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On National Honor
Zhang Lili, a 29-year-old teacher at the No. 19 Middle School in Jiamusi, in northeast China’s
Heilongjiang Province, pushed two students out of the way but was hit by the bus herself when a
school bus suddenly veered toward several students. She has since then been deemed the Most
Beautiful Teacher in China. Later, an array of awards are given to her, including the recent one--on
16th Oct., Zhang Lili has been honored as a national "role model woman" by All-China Women's
Federation.In addition to this, she is elected as the vice president of Disabled Federation in
Heilongjiang Province.Yang Liwei, China's first astronaut who completed a historic 21-hour space
mission became an instant hero in China. He has been promoted to the rank of major general
afterwards. During the promotion ceremony, Chi Wanchun, the head of the General Armaments
Department of People's Liberation Army (PLA), awarded the rank to Yang Liwei.In 2012, chinese
most recognized title “National Model Worker” is given to Sun Lihua. The prize-awarding
ceremony was held on Tian'anmen Gate-tower.
China never lacks prizes and awards for these “heroes” and “heroines” who have contributed a lot
to the country. We have over 30 kinds of awards in science and confer special honor on people
whose achievement marks a milestone in history, such as "Two Bombs and One Satellite" and
“Heroic Spaceman”. The 42th article of the Constitution is regarded to have laid the foundation
for Chinese government to award these outstanding citizens.
This article will discuss what the essential meaning of honor is for a country and its people, what
impacts these awards have nationwide and in what way to honor.
The questions what honor is and why we need national honor can’t be dodged here. Some say
honor is the recognition of selflessness. A teacher who has gone beyond the call of duty and truly
cared for the student is worthy of honor, for they have used their work to transcend their ego.
Some say honor is a reward for those most excellent person to stimulate them and others. In the
Nichomachean Ethics, Aristotle develops a theory of the good life for human. He said honor has to
do with how others see you. But the good life is intrinsic to the person who leads it.What we need,
in order to live well, is a proper appreciation of the way in which such goods as friendship,
pleasure, virtue, honor and wealth fit together as a whole. The good life for a person is the active
life of functioning well in those ways that are essential and unique to humans. So, he regards
honor as others’ opinions of a person and an undispensable part of a good life. Philosopher
Kwame Anthony Appiah in his book The Honor Code says that what drove these modern changes,
new democratic movements that have led to the emancipation of women, slaves and the oppressed
was not imposing legislation from above but harnessing the ancient power of honor from within.
He also argues that honor, used to justify the practice, can also be the most effective weapon
against it. So, in his opinion, honor is kind of strong belief and is the driving force in the struggle
against man's inhumanity to man. Things are alike in Chinese history, honor was like religion
which people would be keeping at heart and willing to sacrifice everything else for. A person’s
extraordinary devotion for the country had always been spoken highly of. Especially during
wartime, soldiers would die for the honor sent from the emperor.Often the case, people who
defeated the enemy with great bravery, however ignoble they used to be, would be given distinguished position and endless wealth and have their names written down in history. As
People’s republic of China was founded, honor has carried a different meaning, the spirit of
hardworking and selfless dedication. The government sends different kinds of top prizes every
year in special way almost like ritual ceremonies and the main purpose is to reward these people’s
contribution and meanwhile motivate other people to be also diligent at work.
Has the government achieved its goal? Yes and no.
People all over China have been stimulated to work industriously, for which the rapid
development of the country could be a strong proof. We are proud of our amazing growth in
almost every field. The list is endless-we have beaten Japan to be the world’s second biggest
economic entity, we managed sending pilots to outer space after research for a stunningly short
time, we have won increasing number of gold medals in Olympics...We cheer for every step the
nation has taken and worship people who have made so.
