proud of their children's achievements, boasting of their children's high salaries and big houses in front of friends and family. However, when night falls, these parents often face the deserted home alone, feeling lonely with their children.
The story of Ms. Liu, a retired teacher, is a typical example. Ten years ago, she proudly announced to her neighbors that her son was working in the United States, earning millions a year, and had married a foreign daughter-in-law. But ten years have passed, and Mr. Liu's life has become more and more bleak. After the death of her wife, she lived alone, and even fell and needed her neighbors to take her to the hospital. Although her son has a successful career, he cannot be by her side when she needs company the most.
With the rise of studying abroad, the problem of the elderly living alone has become increasingly prominent. Although many elderly people can afford to go abroad to reunite with their children, they find it difficult to adapt due to cultural differences and living habits. Teacher Liu once said that when he was in the United States, he felt that he was not used to eating, living and traveling, and he didn't even have anyone to talk to at home alone. In this case, many elderly people would rather stay in a familiar environment and die alone than go to another country.
Although international education has brought more opportunities to the younger generation, it has also invisibly widened the distance between generations. While their children are chasing their dreams abroad, their parents are facing aging alone at home. In this case, we can't help but ask: what is the definition of success? Is it a well-paid job, or is it able to accompany your parents when they need it? For those who have already chosen to develop abroad, how to balance career and filial piety? And for parents who are considering sending their children abroad, should they plan ahead and plan for their old age?
03. Disloyalty and unfilial piety
In the wave of globalization, our educational philosophy and values are facing unprecedented challenges. Finding a balance between personal development and family responsibilities has become a difficult problem for many people.
Recently, the news that some children of international students do not return to China for funeral has caused a controversy of "disloyalty and filial piety". Some people believe that to develop abroad is to be unpatriotic; If you can't send your parents to the end in person, you are not filial. This view, while somewhat extreme, also reflects people's adherence to traditional values. How can we redefine our responsibilities to the state and to our parents in the modern world? This is a question worth pondering for everyone.
The traditional concept of "raising children and preventing old age" has become somewhat outdated in today's society. With the development of society, people have begun to think about more diversified ways to provide for the elderly. Some people choose to rely on their children, while others prefer to be self-reliant. So, should we change the definition of filial piety and expand it from mere material offerings to spiritual care?
In educating the next generation, we need to reflect: how do we cultivate people who can both achieve and know how to return? It is clearly not enough to simply pursue academic qualifications and career success. We also need to teach our children how to pursue their personal ideals while not forgetting to give back to society and honor their parents. This requires the joint efforts of families, schools and society.
At the same time, a sound social system is also the key to solving this problem. Establish a sound pension system, formulate transnational pension policies, and provide more choices for the elderly. This will not only reduce the burden on children, but also allow the elderly to enjoy a more dignified old age. But the question is, how are these systems implemented? How can we ensure that they can truly benefit every elderly person in need?
Finding a balance between personal choices and societal expectations is something that everyone has to face. We should not only encourage young people to pursue their dreams and broaden their horizons, but also educate them not to forget their roots and know how to be grateful. The balance in this requires wisdom and love.
In the future, we may see more innovative ways of filial piety. Remote companionship, smart device care, transnational retirement communities... Will these new attempts bridge the gap caused by geographical distance? How can we inherit the traditional virtues of the Chinese nation in the changing times?
epilogue
Everyone's life path is unique, and we should not judge others' choices by a single standard. On the contrary, we should believe that as long as we have love for our family and love for the motherland in our hearts, we can find ways to express our filial piety and patriotism no matter where we are.
What do you think about the "filial piety" and "patriotism" of the children of international students? Have you ever had a similar experience? Feel free to share your views and stories in the comments section!