China hails U.S. fry guy who helped homeless woman

[JayAtl]

---

---

An American student has shot to Internet fame in China after buying french fries for a homeless woman in Nanjing.

Photos of her eating with the student -- a Southern California native named Jason Loose, who is now known as "American French Fry Brother" by many Chinese Internet users -- have been forwarded hundreds of thousands of times on Sina Weibo, China's popular microblogging site.

The images have set off a new round of soul-searching in China since they were posted Saturday. Many Chinese citizens think their country's blind pursuit of wealth has created a moral vacuum, causing feelings of indifference toward the suffering of strangers.


Loose, who has studied at Nanjing University for nine months, was caught off guard by his popularity.

"I just gave some food that isn't really even healthy to an old woman and talked with her for a few minutes," he said of the McDonald's fries when reached by phone Wednesday. "I don't see much that's newsworthy about that."

"There wasn't much money in her collection bowl, and it was really hot out," Loose recalled. "I walked past her and thought that maybe she could use some food and some company."

The two talked about her poor health, her home in rural Anhui province and the weather. She said she was thirsty, he recalled, so he poured her some water. He left after about 10 minutes.

"I asked what's her favorite food to eat," he said. "Her answer was 'not french fries.' "

Loose did not find out until the next day that an onlooker had photographed the encounter and posted the images online. He opened his own Weibo account soon afterward and already has more than 9,000 followers.
Comments on Weibo reflect admiration for Loose's charity and question why the Chinese don't often perform similar acts.

"Truly wish this was a fellow countryman," wrote one user. "Chinese people, let's all learn from this," wrote another.

The foreign Good Samaritan has emerged as a hot topic on China's social media websites since last fall, when CCTV footage of pedestrians ignoring an injured 2-year-old girl in Guangdong province sparked widespread debate over the country's moral conscience.

Verizon Small Business Center

What a difference between our guys over there vs...

[doidoi2]

yes indeed. this incident shows how naive most chinese netizens are to Americans, and how much goodwill America has in China. The goodwill of the Chinese people is the largest single asset America has in China.

off topic:
I can't wait to see America blow the goodwill of the Chinese people with an aggressive global strategy to contain China. The US doesn't realize that America is incapable of stopping China. Only China is capable of stopping China. The more US presses, the more the US will lose its respect amongst Chinese people. Ironically, I think that's actually better for China because it will ensure national unity.

[JayAtl]

yes indeed. this incident shows how naive most chinese netizens are to Americans, and how much goodwill America has in China. The goodwill of the Chinese people is the largest single asset America has in China.

off topic:
I can't wait to see America blow the goodwill of the Chinese people with an aggressive global strategy to contain China. The US doesn't realize that America is incapable of stopping China. Only China is capable of stopping China. The more US presses, the more the US will lose its respect amongst Chinese people. Ironically, I think that's actually better for China because it will ensure national unity.

so instead of going this guy really opened a much needed national dialogue about a " selfish, self serving, greedy " trait among Chinese--- you decided to take a swipe at Americans and go off topic thereafter?

The images have set off a new round of soul-searching in China since they were posted Saturday. Many Chinese citizens think their country's blind pursuit of wealth has created a moral vacuum, causing feelings of indifference toward the suffering of strangers.

[Shatterpoint]

So poverty exists in China too then? And here I thought China was the only country that had no poverty at all wow.

[third eye]

What Post # 1 brings out is the absence of concern we have for fellow humans.

I am sure we all recall instances form our childhood of our parents / Grand Parents feeding the poor & needy. Never was a hungry person turned away. If anyone came home around a meal time he was offered whatever was available on the table.

We in our rush for material gains have lost all these finer feelings.

It takes a westerner to remind us Asians of the basics of our centuries old civlisation.

[sweetgrape]

So poverty exists in China too then? And here I thought China was the only country that had no poverty at all wow.

Where did you get the thought?? do you believe it? you are fool or troll?

[doidoi2]

so instead of going this guy really opened a much needed national dialogue about a " selfish, self serving, greedy " trait among Chinese--- you decided to take a swipe at Americans and go off topic thereafter?

It's not that I don't think there's room for improvement in terms of morality and rule abiding in China... It's more that I think the problem will take care of itself.

People don't realize that Morality and Charity are really Luxuries. You only think about others when you already have plenty yourself. The people who donate the most are the Rich; the people who donate the least and care about rules the least are the poor. It's not that poor people are less moral, but that they're in less of a position to care. why would you care about others when you're starving yourself?

That's why I think China's moral dilemma will be self correcting. As people grow rich, they'll follow rules.

and that's no swipe at America.... It's not a swipe when you're telling the truth. America has some great qualities, but long term strategic thinking isn't one of its strong suits.

[manojb]

It's not that I don't think there's room for improvement in terms of morality and rule abiding in China... It's more that I think the problem will take care of itself.

People don't realize that Morality and Charity are really Luxuries. You only think about others when you already have plenty yourself. The people who donate the most are the Rich; the people who donate the least and care about rules the least are the poor. It's not that poor people are less moral, but that they're in less of a position to care. why would you care about others when you're starving yourself?

That's why I think China's moral dilemma will be self correcting. As people grow rich, they'll follow rules.

and that's no swipe at America.... It's not a swipe when you're telling the truth. America has some great qualities, but long term strategic thinking isn't one of its strong suits.

The word here is COMPASSION my friend, not charity/donation/ etc.

[Vassnti]

That's why I think China's moral dilemma will be self correcting. As people grow rich, they'll follow rules.
.

Hate to burst your bubble, the rich are no more moral than any one else they just steal for a Ferrari rather than a meal of rice.

LAST week's big news was the discovery of the world's largest scam. Bernard Madoff ran a hedge fund which he has admitted was a giant Ponzi scheme. He says it lost $70 billion.

The world's biggest scam

[hinduguy]

if you see poverty daily everywhere since childhood, you lose your sympathy. Also in big cities, you dont have time for anybody else other than yourself and your family. Its true everywhere even in western countries.

[doidoi2]

---

---

Hate to burst your bubble, the rich are no more moral than any one else they just steal for a Ferrari rather than a meal of rice.
The world's biggest scam

Allow me to quote myself from my post:

It's not that poor people are less moral, but that they're in less of a position to care.

See how things have a way of resolving itself if you read? It's not that the Rich is more moral, it's just that the rich are in more of a position to give.