Message from mhagiwara

[Anonymous]

More and more I am hearing about the topic this article addresses. Not only in China, but in many other Asian countries, family values and structures are changing. The old Confucian mindset of listening to one's elders and filial piety is falling apart and making way for idealistic and selfish individuals who are focused on their own success. Even the elder generation has accepted this new wave of thinking; "My elderly informants were fully aware of this difference, and many described the behav- ior of their adult children as “caring and supportive but not obedient” (Yan, 245). Although I understand the need for family's to change and adapt to the times, I don't believe that filial piety should be sacrificed-I feel there can be a balance. This is something I mention in my classes; I speak about how as we grow up and go our separate ways (e.g., college), but that we must not forget to honor and respect those before us who got us to that point. Yan mentions the example of Teacher Liu's family where his son and daughter in law essentially forced them out, which speaks to this changing social norm. It saddens me to think that society is changing so much but hope that this will not result in a complete destruction of familism.