Shaping up
a harmonious society has long been the glorious aspiration of the mankind. One
major trait of the Chinese traditional culture lies in paying great attention to
harmony. Such sayings as “peace is the best option”, “logical administration and
harmonious people” and “if the family lives in harmony, all affairs will
prosper” embody the traditional ideal and humanism spirit.
For a country, a nation or an army, there is a question of
“people of all ranks sharing the same purpose”. Great strategist Sun Tzu said,
“The side which has unity of purpose among its officers and men will win”.
“Unity of purpose” spells common interest, common objective and unity of will,
in other words, it is another realm of harmony. In the cause of building
socialism with Chinese characteristics, the fundamental interest of the nation
is the same and all the specific interest can be coordinated on this basis.
Provided the harmony among people, between human and nature and between human
and society is realized, we will achieve new victories in building a well-off
society in an all-round way. As a people's army and the great wall of steel
responsible for defending the motherland, the PLA especially needs “unity of
purpose” and harmony between officers and men, between the army and the
government and between the army and the civilian. It is likewise a necessary
condition for promoting military changes with Chinese characteristics, and for
carrying out the lofty mission of the army in the new phase of the new century.
It goes without saying that there are also contradictions,
conflicts and differences in a “harmonious society”. Just as the ancient people
said, “ All things have both cloudy and sunny days, the channeling of different
energies is for the purpose of harmony” and “A gentleman gets along with others,
but does not necessarily agree with them; while evil people are the same but
they do not get along with each other”. The process of building a harmonious
society is a process of resolving contradictions, smoothing out conflicts and
solving differences. It is also a process of building material civilization,
political civilization and spiritual civilization of socialism. Harmonious
melody can certainly produce a piece of beautiful music; and a harmonious
society certainly can bring about a good situation with logical administration
and harmonious people and a contended people living in a peaceful and prosperous
country.
By Chen Guangzhao
(Mar. 9, PLA Daily)
