Learning from Lin Hao
Yao Ming with Lin Hao during the Olympics opening ceremony. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
When Chinese flag bearer and basketball phenom Yao Ming walked through the National Stadium during the opening ceremony of the Olympics, there was so much commotion where I was that I neglected to find out more about the little boy was that he was walking with.
It was Lin Hao, a nine-year-old who survived the deadly earthquake in Sichuan in May. It's interesting how this tribute to the earthquake by opening ceremony director Zhang Yimou has been covered by the international press.
Many Western news outlets reported that Lin was an earthquake survivor, but they failed to mention that the little boy, who was attending the Yuzixi Primary School in quake-epicenter-Wenchuan County, not only survived, but after getting out of his classroom, went back into the rubble to pull two classmates out to safety.
During his rescue, he was hit by falling rubble and suffered injuries on his head and arms. It's also been reported that while his classmates (10 survivors out of 32 students) were waiting for help, he encouraged them to sing songs to keep their spirits up. When he was asked why he risked his life, he said: "I was the hall monitor, it was my job to look after my classmates."
The lack of detail beyond Lin's survival of the quake seems to be indicative of the affliction that many Western reporters have of being unwilling to say anything positive about China. The Associated Press' David Bauder, even went so far as to call NBC sportscaster Jimmy Robert's comments about Lin a "lowlight" of the Games thus far.
Bauder wrote: "Jimmy Roberts is usually an NBC MVP, but his quickie piece on Yao's 9-year-old partner walking with China's flag in the opening ceremony gave us sugar shock. Lin Hao survived May's earthquake and helped rescue young classmates. 'Tell me, just who was looking up to whom?' Roberts said as a picture flashed of Yao holding Lin."
I'd say Bauder's reporting was a lowlight of Olympic commentary.
Watching Lin speak to reporters following his rescue of his classmates is enough to make anyone shed a tear. You can see him yourself here (And it won't matter if you don't understand Chinese, some things are universally understood.)
Close up of Lin and his flag. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Beyond this, there's been some web-based "controversy" over the fact that the boy's flag was upside down during the ceremony. Leaving some to think that it was a political statement that somehow missed the Olympic organizers eyes, as an upside-down flag is a sign of distress, particularly in sailing.
It didn't help matters that the New China News Agency (Xinhua) released the photograph on the wire then withdrew it a few hours later asking others not to use it, as reported by the China blog site Black and White Cat. Xinhua's own web site however did not get the message.
As blogger Sun Bin noted on the Black and White Cat blog, those small flags can be easily turned upside-down depending on which way one holds the "pole."
Sometimes a flag is just a flag. And to the 20,000 members of the press currently in Beijing: Sometimes a hero is clearly a hero, even if he's a citizen of a government you may disagree with.
Comments
Thank you, Ms.Lisa Chiu, for your excellent article: “Learning from Lin Hao (Monday, August 11, 2008).” You responded very well to the stupidity of blind prejudice. Thank you so much. Lin Hao is indeed a great hero for China and for any citizen of this planet who believes in selfless sacrifice for the good of others. I’m sharing his great story today with my students.
Mr. Leslie Brinkerhoff
Dallas, Texas, USA
Thank you for this wonderful story about a young hero. This young man certainly deserved his moment of fame at the Olympics. He is an inspiration for all people of all countries.
You have written true inspirational story and thank you very much for giving us clear details of his heroism.
Orgil
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
See the Fairbank Report’s Coverage dated 8/9/08.
Christ Child and Yao Ming Led Chinese Delegation into the Olympic Stadium to Rousing Applause and Wild Excitement!!!!
A small Sichuanese boy named Lin Hao, who risked his own life to save his classmates after the deadly May 2008 earthquake in Sichuan Province, China, led the Chinese Olympic delegation into the Beijing Olympic Stadium on Friday evening (8/8/08). He was accompanied by the delegation flag bearer Yao Ming, an NBA star athlete.
Jonathan Fairbank, editor of this Fairbank Report and Chairman of the Fairbank Group, has referred to Lin Hao as the Christ Child.
Labels: 2008, Beijing, Christ Child, Olympics
# posted by The FAIRBANK REPORT @ 8/09/2008 03:45:00 PM 0 comments
Did you even watch the opening ceremonies?!?!? They told the same EXACT story you did minus the minor injuries he got going back in. Kind of funny you talk about media bias yet fail to mention that this story was told to the entire audience of the ceremonies.
Also I’ve heard this story twice since Friday night prior to reading your article. I’d say YOUR reporting is a lowlight.
Hello, and thanks for your comment. To answer your question, I was not able to watch the NBC broadcast of the event as it aired in the United States. I am currently in China for the Olympics and I watched the opening ceremony on Chinese television. The coverage I am referring to are the numerous print and online articles that do not mention the boy’s background other than that he survived the quake. Thanks again, Lisa Chiu.
This is a beautiful story, and it is always great to see it retold, but I feel your comments about Western-media bias against the Chinese people may not be entirely fair, at least when you consider the examples you have given.
As another commenter said, the NBC broadcast here in the United States gave us the child’s full story (which, again, is truly inspirational). Also, I may be misreading your article, but there seems to be some offense taken by Jimmy Roberts saying ‘Tell me, just who was looking up to whom?’ This may be an idiom lost in translation. All that Roberts is saying is that, though Yao Ming physically towers above the boy as they walk in the opening ceremony, perhaps it is the diminutive child who is the true towering figure of the two–owing to his bravery.
Criticism from the West for China does exist, and will continue. Some of it will be valid, some of it will be unfounded and unfair. But rest assured, most Americans want to believe in true stories of heroism and bravery, regardless of the nationality of the hero.
Dear Lisa,
Well said. especially this one “Sometimes a hero is clearly a hero, even if he’s a citizen of a government you may disagree with.”
i am proud of you.
Zhijian
Hey Lisa,
Enjoyed reading this entry. I didn’t know about Lin’s story.
Thanks for sharing,
Liz A.
We in the “WEST” do care about people in China. WE were the first country to extend our hand filled with money, food, relief workers. Shame on you for bashing the U.S. I learned about the little boy FROM the Olympic Opening Ceremony. Everyword you said verbateum.(minus being hit in the head with falling rubble). You do no justice by reporting falsehoods. The MEDIA, always reporting falsehoods, edited portions and bias. Grow up lisa chiu!
Thank you Lisa for writing out loud of Lin Hao’s story. Even though almost a year has passed, his story is still inspiring that I quote your blog to the ones hasn’t seen. And just like you said. “Sometimes a hero is clearly a hero, even if he’s a citizen of a government you may disagree with.”. Very well said.