Thereisnodoubtthatsomepeopleareselfishandgreedy.Forexample,somemerchantsselltheirfakecommoditiesatthemarketplaceformoreprofit.Theyarerichandwanttobericher.Therearealsogovernmentofficialswhosellpeople'strust.Seniorofficialswhotakebribesbysellingthepowerintheirhandsarenotafew.Thosepeoplebelieveintheprecept"Everyoneforhimselfandthedeviltakethehindmost."
However,themajorityofpeopleareneitherselfishnorgreedy.Theycontributemuchandaskforlittle.Countlessexamplescanbefoundaroundus,thePLAsoldierswhosacrificedthemselvesforsavingpeople'slivesinfightingthedisastrousfloodsandthewarriorsinwhitewhoriskedtheirlivestosaveSARSvictimsbeingtwoofthemosttypicalcontrasttotheselfishandcorruptofficialtheyareheroes,whosetupgloriousimagesforus.
Theideathatnowadayspeopleareselfishandgreedyisprobablyattributedtotheinfluenceofthemassmediawhichtendtooverexaggeratethenegativeaspectsoflife.Manynewspapers,particularlymanylocaleveningpapers,andTVfilmsplayupnastinessbyreportingandshowingtoomuchaboutviolenceandsex.Alotofbooks,too,portrayselfishnessandgreedtoseeksensationaleffectandeconomicprofit.Iwonderwhethertheyareselfishandgreedy,too?