Chinese citizen journalism: sympathy for the poor

A Molive/Moobol story (which, incidentally, was in the top 3 photo-sharing sites in 2006 in China–I prefer it to Tudou and Yoqoo, actually).  Even as poor people (mostly from the countryside) are discriminated against in the cities, as the gap between rich and poor widens to an extent not seen since before the Chinese Communist Party took power in 1949, there is a widespread, deep sentimental affection for the poor in China.

These kinds of stories show up often in online stories from the mainland, much more than I see them on American sites, and are also a common feature of Chinese television.  One nurse I interviewed in Sichuan last year said that farmers without money to take care of sickness, and with no support coming from the government, could as a last resort go to the media and appeal to the public.   

The Hard Life of a Father and Son, Taken on the Side of the Road (Molive tags: father, beggar, on-the-spot photos, moving, disabled, street, lower-class, son, pitiable)

I came upon a father and son one day on the street.  Normally I might not pay attention to this kind of roadside beggar because I always felt that most of them were frauds…But today I was having a smoke and waiting for a friend, and I observed them for quite a while. At last I felt moved, and took some photos.  I don’t know why, but the father’s hands were disabled. I think the child was sick, and even though Dad had no hands, he used his arms quite proficiently to mix medicine for the boy and feed it to him. Then he organized the child’s clothes. A well meaning passerby gave the boy 2 yuan and the child took it shyly.  The father called from the side, "Hurry, thank the uncle!"  After taking the money the child was still uncomfortable, while his father stood to one aside with a simple and honest smile. Then, even though he had no hands, the father washed his son’s face.  After I took the pictures I felt bad, put out my cigarette, and gave the little boy 10 yuan before leaving.