Thereisnodoubtthatsomepeopleareselfishandgreedy.Forexample,somemerchantsselltheirfakecommoditiesatthemarketplaceformoreprofit.Theyarerichandwanttobericher.Therearealsogovernmentofficialswhosellpeople'strust.Seniorofficerswhotakebribesbysellingthepowerintheirhandsarenotafew.Thosepeoplebelieveintheprecept"everyoneforhimselfandthedeviltakethehindmost."
However,themajorityofpeopleareneitherselfishnorgreedy.Theycontributemuchandaskforlittle.Countlessexamplescanbefoundaroundus,thePLAsoldierswhosacrificedthemselvesforsavingpeople'slivesinfightingthedisastrousfloodsandthewarriorsinwhitewhoriskedtheirlivestosaveSARSvictimsbeingtwoofthemosttypical.Incontrasttotheselfishandcorruptofficial,theyareheroeswhosetupgloriousimagesforus.
Theideathatnowadayspeopleareselfishandgreedyisprobablyattributedtotheinfluenceofthemassmediawhichtendtooverexaggeratethenegativeaspectsoflife.Manynewspapers,particularlymanylocaleveningpapers,andTVfilmsplayupnastinessbyreportingandshowingtoomuchaboutviolenceandsex.Alotofbooks,too,portrayselfishnessandgreedtoseeksensationaleffectandeconomicprofit.Iwonderwhethertheyareselfishandgreedy,too?