The China double hit-and-run case is old news since it happened on October 13. Much have been said about the carelessness of the mother to the callousness of the 18 pedestrians and cyclists. Undoubtedly, those 18 people who did nothing to help were condemned and there was much discussion (if not debate) among China’s netizens about the degradation of “Chinese morality”. Even I had put the blame of the complete collapse of Chinese morality on the Cultural Revolution and the Communist Party. The only bright spot of this whole incident is that the old lady who helped refused to take any reward offered to her. Let me paraphrase what she said: “I will not take it because if I do, people will say I am doing it for the money.” Note, this is not some rich tai-tai but an old lady picking cupboard boxes to make a living.

I’ll admit I was outraged and appalled when I first read the news and saw the video. As time goes by I understand some of the reasons behind the callousness of the passerbys. It is not even the result of the bystander effect, but a fear that one might get into trouble.

Apparently, there were extortion cases where good Samaritans were accused of knocking into or pushing elderly folks, and even kidnapping children. These poor souls end up losing huge sums of money. In one bizarre case in 2006, a kind man in Nanjing named Peng Yu (彭宇) was sued in court by the very woman he helped. The accursed judge presiding over the case ruled that “common sense” suggested that Peng only took the woman to the hospital because he was guilty and ordered him to pay her medical expenses. From what I gathered, it cost Peng a good 40,000 Yuan (approx. S$8000). Similarly a Xu Yunhe (许云鹤) in Tianjin also lost over 100,000 Yuan (approx. S$20,000) for helping an elderly person who was jay walking. In a society where there is such gross miscarriage of justice, and where the people preyed upon each other, it is of no wonder why the two drivers who ran over her didn’t stop to help while everyone ignored poor Yue Yue as she lay dying on a narrow market street. After all, those who didn’t care probably felt that “no good deed goes unpunished” in China and netizens there even joked that the old lady helped because she does not read news on China’s Internet.

However, understanding why those 18 people didn’t help doesn’t mean I agree with the excuses, rational or reasons behind it. The excuses given reminded me of the Parable of the Good Samaritan from one of my Bible studies lessons, in which one of reasons given as to why the people didn’t help was to avoid the trouble that comes along with it. My pastor further explained that Jesus detests this because the priests and Levites in that period no longer understand the spirit of God’s spiritual laws, but were repeatedly finding excuses in the word of the law to justify their actions and excuse themselves from doing what is right.

Now, even when we do not look at the moral aspect, I would like to point out at times even animals do better than human beings in helping their own kind in need. Look at these videos, for example:

In the first example, a gecko made an effort to help another of its kind on its own and it is clear how apprehensive it is when attacking the snake. In the second example, a herd of buffaloes battled the lions to save a calf. All of these actions come with a threat to the very lives of those which offered to help.

I am not linking these videos to “teach” everyone a moral lesson, but it makes me feel ashamed after looking at these videos. We are less than beasts (禽兽不如) when our actions are less than that of common beasts. If we cannot be as heroic as the gecko in the first video, then at least be like the buffaloes in the second. If we believe that we can’t be of any good on our own, or that our strength alone is too feeble, then call for help. Certainly, doing what is right in whatever way appropriate is better than doing nothing at all. The old lady who helped did not even hesitate when she dragged poor Yue Yue to the side of the road.

Before I end, please look at this video. And remember what the police officer said:

Go proactive. Take action. Different people, different action.