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Nothing can put such a people down

After the recent earthquake inflicted tremendous sufferings to several provinces and shook half of the Chinese mainland, there was an opinion, as expressed in Internet forums, that "we should learn to stand in awe of nature". What the opinion means, I guess, is that we should not try to challenge the might of nature by bringing any change to it.

I will agree to it if the opinion implies that man should not violate the rules of nature and he may earn for himself nature's vengeance if he tries to extract too much from it. But I do not think we should become fearful of the elements and remain submissive in front of a bad-tempered Mother Nature.

In fact, the bravery and the unyielding spirit demonstrated by the Chinese people during the blizzards at the beginning of the year and the recent earthquake reflect the most precious traits of the nation that need to be carried on.

Stories of some common people during the earthquake best illustrate this spirit.

After the earthquake on May 12, huge rocks from landslides blocked all roads leading to the quake-struck areas. As most roads were built on mountain slopes over deep valleys, high-power machines could barely function. Army men used bare hands and simple tools to clear the way.

While military troops raced against time to rebuild the roads, groups of civilians appeared on rugged mountain slopes. They were from other places and heading for the quake-hit towns and villages in the hope to find their relatives who they had not heard of since the disaster struck. Though the journeys were mostly dozens of kilometers, they decided to walk there.