Treat MH370 tragedy rationally (official Chinese newspaper)

[MicaelS]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2014-03/31/content_17390638.htm

The Chinese government is telling their citizens to calm down and start planning funerals. It is already having an affect. Last week, family member were calling Malaysian officials "murderers", this week, the family members are "thanking" the Malaysian government. And they used the phrase "social norms" twice in the sentences. That is a big deal. After all, if the Chinese could be calling the Malaysian government names this week, they might be calling the Chinese government names, and that would be unacceptable.

However, today no matter how distressed we are and how many details that are not clear, it is certain that flight MH370 crashed in the Indian Ocean and no one on board survived. All the related parties can do is to continue to search for the wreckage, carry on negotiations with the Malaysian side for more information and prepare to make arrangements for funerals.

We should acknowledge that in the face of the tragedy of flight MH370, Malaysia did not pass the buck, and the whole of Malaysian society showed their deep sorrow and shame. Malaysian citizens, media and scholars all openly criticized the authorities for their misconduct in handling the case. Their public opinion did not claim that the incident was masterminded by an individual that does not represent Malaysia and its people and they did not retort to outside criticism and pressure. Chinese people should refrain from inciting criticism and instigating boycotts against Malaysia so as to avoid hurting the majority of people in Malaysia.

All Chinese people sympathize with the relatives of the passengers on board MH370 and share their sufferings. But we should also remember that a time of adversity is no excuse for trampling on social norms.

We can understand and tolerate those victim families' emotional catharsis as long as their behavior doesn't violate social norms.

Here in the US, CNN is basically non-stop Flight 370. Some of the things they have been saying are disgusting. Wolf Blizter has essentially come out and said the pilots did it on more than one occasion. And Ashely Banfield isn't really much better.