WARNING: THIS ARTICLE IS A CROSS-CULTURAL LESSON,
NOT AN ATTACK ON CHINESE CULTURE. READ CAREFULLY
TWO BRIDGES – TWO CULTURES
This is a story of two bridges on opposite sides of the world, one in China, one in California It is also a story of the difference between Chinese culture and American culture.
These two bridges are dissimilar in not only size, (one rather large, and the other one very small) and aesthetics; they also share no similarity in design or capacity. Even the distance from the bridge to the water below is radically different.
Although dissimilar in size, design, construction and capacity, they share more than the commonality of being bridges; they are both preferred by people who have decided to take their own lives through suicide. Mentally disturbed people, who have come to believe that the pain of living far outweighs the fear of dying, decide to climb the structures and jump to their deaths. With eight attempted suicides per month the Haizhu Bridge has earned the nickname “Suicide Bridge.”
HAIZHU BRIDGE
(PICTURE CHANGED DUE TO STUDENTS’ COMMENTS)
Every time someone climbs the bridge to jump, it disrupts traffic because the lookie-loos, rubber-neckers and gawkers slow to observe the spectacle of death. Government officials have tried posting guards on the bridge and posting signs, both to no avail. As a last resort the bridge has been greased to inhibit climbing the superstructure. The language of the signs is very telling about the different cultural approaches to the identical problem found on opposite sides of the globe. The sign on Haizhu Bridge translates to DO NOT DISRUPT TRAFFIC. FIND SOMEPLACE ELSE TO KILL YOURSELF.
In 2009 a would be jumper received a helping hand from a senior citizen. The senior stated that he pushed the jumper over the edge because he was frustrated with the selfishness and attention seeking of the jumper. Two bridges, two cultures, one problem, similar solution with one major cultural difference – in San Francisco the primary cultural concern is on saving lives. In Gunagzhou, the primary cultural concern is on maintaining proper traffic flow. (If you have ever experienced rush hour in Guangzhou you may be able to appreciate this better.) A Guangzhou Government official was asked why the City did not provide psychological counseling to would be jumpers and to take other measures to prevent suicides. The answer was clear and simplistic. A person who has decided to commit suicide has already determined that their life is worthless so why should the Government invest any money in saving a worthless life? In San Francisco bridge workers risk their lives to save the life of a mentally ill person intent on ending their life. In Guangzhou it is preferred that you kill yourself in a less public location, at least one that will not disrupt traffic.
GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE
The Golden Gate Bridge is not only the most popular place to commit suicide in the United States but the most popular in the entire world. The deck is approximately 245 feet (75 m) above the water. After a fall of approximately four seconds, jumpers hit the water at some 76 miles per hour (122 km/h). At such a speed, water has proven to take on properties similar to concrete. Because of this, most jumpers die on their immediate contact with the water. The few who survive the initial impact generally drown or die of hypothermia in the cold water.
An official suicide count was kept, sorted according to which of the bridge’s 128 lamp posts the jumper was nearest when he or she jumped. By 2005, this count exceeded 1,200 and new suicides were averaging one every two weeks. For comparison, the reported second-most-popular place to commit suicide in the world, Aokigahara Forest in Japan, has a record of 78 bodies, found within the forest in 2002, with an average of 30 a year.There were 34 bridge-jump suicides in 2006 whose bodies were recovered, in addition to four jumps that were witnessed but whose bodies were never recovered, and several bodies recovered suspected to be from bridge jumps. The California Highway Patrol removed 70 apparently suicidal people from the bridge that year.
There is no accurate figure on the number of suicides or successful jumps since 1937, because many were not witnessed. People have been known to travel to San Francisco specifically to jump off the bridge, and may take a bus or cab to the site; police sometimes find abandoned rental cars in the parking lot. Currents beneath the bridge are very strong, and some jumpers have undoubtedly been washed out to sea without ever being seen. The water may be as cold as 47 °F (8 °C).
The fatality rate of jumping is roughly 98%. As of 2006, only 26 people are known to have survived the jump. Those who do survive strike the water feet-first and at a slight angle, although individuals may still sustain broken bones or internal injuries. One young man survived a jump in 1979, swam to shore, and drove himself to a hospital. The impact cracked several of his vertebrae.
Engineering professor Natalie Jeremijenko, as part of her Bureau of Inverse Technology art collective, created a “Despondency Index” by correlating the Dow Jones Industrial Average with the number of jumpers detected by “Suicide Boxes” containing motion-detecting cameras, which she claimed to have set up under the bridge. The boxes purportedly recorded 17 jumps in three months, far greater than the official count. The Whitney Museum, although questioning whether Jeremijenko’s suicide-detection technology actually existed, nevertheless included her project in its prestigious Whitney Biennial.
Various methods have been proposed and implemented to reduce the number of suicides. The bridge is fitted with suicide hotline telephones, and staff patrol the bridge in carts, looking for people who appear to be planning to jump. Iron workers on the bridge also volunteer their time to prevent suicides by talking or wrestling down suicidal people.The bridge is now closed to pedestrians at night. Cyclists are still permitted across at night, but must be buzzed in and out through the remotely controlled security gates.Attempts to introduce a suicide barrier had been thwarted by engineering difficulties, high costs, and public opposition. One recurring proposal had been to build a barrier to replace or augment the low railing, a component of the bridge’s original architectural design. New barriers have eliminated suicides at other landmarks around the world, but were opposed for the Golden Gate Bridge for reasons of cost, aesthetics, and safety (the load from a poorly designed barrier could significantly affect the bridge’s structural integrity during a strong windstorm).
Strong appeals for a suicide barrier, fence, or other preventive measures were raised once again by a well-organized vocal minority of psychiatry professionals, suicide barrier consultants, and families of jumpers after the release of the controversial 2006 documentary film The Bridge, in which filmmaker Eric Steel and his production crew spent one year (2004) filming the bridge from several vantage points, in order to film actual suicide jumps. The film caught 23 jumps, most notably that of Gene Sprague as well as a handful of thwarted attempts. The film also contained interviews with surviving family members of those who jumped; interviews with witnesses; and, in one segment, an interview with Kevin Hines who, as a 19-year-old in 2000, survived a suicide plunge from the span and is now a vocal advocate for some type of bridge barrier or net to prevent such incidents from occurring.
On October 10, 2008, the Golden Gate Bridge Board of Directors voted 14 to 1 to install a plastic-covered stainless-steel net below the bridge as a suicide deterrent. The net will extend 20 feet (6 m) on either side of the bridge and is expected to cost $40–50 million to complete. However, lack of funding could delay the net’s construction.
The above is quoted from Wikipedia
Since I haven’t seen such issue happened in Haizhu Bridge, it’s not sensible to comment on the reaction and measures of the Guangzhou government. However, I have read a piece of news mentioning that there’s a lady trying to jump in three different places only to get money from people who really wanted to help her. She was called, professional jumper.
Undoubtedly such behavior aiming at attracting people’s attention is blameable because it seems like a cheat, cheating our compassion. But to think deeper, once you don’t care about the suicide, next time your apathy may really kill a person who really want to jump, to suicide. In my opinion, no one will jump from a bridge just for fun or to be a public character. They jump because they do have some reason that makes them in pain.
Suicide has become a serious problem for modern countries. It’s praisable that Gold Gate Bridge takes action to save a person’s life. It’s our example. However, I don’t think such problem can be solved once the suicide net completes. It reflect a deficiency on psychological counseling, for would be jumper, and for ordinary people. It’s a good idea that we students should be volunteers on weekends to help others, not just like an activity, but help those really need help.
Still a long way to go.
The attitudes towards the suicide issue seem different, people cares about different things and takes different actions. The underlying reason of this phenomenon relates to culture diversity and reality differences.
I believe the fundamental issue we should care about is how to help those people. It is natural one feels depressed when he has financial problems or is treated unfairly, so some attempt to end their lives through the extreme way. We should cultivate a sense of understanding. It is not proper for us to focus on economics or effectiveness problems only.
To be honest,I don’t agree with the opinion which the author wrote.Different people have different opinions. We can not make the decision of “two bridges -two culture ” from only this thing.
First of all ,I am very sorry to hear that some people jump the bridge each day .I do not know why they have courage to commit suicide but no courage to live?Life is so colorful ,we should cherish everyday.Secondly,there are two attitudes when we see some people want to jump.Is it true?I don’t think so.In China we are concerned about this problem,and we have done something to save their life.Polices ,hospitals ,psychologists and ordinary people will do their utmost to help these people so as to prevent them from committing suicide.I believe each person has compassion to others.But because of certain factors,they don’t make practical actions.
China is still a developing country,so a number of conditions in China is worse than in developed countries.But with the economy developing in China, I believe we can live a better life in the future.
It’s true that our officials treat the attempted suicide people in a dissimilar way, which seems that Chinese is more hardhearted. However, it’s the difference in values, national conditions, social circumstance, and so on. China and America are two different countries, varied from almost every aspect, which means we can’t simply compare these two countries in one phenomenon. Back to a hundred years ago, I believe there were so many problems in America. I feel ugly with the officials’ attitude, but I know the reason and I do want to ask our government and citizens to change the situation immediately. Nevertheless, change always needs time.
One of our greatest literators Lu Xun was convinced that numbness is one of the weaknesses of Chinese national traits. In many of his fictions, such as YAO(MEDICINE), KONG YIJI, GU XIANG(HOMELAND), he condemned it by describing that people made fun of their compatriot mercilessly and cruelly when he or she suffered. Chinese love being onlookers. That’s cruel and pathetic. Why would a suicide disrupt traffic when he or she climbs the bridge to jump? Because pedestrians and drivers all slow down to observe the spectacle of death. That really needs introspection.
After reading this article,I have two things to say.Frist,To a certain extent,the different design and aesthetics of the two bridges represent different culture between china and US.But we can not say that the two country’s solution to the people who want to commit suicide from this two bridge reflect two different culuture.We shoud think highly of American government’s approach,It can save many lives really.But I believe chinese government’s politics are reasonable.because every country’s government must have considered all aspects of the solution of the problem before It makes the decision.what’s more, the government’s approach of a country not only have some connection with the country’s economy and culture,but also have more to do with the country’s humanities ,geography,morality,and so on.
Second,I don’t understand why so many people choose to suicide on the two famous bridges.Life is beautiful.No matter whatever difficulty we encounter or however disappointed we feel of the life,we shoud not to contempt our lives,because we have no right to end our lives which is given by our parents.
I think it is hard to illustrate the culture differences between two countries. No one can give the exact definition to the word, and it’s really an obscure problem in our daily life. As the article demonstrated, Americans and Chinese choose the different ways to solve the problem of suicide. There is no doubt that the strategy is not amenable to reason. But I just want to say we can’t deny the culture of our nation just according to the sign.
As a human being, everyone has compassion for the social vulnerable group. I think we can’t say which is good or bad only by the ways they choose to cope with the problems. In China, we have antiphrasis in our word. I am not sure the initiative meaning of the sign. Maybe it’s harsh for the poor man who want to commit suicide. But if I was that poor man, I would not jump the bridge so abruptly after I saw these words. I would hesitate, and then maybe something would be changed because I took something into account, like my family, my own life, and so many things. Sometimes the thought of suicide is just something upsurge into your mind. It will be ridiculous when the poor man calm down. He needs time to think about what is the fact of the matter. I think the uneasy words can sometimes save the time for the man of impulse.
However, it is no doubt that there is a long road to go to improve the system.
And the mode of American can give us some suggestions.
It’s really a pity that so many people take their own lives through suicide. I think life is the most important thing we should treasure. If you are not afraid of dying, you won’t be afraid of anything. Whatever, death is really a horrific thing.
In China, there are too many people, and most of them live in cities. So nearly all cities in China are crowded. The government may not have enough energy to solve the suicide problems. And what’s more, China is still a developing country, some of us still live a hard life. The government pay most attention to the developing problem. They may think developing is the most effective way to solve social problems. If all people can live a happy life, the suicide rate will fall to a low level.
At last, I want to say, life is the most precious thing we have, we should treasure it.
The article shows us two different cultures from two different attitudes toward suicide in the bridges. I admire the reaction of Golden Bridge Board of Directors. No one wants to take his own life for jokes if he wasn’t in dilemma. From the response of the Guangzhou Government, we can figure out that the Government should pay more attention to humanistic care. Life is worth of respect and in China it still has a long way to go.
The local government has not post enough care to protect people who want to commit suicide at the bridge. What I want to say is the analysis of the author is superficial. As far as I know, people who want to commit suicide at Haiyin Bridge do not really want to die, they only want to get enough attention from others. As contrary, Americans choose another way to get other people’s attention, such as streaking. So the different point between people committing suicide at different bridge is: people committing suicide at Haiyin bridge do not really want to die, while people committing suicide at Golden Bridge really want to over their lives. Thus, measures taken to tackle these actions would be different. To those who do not want to die, the best attitude is ignore them, if nobody look at them, they will go home. Of course, the action of the local government is not proper, they deserve the criticism. What they should do is to tackle the problem behind their action of getting public’s attention.
I have some acknowledge of the suicide things about the Golden Gate Bridge as well as the Haizhu Bridge, especially the Haizhu Bridge. Every time such things happen, the traffic there and even around will be horrible.
From the news I get from newspapers or Internet, people who attempted to suicide in the Haizhu Bridge mostly are those rural migrant workers. They worked very hard in the city for a whole year, but couldn’t get paid because of their conscienceless bosses. Although there are some labor legislations to protect their rights, it’s still quite difficult for them to get their money for the lack of law enforcement. The rural workers don’t have any money to go home for Spring Festival, and they can’t afford their children’s tuition. They even have no idea of how to protect their rights through legal channels. How can they get their money? They want to get attention from the public especially the government and the media, therefore attempting to suicide in the Haizhu Bridge maybe can help them.
So, honestly speaking, from the previous reports, I get these thoughts that people who attempt to suicide in Haizhu Bridge are mostly want to get attention and resolve their problems. For them, I understand their situation and hope that the government could do more things to prevent. And I also admit that there are some people who really want to suicide for some reasons in the Haizhu Bridge, for which I think the public won’t be apathetic. There are reports that an old man rescued 5 young people who try to suicide in the Haizhu Bridge during two years.
Finally, I do think that the government should do some preventive measures to reduce suicide through the bridges, such as closing the bridges to pedestrians at night. Two bridges, the same question, and different reactions, all these depend on the different cultures, different social status and the different development of legal system.
In my view, different countries have different culture. China has two thousand years of culture that is profound, while the USA is a developed country, and their culture unique. from the two bridges saw the difference between the two cultures, for the differences, we should use a more moderate attitude towards, you can also learn from our shortcomings, rather than the individual stressed that culture should be good or not good. In my view, two different cultures can be more exchanges.
When reading this article I have mixed feelings. After the comparison, It seems that life was not so valuable in China. I have read some news about the suicide cases which occurred in the “Suicide Bridge”. As we all known, most of them do not really want to kill themselves. The purpose of this behavior is that they want to arouse other people’s attention and seek for help. As time goes by, the citizens are angry at this because what they do disrupt traffic rather than people in China do not care about others’ lives. But our government should take it seriously and pay more attention to people who need help. It is the duty of the government to protect the citizens’ right. I am sure that our country will be better and better in future.
Sir, it is easy and reasonable to understand that this article is not an attack piece, especially to the student in my age in my country. There is an obvious logic common sense however, that is cultural differences is absolutely nothing to do with political values.
Chinese government has a so-called “terrible” history, you say, the CULTURAL REVOLUTION. But it is better to say that the “terrible history” is the mistakes of special people in special times than to say that it is the mistakes of the Party. In china ,the Party is different from the Government, and the party has proved that they are trying to be a good manager.
Of course, there are lots of problems in China’s political environment. But that does not mean that we see values of personality, lives as nothing. We show absolute respect to every life. WENJIABAO, the prime minister of China, has recently acclaim the importance of every single person’s life. They are trying, and we see hope, that is why china has a good hope for the prosperity in the future.
Things like Verbal Chinese walls, imaginary invasions, are one-side said by our far far away generations, on the other side, said by the mass media in and out. Things should be discussed with a historical perspective. The world is changing ,and if we do not trust the government, what do we live on? Peace is the basis of any kind of happiness, the government gave us that. So I think it would be better to discuss how to be friendly to people all over the world than to be aggressive and sensitive to any thing happened naturally.
Two different countries have two different kind of culture, as there are distinguishing history between the two countries-China and American. For the past more than 2000 years, monarchy took over the most history of China, and Chinese correspondingly get used to the orderly society, which roots deeply into our culture. On the opposite side, American was founded on the basis of liberty, and everyone has more independent individuality. Analysing to this, we can easily understand the phenomenon raised in the article that the two different bridges just carriers of the two different culture, which indicates we should know more about each other to make our relationship more close.
Several months ago, I have not came Guangzhou. But at that time, I have heard Haizhu bridge. Because I read a report that an old man pushed a person who want to suiside on Haizhu bridge down. I was surprised by this fact, how can a person kill another person in front of so many people, even in front of so many cameras. Even until now, I don’t know the real fact.
After reading this article, my feeling is complicate. I admit that when there’s someone want to end his own life, there must be a terrible traffic problem because of bystanders. But government should not pay it’s attention to traffic problem and ignores the would be jumper’s life. Maybe, the government of Guangzhou should learn from the management of Golden Gate bridge. “DO NOT DISRUPT TRAFFIC. FIND SOMEPLACE ELSE TO KILL YOURSELF”, I believe that everyone will have a chilling feeling when saw this sign. There’s no doubt that everyone will be confused that the government’s attitude towards suiside, traffic and life, which one is more important?
I admit that American culture is different from China, but I don’t think the different attitudes between America and China towards suiside is a culture problem. And the sign on Haizhu bridge cannot be poxy of all Chinese’s attitude.
How should I say, it’s a complicated problem. Maybe culture problem, maybe not.
In my opinion, it’s that The Guagnzhou govenment should think carefully about why ther are so many people who want to suicide there life in the Haizhu bridege.I agree with the views that attached in the end of the article.Everyon will cherish there life,only when they met something difficult ,would they choose to end their lives.they acted the suuicide action just want to attract more attention on them.If a government is really represent the interest of the all people, they should help the suiciders to solve the peoblems that they met. The interest of the people is more importment than anything eles and I think that The trafic would be settled if we find the reason why the people suicide their lifves and help them to resolve their problems .
that’ all,Thank you
The article above tells us about a story of two bridges on opposite sides of the world, one is Haizhu Bridge in Guangzhou China, one is Golden Gate Bridge in California. Both of them are popular places for suicides.The author found that the language of the signs posted on the bridges are very telling about the different cultural approaches to the indentical problem found on opposite sides of the glode. Finally the author makes a conclusion that two bridges,two cultures,one
problem,similar solution with one major cultural difference– in San Francisco the primary cultural concern is on saving lives. In Gunagzhou, the primary cultural concern is on maintaining proper traffic flow.
As we know,each country has different cultural activities and cultural rituals. Culture is more than just material goods, that is things the culture uses and produces. Culture is also the beliefs and values of the people in that culture. Culture also includes the way people think about and understand the world and their own lives.Different countries have different cultures. It is obvious that Different countries groups
think, feel, and act differently.
Sometimes it is easy to get stuck in our own culture.so when we experience a different culture,we will be puzzled with it and even
want to find out the secret of the differences.In my opinion,it is interesting and mysterious.But misunderstangding is also unaviod.There are lots of aspects fluencing the cultural differences,such as the econmomy,the education,the technology,the tradition and so on. We can’t know about a city or a country in a minute.Maybe understanding is the best way.
As the article tells us , in Guangzhou ,there are many people to suicide in Haizhu Brige.BUT i don’t think Two bridges, two cultures, one problem, similar solution with one major cultural difference – in San Francisco the primary cultural concern is on saving lives. In Gunagzhou, the primary cultural concern is on maintaining proper traffic flow. In China we chrish our life much more than before . Even we can keep people from suicide in the brige. we Chinese can creat some society to help people that in trouble .if we creat harmonious society ,maybe we can solve this question in the future.why I have confidence with our chinese people ,because i know that “…they didn’t really want to jump from the bridge; they only needed others to pay more attention on them.” so our government should give chance for our citizen to express what they want to .
I also heard about the suicides related to the Haizhu Bridge in recent years. The Chinese government and the U.S. government are indeed different in dealing with such matters. In despite of distinct measures, the purpose is the same, that is, to save people who commit suicide.
The sign on Haizhu Bridge seems indifferent, but it may be a effectual means according to the psychology of the suicides. People who attempt suicide in crowded public places are likely to catch public attention. The more attention are given, the more people tend to take this way to gain attention. And the indifferent sign tells them it is their own rather than others to be responsible for their own lives.
So in my opinion, the primary difference between the two cultures is not reflected in the attitude of the value of life but in the concrete measures.
I don’t think chinese gorvenment doesn’t attach importance to the value of person’s life. Actually, our government has taken many measures on it. Only because some people don’t know these, they just have their opinions in their own views. Maybe the differences of culture and environment cause their misunderstandings. Surely, I’m quite sure that our country will perfect system continuously, and make us lead more happier lives.
Note that the article is not offensive and merely talks about cultural differences on the basis of fact. The differences are so obvious that we can easily figure out how much people’s lives weigh in the two cultural environments. Karl Popper asserts that human nature varies considerably with the social institutions. I think this is the best interpretation of the article. To some extent, the Chinese seem insensitive to and uncaring about the life of a mentally ill person intent on ending his life; on the other hand, the American show great concern about it.
I am quite curious about what cause these differences when I finished my reading. However, the author just presents the differences between two cultures, without any explanation. From my point of view, these differences depend on how people view personal value in the respective cultural environment. Chinese people get used to consider themselves as part of GROUP, rather than INDIVIDUAL. For instance, the Chinese education always tells us that the needs of the community must take precedence over individual requirements. This may help to understand why Chinese people pay more attention to the effectiveness of the society rather than certain particular lives. Another example may help to understand this Chinese-style thinking. Chinese people showed great sympathy for and concern about the casualties and victims in Wenchuan Earthquake. Chinese people show different attitude towards life because they consider it as a GROUP accident. On the other hand, the personal value is much more important for the American than the Chinese. Therefore, the American holds that every life should be treasured and will try to save every single life. I hope this may help to explain these culture differences.
Different values take root in different cultures. Though I admit that China, as one of the fast-developing countries, pays more attentions on efficiency that drives our paces, there is no evident to claim that China doesn’t care about her people’s lives. For examples, the article said, “In 2009 a would be jumper received a helping hand from a senior citizen. The senior stated that he pushed the jumper over the edge because he was frustrated with the selfishness and attention seeking of the jumper”. The senior maybe expressed the thinking of the people in Guangzhou who are disturbed by the rush hour, but his behavior incurred severe condemns immediately, even bringing in legal punishment.
The article had mentioned two famous suicide bridges.Because the high rate of suicide, both of the two govements had taken some actions.While the differences between these two country’s culture background and reality, these govements’ resolution are distinctly different.
In american national creed, “life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness”, are like a unbreakable belief. When they met someone’s life is in danger, they felt they have the responsibility to protect the people in danger. They think everyone has the ability to live, and a person who has decided to commit suicide maybe just a sudden muddle.
The chinese governments’ warning may be rooted in the thought that anyone should not do anything harm to the society. They think everyone should be responsible for himself or herself. The goverments’ response is to protect the society in an order. If a person has decided suicide, we had warned him.
I even don’t know which is the better soultions. Making more prophylactic facilities or just warnning them?
It is really a sad phenomenon in China to show individual affairs contradicting with public affairs. In nowadays’ Chinese society, we care little about individuals. When individual affairs contradict with public affairs, it is definite that individual give way to public affairs. As the article shows, at this moment, humanitarianism gives way to collectivism. This is the saddest part of this story.
I appreciate the American volunteers’ activities to help the persons who is going to suicide on the Gold Gate Bridge. I admit the fact that different cultures and different attitudes behind the two different local bridges. At first, the individual who would like to suicide from the Haizhu Bridge is draw huge attention and get the sympathy from all over the city. However, currently, someone can not find a right way to appeal and have no choice to go to climb up the Haizhu Bridge to draw the attention from the media report. They hope the relate government departments can help them to solve their problem. In my opinion, if we want to release the number of people climbing up the Haizhu Bridge, maybe we should improve the system or institution of appeal to the higher authorities for help in China.
Guangzhou, a city symbolized big, powerful, and what’s more, more democratic, people climbing up onto the haizhu bridge will undoubtly catch people’s eyes and also, stopped people’s footsteps. It is reasonable to think in the standpoint of the “suicide”, by the way, when a live alive compares to the effectiveness of society, any defense for the latter would be criticized from the kind people, but as a governor who in charge of the city has to consider the fluency of operating, and the victims who meet such congestion and regard time as life would also be crazy. To work out some policies to prevent this from being happened again, it has to be regulated, and I have to say, it’s easier say than done
As we all know , the bridge is used to “go through”, and isn’t intended to “jump”. But the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Haizhu Bridge, have seriously challenged the basic properties of the bridge. After reading this text, I believe the difference of preventing people from committing suicide is not all due to the cultural, maybe has the relation of National system.
Specifically,the purpose of jumping off the the Golden Gate Bridge, most of these person are going to leave this world bent on suicide. They are really want to die .As a result , American government take a series of measures to prevent the similar accident happen again.
Exactly the opposite , people who committed suicide from Haizhu Bridge are not so simple. Through the media reports, we know that they are mostly affected by the injustice in society, their interests are compromised, the right has been violated, no alternative but to rely on such an extreme way to arouse the community to notice their concerns.
These person who committed suicide from Hai Zhu Bridge do harm to the social order indeed and they are also punished by security department. Haizhu Bridge has success to stage a “jumping off the Bridge Show”.The root cause these accidents lies: those who choose bridge jumping are unable to through the proper channels to safeguard their legitimate rights and interests .Like one lyrics saying ”We were forced, and forced to”. If we can provide some proper channels, such as the media, the court gates, streets, government officials , etc, people will naturally find their means of protection.
First of all, Guangzhou government marking the inhuman sign on Haizhu Bridge is irresponsible and unwise. At least, it communicates to the people the information that the government isn’t concerned about individual life but take care of the traffic. It’s not a good direction.
But this kind of phenomenon happens in recent decades. In the ancient times of China, people believe human life is precious and human nature is good so that people will help the one who is in difficult position. In the pre-Qin period, Chinese teacher, Confucius said that the benevolent loves the others. Mencius argued that compassion is common to mankind. In recent times, about one hundred years ago, Dr. Sun Yat-sen give the promotion of liberty, equality, and fraternity. So in the history of Chinese culture, goodness and love are what we pursue.
Why the situation changed during recent decades? Because during the modernization more and more Chinese people have been going after money and neglecting other things. There is nothing wrong to seek money, but if money covers our heart, something cruel will happen. So we must carefully think about our attitude to money and rethink what is the most important thing in our life.
If one really wants to commit suicide, he has many ways and many places to do it. What is odd is that so many people have chosen the Haizhu Bridge. From the psychological perspective, it seems like a kind of conformity. To specify, the very first people did want to suicide himself but was luckily rescued and even solved the problem by pooling wisdom from those kind hearted. Thus people with severe difficulties may act in the same way so as to win support. Maybe when they climbed up the bridge, they were not totally desperate. Instead they might still have a faint hope that though the strong power of news media, they could arouse concern and the public would help. It’s not the fault of the jumpers, neither the audiences who show chilling faces since they were caught in trouble without any reason. Vulnerable Group takes a majority in current society and there is no highroad to complain or confine. Or it might be the fault of both sides. The jumper and the cold audience and even the whole society are all too selfish to concern about the others’ feelings. The employer defaulted salary regardless of the pain of the employer, then the employer blocked the traffic to resist regardless the inconvenience of the public, and the public pushed him down regardless of their thirst for help…What a vicious cycle! Community service clubs in HK is quite popular, which attracts a good many volunteers to work for free. I think it is a very effective way to bridge the right people. It gives a channel for the vulnerable to resort for help and let the enthusiastic public respond with love.
Different cultural background makes different treatment for these people who want to suicide. In America ,government who pay much money to build a plastic-covered stainless-steel net below the bridge as a suicide deterrent .furthermore, they try their best to save lives. In China , government just make a splash to barring traffic, disperse the onlookers. They also spend many manpower and material resources. At The Golden Gate Bridge people use less time to rescue people and do not obstruct traffic. At the HaiZhu Bridge when there is an accident which will make traffic jam, government need more energy to deal with.
Both of them want to save people lives. Life is so precious, we are the most precious gifts for our families. As a person, we need to face the music and accept responsibility. Surely, sometimes our government’s measures are not perfect, so we can give ours advices or learn from others. The civil society was the foundation of the political state, and the former determined the latter. Government should pay more attention to hold sychological help for citizen and avoid injury accidents and suicides.
In the declaration of Independence it is written”All men are created equal and endowed with certain inalienable rights.”I aslo believe with all my heart that the right to life is an indispensable one of these rights and the attention to lives ,equality between lives is more important than anything else.
For those people who believes that the pain of living far outweighs the fear of dying,even if they want to get your attention on purpose,they want to get your attention for your understanding,sympathy and for your love.So,you,and you,and you,you got to give them hope no matter which bridge they decide to climb or how hopeless they are instead of lending a hand to end their lives.
Yes,there exist many differences in culture among different countries.I know that some pepole choose to kill themselves on the HaiZhu Bridge, but it is not nessesary to say that our Chinese pepole are cold enough. Pepole who intend to kill themselves would not tell others that they are going to end their lives, they may just stand on the brigde, and pretend to appreciate the beatiful river, who knows they are going to suicide? When we found pepole trying to kill themselves, we also do our best to rescure them. Because of the differences in culture,we like to deal with things after it happened, so we may unable to prevent pepole from suicide,but we always do our best to rescure them. We are never a cold nation.
When I first learned the news about the suiside on the Haizhu bridge last year, I was shocked by the indifference reflected from the people, especially a taxi driver, who said that he losed 100 yuan because of the suiside man.
Not long ago, we were happy to see that the new traffic law was enforced, in which treats the lives of people as the most important treasures. Sad to look at the reactions from the suisides, the thing we should is not only to prevent people from suiciding on this bridge, also try to help the people who are so helpless, even trace the reasons of this Phenomenon rather than scolding the people for blocking the road.
Each one has only one life, if you stand on the perspective of these helpless people, the real purpose of suiciding may not be bored of lives, it is the unfairness or controversy that leads them to this choice.
In some degree,I cann’t agree with the methods adopted by both of the goverments.
In china,the traditional idea is “The minority is subordinate to the majority.”and “consider this matter for the benefit of most people.”This concept may lead the Guangzhou goverment to pay more attention to the smooth of the traffic.But in the same time,the problems of individual thoughts and behavior is really difficult to solve.Of course, with the rapid development of the society and economy,the metal problems will become more and more.Maybe the fundamental measure is to build a counseling agendy about people’s psychology.
From the bottom of my heart, I may prefer the approach adopted by American goverment.They cherish everyone’s life.On the other hand,although they installed a plastic-covered stainless-steel net,I think that this method is just a temporary solution not a permanent cure.They cann’t install a net below every bridge or some other places which is likely to commit suicide for someone. So the most important is probable to pay more attention to people’s psychological problems,especially in America whose material life is highly developed. Provide psychological counseling is likely a feasible measure,but establish a special organization to educate these mental ones or provide a platform for them to communiate with man who had beed through the same obfuscation is also necessary.
“A Guangzhou Government official was asked why the City did not provide psychological counseling to would be jumpers and to take other measures to prevent suicides. The answer was clear and simplistic. A person who has decided to commit suicide has already determined that their life is worthless so why should the Government invest any money in saving a worthless life?”
The would be jumper in Haizhu Bridge did not really want to commit suicided, what he did was trying to attract the public’s attention.As I know, he was a farmer who worked at Guanzhou, but his boss absconded, so he wanted his money back. A great number of imilar cases happens every years.
So maybe the different reaction between two countries is no because of the different culture, but of the different not the similar solution are concerned.
This article reflects a truth that people around the word have something in common, such as suicide. This phenomenon certifies that human beings have frail spirits. When one comes across difficulty in pain, sometimes, it may outweigh the fear of dying ,in their eyes ,dying is the best way to forget their pains. Therefore, it should be called attention by government, on this side, psychologists are important to solve these people’s problems. Nation’s psychology should be improved, because it is connects to the quality of a nation. Otherwise, the different signs on the two different bridges just mean to the two countries have different cultures, they have the same conscious on the life of people, because life is the most important nevertheless in china or out. So I think that there is no need to comment the different signs on the bridges, life is important, these signs are both to protect people’s precious life.
Guangzhou born and Guangzhou bred, I stuck in the traffic jam several times when someone climbed up the bridge and told others down he’s going to jump. I was shocked and scared at the first time, while the bus driver kept telling us that the man would get down soon. And he was right. But sometime it would take a long time to persuade those who suffer a lot in their lives to get down. Fortunately, I always heard the good news through radio traffic reports, which they finally climbed down the bridge after talking to police and other people who came to help.
I don’t know much about the would be jumpers on the Golden Gate Bridge. But certainly, there exist some differences between them and those on Haizhu Bridge. The latter are more likely to ask for help by attracting the attention of the general public, with the last hope.
Of course, pushing a depressed man off the bridge is extremely inappropriate. This single case cannot represent the whole community. To me, the would be jumpers chose this way to express their tough, was because they knew someone was willing to listen to them and help generously.
Thanks for sharing us this article. I have payed attention to your declaration, it is just a cross-culture lesson, it makes me know much about the gap between China and America on dealing with such kind things. Through the comparison, we learn that Chinese governments have not taken enough care of citizens’ lives or they have not taken the measures as useful as America’s to save people’s lives. I have read some articles about this topic before, they impressed me deeply because the different attitudes to a person seeking suicide or in danger between china and other developed countries. However, I don’t think it means Chinese government is unconcerned. It may relate to economics and value concept or others.
“Two bridges, two cultures, one problem, similar solution with one major cultural difference – in San Francisco the primary cultural concern is on saving lives. In Gunagzhou, the primary cultural concern is on maintaining proper traffic flow. “I don’t think the primary cultural concern in China or Guangzhou is on maintaining proper traffic flow. We Chinese and Americans are all concerned with lives. I don’t see the sign on Haizhu Bridge, so I don’t think the translation was true. Maybe the government officials put this kind of signs on the bridge, but it does not represent the Chinese cultural concern. I can’t provide the proofs, but I and people around me are all think that saving lives is much more important than maintaining traffic flow and it deserves more concerns. And I think if we put an inquiry on it to the rest of us, the results would be the same.
“A person who has decided to commit suicide has already determined that their life is worthless so why should the Government invest any money in saving a worthless life?” I also do not agree with this comment. There are many reasons for people who have decided to commit suicide. Some people feel themselves worthless, some people feel despaired, some people feel they can’t find the way forward. So many reasons. Most of the reasons just exist in their imagination. Every adult should take responsibility for himself/herself, but he/she chooses to die. Of course it’s wrong for the city not to build the psychological counseling institutes. I think it’s a long way for us to achieve this, because most of the operations of this society have much to do with politics and other complicated factors, not just the culture.
“In Guangzhou it is preferred that you kill yourself in a less public location, at least one that will not disrupt traffic.” Maybe it’s true for the police whose duty is maintaining traffic flow, but not for the rest of us.
Different countries have different cultures,they have their own advantages.We should not require them to be the same and we should not think one culture is better than the other.
Through the article,it seems to tell that people’s lives are be ignored in china.In fact,it’s not true.Until now,we can still remember the thing shocked the whole country that the students of Yangtze University in Jingzhou bravely saved the children fell into the water.We should not deny the all because of the part.Otherwise,can you make sure that every one in America will go to save the suicide person？
Of course,forming the though of china ignores the people’s lives is the government’s negligence.The government should take the obligation to strengthen the awareness education of people.
If a country with a culture could make 550 million tons steel in a year, which 10 times United States of America does, then the culture is a good culture;
If a country with a culture could make 6000 kilometers National way in a year, which is the biggest scale in the history of the road making of humanbeing, then the culture is a good culture;
If a country with a culture could make 18000 kilometers high speed railway in 10 years, which is more than the whole other countries in earth do, then the culture is a good culture;
If a country with a culture could make an increasing speed of 8.7% in it’s GDP, while other countries is struggling with the heavy load in the swamp of the ecnomic crisis begining from 2008, then the culture is a good culture.
Yes, this country with the culture has so many problem now, but, which country in the world has no problem ? Greek? Iceland ? UK ? Japan ?
The point is, generally speaking, this country and it’s people , is much better than 10 years ago. For example, now the country hold the first, second, third largest bank in the world, and 10 years ago, no bank in this country could reach the top 10 in the world.
Guess, 10 years later, what would the world looks like ?
Cherish life is dear to every culture.Life is precious,We should cherish our life.While everyone in real life setbacks, but suicide is definitely not a solution.With a positive attitude towards life, to overcome fears and difficulties, we will find a better life.
charlotte Class9C
In opinion,There are many differences between china and rational western culture. As a graduate student or adult ,we should understand differences instead that invade without thinking. According to the article, on the surface, the author just place two social phenomenna ,not to pass judgment on this phenomenance. About this phnomenance ,you can say that the solution of the Golden Bridge is good sample,but I think it isn’t the full and final solution to prevent suicide.In my view the fundamental solution is how to help them and understand them.
This article is extremlly thought—provoking.It shows us two different attitudes towards suicide happened on the bridges between China and U.S..As far as I am concerned,I mostly agree with the author’s view that the different cultures between China and U.S.which are reflected on two different bridges.Comparing the American culture concerning about the individual,the Chinese culture more concerns about the value of the collective. To a certain extent,the government in China should learn from U.S.and should pay more attention to humanistic care.
Generally speaking,The article is a neutral comparison and nothing more. But some conclusions of the author in this article is somewhat superficial.Maybe the author partly ignored the specific national conditions in China,or the author isn’t familiar with the concrete social realities in China.As far as I know,some people who want to commit suicide in Haizhu Bridge don’t really want to die.Their real purpose is getting enough attention from the public.Meanwhile,the phenomenon that someone pushs the person off the bridge is a special phenomenon and rarely occurs. In addition,there are many news about people sacrificing themselves to save others who commit suicide.
Nowadays,committing suicide has become a serious problem in modern society. As for me,I am very depressed to hear that many people end their own lives via committing suicide. Life is the most important thing for us .So we should treasure it.
From the comparison between two bridges I find that Chinese prefer collectivism to individualism.This may be the most obvious difference between two culture.I agree that Guangzhou government didn’t do as well as California.Life is valuable and needed to be cherished. California government has set a good example for the whole world.In the issue,although China has its own difficulty,such as lack of money or staff,but the government should improve their services and mangement.For ourselves,do not resort to suicide easily when confronting troubles.Just be more positive!After all,governments’ action just can prevent and control suicide,but not eliminate!
I felt vary sad, when I heard about the news that a senior citizen pushed one jumper over the edge at Haizhu Bridge. I think people in our country need introspection. Parents and teachers always tell us to cherish our lives. When our relatives or friends want to end their lives, we will stop them and talk to them. We help them to change their minds. But when the one who want to end his or her life is not a relative or a friend, people in our country might consider that it is none of their business and someone else will help that person. I think people in our country need to change. We should help every person who needs help.
The sign on Haizhu Bridge translates to DO NOT DISRUPT TRAFFIC. FIND SOMEPLACE ELSE TO KILL YOURSELF, is it true? I can’t believe it! Even this thing is true, we also can not get the conclusion that “two bridges -two culture” from only this thing. The reason is different countries has different cultures.
Maybe Government official have not done very well in some aspects, but in my opinion, they would be better and better in the future.
In fact, many of those people that commit suicide in China do not really want to kill themselves, but to draw the attention of others, such as the media, or just a certain person.
They are obsessed with various problems: some cannot get their deserved wages from their bosses, who “suicide” to draw the media’s attention for help; while some are unlucky in love, who just “suicide” to draw the attention of those they are infatuated with.
It is apparent that none of them intend to end their lives; instead, they are thirst to get rid of present problems and have a better life. Unfortunately, because of certain limitations, they regard “suicide”, or more exactly, “pretending to suicide” as the best way to have their problems solved.
Theoretically, the government of China, promising to “serve the people”, cannot ignore this phenomenon relating to her people’s lives. As a matter of fact, our government does have given great concern for it, and many corresponding measures have been taken to help them overcome the “limitations” mentioned above, and encourage them to choose better ways rather than suicide to settle their problems.
Two bridges mentioned in this essay reflects defferent idologies between China and the West.
During Mao’s period, collectivism took the deep impression to Chinese natives, that gave negtive effection for us to understand the cultures which differ from ours.It give rise to a strange phenomena , in 21st Century, Chinese people with a willing heart try to understand and accept with western world, but they trapped by their former impression with the culture originated far away from Confucius.
Governments pay much attention and aim at people’s lives in China, such as building more low-cost apartments for the poor, offering more jobs for the graduates, reforming the medical treatment system, etc. Nevertheless, all these things mentioned above are formed with one core benefits, collectivism. Sow a thought, reap an action.
As far as I’m concerned, what we should do is to care for those who need help nearby.Showing an alternative way to make a triumph to collectivism.