Randy Cassingham's Blog

Posted by rewinn, Mercer Island on October 24, 2011:

Truly a sad story. We hope it could never happen but it did. Let us hope it leads to change.

Posted by James in southwest Illinois on October 24, 2011:

Thank you for giving the updated information about China's laws concerning good Samaritans, and the upcoming changes. This is heart breaking.

Posted by Chris, Melbourne on October 24, 2011:

From the writeup:

"So Zhu and other lawyers are drafting "Good Samaritan" legislation that would not only shield passerby from legal action if they help others in obvious emergency need, but may even penalize those who don't."

I hope the latter part does not become law. I'm all in favour of legislation that shields honest assistance from lawsuit, but to penalize people for being nearby and not helping is extremely dangerous. What if you were in another safety-critical position and abandoning it would risk other lives? It's not wise to make people feel they have to help.

But yes, Good Samaritan legislation would be a Good Thing; and moreso, it needs to become fairly universal. If I'm on holiday in another country and I see someone hurt or needing help, can I afford to stop and render assistance?

Posted by Daniel, Sydney, NSW on October 24, 2011:

I suppose only time will tell if this is a knee jerk reaction or the catalyst for social change. However, I've read of similar actions happening here in Australia -- persons being hit by a car and then left on the side of the road during peak hour. Passed by hundreds of people who simply didn't care or didn't see the injured person.

I think we in the west find it far easier to point at this in China and say "How terrible", but the reality is that the same thing happens here (and presumably throughout the world). Let us hope that this triggers a global change.

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That's part of the reason I'm giving publicity to it: to help keep the pressure on so that they do do something about it. And yes, it happens in the west, too. -rc

Posted by Robert in Oklahoma on October 24, 2011:

It should not have taken the death of a child to instill change. But, as history proves, a tragedy makes change. So sad.

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But if we do have the death of a child, it would be a much bigger tragedy for it not to create needed change! -rc

Posted by Linda, New Jersey on October 24, 2011:

I saw this video on the web. Still hard to believe. Maybe the people did not know it was a real child. Maybe they thought it was a doll or maybe a dog or something. Hard to tell, but the driver knew he hit a child. Some of the people must have seen the blood. I still can't get over seeing it. The poor parents who had to see this. Thanks for bringing this to the attention of your readers.

Posted by Squander Two, Northern Ireland on October 24, 2011:

Chinese adults have been getting rid of their own little girls for decades. Why would they give a damn about someone else's?

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One can always hope for -- and push for -- change. -rc

Posted by Michelle in NM on October 24, 2011:

These images will never leave my mind's eye. G-d bless her little soul. Hopefully we can all learn something vital from this tragedy. If we help others without thinking of the consequences we may possibly face, then this will become a more compassionate world.

Posted by John, Nebraska on October 24, 2011:

The story is sad. The comments by "Squander Two" are outrageous. His attempt at moral superiority falls flat.

There are two examples of reaction on this page: the "shame and guilt [which] gripped China," and Squander's smugness. Which one shows humanity?

Yes there has been infanticide in China, to their shame and guilt. But obviously, not all families in China "get rid of their own little girls" or there would be no little girl for this story. Yet Squander would lump all Chinese together, guilty or not, and in the process denies them all their humanity. At least the Chinese people have enough integrity left to realize when they've lost their souls, as demonstrated by the story. Maybe Squander will someday realize he has "squandered" his own soul and integrity. And for what?

Posted by Donald, Virginia on October 24, 2011:

An awful story. The death of the small child is the worst of it but a close second is the parents' reaction: almost an effort to absolve not only the drivers and those who did nothing.

In a society permeated by collectivism an individual is nothing. I hope this terrible instance will in some measure deter us from our headlong pursuit of the same structure in our own society.

Some Chinese officials are making an effort to undo Mao's "legacy" as a result of this horror. I wish them every success.