Commentary: Don't let hopes go to the clouds ( 2003-11-14 08:39) (China Daily)
When a country suddenly makes a great achievement, people are often too
carried away to be clearly aware of the concrete position their country stays
in.
This is particularly the case when it comes to China's successful launch of
manned space flight.
One month after the launch, stories about our country's programmes for the
next-stage of space development, the first "spaceman" Yang Liwei, and even his
family, are still making front-page headlines on newspapers and websites both at
home and abroad.
No doubt, Yang Liwei and his colleagues in the project had a very difficult
job. They deserve our admiration and offer us food for thought.
It is not strange that Yang has held the spotlight in the country's
newspapers and TVs in the past days, given that the public has a strong
curiosity about how the country's first astronaut did before, during and after
his space flight.
It was Yang and other numerous space personnel, on or behind the scenes, with
their unwavering pursuit of unknown scientific fields and arduous exercises
beyond physical limits, that have made China the third member of the world's
"space club," behind the United States and Russia, which can put a man into
orbit.
Yang Liwei and his carrier, Shenzhou-V, certainly could become the symbol of
Chinese national pride.
It is also completely understandable that the whole nation has been in a
state of extreme excitement, and even rapture, over the magnificent event.
But our fellows should also remain cool-headed while enjoying and cheering
the successful flight.
In the past days since the successful mid-October launch and return of
Shenzhou-V, most of the Chinese media and people have talked about the great
event excitedly but in an objective tone at most of the time.
They have fully affirmed China's significant achievements in the space field
and looked forward to the country's brighter prospects. They have also
acknowledged that China's space development programmes are still in an initial
stage and its space exploration still lags behind the other two space giants.
However, Shenzhou-V has also given some Chinese people excessively optimistic
views about the country's strength.
Every Chinese person should remember the country's "Great Leap
Forward" (1958-60), during which the nation launched an aggressive
economic development campaign to surpass Britain and catch up with the United
States.
Of course, China did not realize its ambitious dream given that it did not
comply with the laws of economics. On the contrary, it brought enormous disaster
to the economy and the people.
Certainly, today's China is not the same one.
But China's comparatively large gross domestic product (GDP) has not changed
its still lower level of per capita GDP.
The cow-ploughing agricultural model invented as early as 2,000 years ago is
still prevalent in the vast rural areas without improvements.
Various difficulties are foreseeable in the country's economic transition.
China is still lagging behind many countries such as Japan either
economically or technologically, despite enjoying some advantages over them.
The rejuvenation of the Chinese nation needs the cool head and pragmatic
attitude of its people at this moment, not impractical ambitions or
dreams.
