2. The values and role of civilization
As the deposits and accumulation of historical development, civilization is of very significant social value which, generally speaking, is demonstrated in the following aspects:
(1) Civilization is the symbol of the development degree of a country or a region
To understand a country's development status, we think the country's civilization performance to be a very important factor and standard of observation. It is usually demonstrated by such elements as the concept of family, tools, language, text, belief, religious concepts, laws, city-state and country. To get to know the development status of a certain country or region, it is a must to observe the era of such country or region and its development status in such era from the angle of cultural forms. The difference between the socalled ancient countries and modern countries lies not in the times of their emergence, but embodies the development degree of culture. Some researchers use production tools to differentiate the development of countries or regions. The feature is used to differentiate the Stone Age and the Bronze Age.
The criteria for the emergence of civilization are mainly the appearance of cities, the introduction of text and the establishment of national institutions. The most important precondition is the appearance of cities. It is safe to say that cities are the place of origin of civilization. The oldest civilization in human history appeared 4500 BC in the ancient Egyptian state along the Nile River. With the development and progress of the human society, it became increasingly possible for people to ameliorate the conditions of civilization. Cities became more improved in such change.
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Ancient City of Pompeii
At the bordering of Campania, a fertile small plain in Italy, and near the estuary of the Sarno River (known in ancient times as the Sarnus) sat the ancient city of Pompeii which was built in the 8th century BC, and seized and controlled by the Samnites since the 5th century BC. During the 4th and 3rd centuries BC, after three battles between the Romans and the Samnites, Pompeii became a part of the Roman Empire and then a typical city for the Roman people. Although it covered an area of only 1.8 square kilometers, it reflected a very typical regional culture. Around the city, there were walls of bricks and stones 4,800 meters in length. Besides, Pompeii had 8 magnificent city gates. In the ancient city of Pompeii, there were streets and lanes paved with stones, straight roads, 2-floor rectangular buildings with ponds having finely decorated statues in front, comfortable bathrooms for the use of the slave owners, an arena to accommodate 20,000 audiences, and a stadium. The ancient city of Pompeii reflects the spectacular economic and cultural development of the Roman slavery back then. The discovery of the ancient city of Pompeii left a museum of history for people to research Ancient Rome. In AD 63, a violent earthquake ravaged Pompeii, but it was rebuilt soon. The eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79 buried Pompeii under the volcanic ashes overnight. In 1599, the ruins of Pompeii were brought to the light of day once again. In 1748, Pompeii was rediscovered, too, and became a solidified sign of culture for people to explore its secrets.
(2) Civilization is a centralized expression of social morale
When we enter a social organization, we would firstly focus on some morale things. For example, in a factory, we would notice its plants and other facilities, but we may pay more attention to the overall morale, the interpersonal relationships among the employees there. An enterprising social organization does far better than one that has intense interpersonal relationships and less-than-satisfying performance of civilization. Sometimes, many people prefer an employer where they may not be well paid, but would work in harmony than an employer where they are well paid, but would work amidst highly-intensive interpersonal relationships. That is a choice made on social morale.
As the “barometer” of morale, civilization can be demonstrated at different levels. Local customs, practices and habits let us feel the overall morale of a community. Politeness and courtesy allow people to feel the degree of civilization of a family or a class. The awareness of queuing up, and the obedience to the traffic rules and the rule of “one-meter line” are measures of civilization, and give people a direct and vivid impression of social civilization.
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The one-meter line is also the civilization line
Today, in front of the business windows of most banks, there is the one-meter line which aims to keep a public instance and protect privacy. But sometimes, the one-meter line, or an indication of civilization, is just a sham. Sometimes, many people would stand within the onemeter line, making the person in operation feel unsafe. People say that the one-meter line in banks is a “civilization line” or a “moral line” in social activities. In normal social activities, citizens should respect one another and leave some private space for the others. Some citizens do not treat the one-meter line seriously because they are too unconscious to protect privacy and have not realized the significance of the one-meter line. The one-meter line is not only a rule and distance, but also a security barrier for people. Despite the distance, people trust and respect one another more. There is also an opinion that bank staff should take effective measures to keep the order in the bank lobby, protect each client's privacy, and make all clients feel safe. Only in so doing can the one-meter line truly play its role.
(3) Civilization drives social development
Besides being a staff gauge for observing the society in a static state, civilization can also be a driving force for social advances dynamically. In some sense, a social atmosphere, where people desire civilization and work hard to achieve civilization, can create an environment to restrain people who are unable to observe the civilized behavioral habits consciously. Such binding force may be how civilization drives social advances.
Besides, the progresses and changes of civilization itself along with social development push forward social development to some extent, too. Social requirements on civilization would change along with social development. All the changes will cause changes in the forms of civilization, and are positive and beneficial for the society. The demonstrative and leading role of civilization may be viewed as an expression of such boost.
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Bai Fangli with boundless love
Bai Fangli, an ordinary “pedicab driver” was once presented with the honorary title of “Model Worker”. In his senior years, he established “Bai Fangli Volunteer Teachers Company” to financially aid poor students. In 1982, Bai Fangli in his senior years began to support education by riding a pedicab to serve the passengers so as to make money. From 1986 to 1999, he lived frugally and saved RMB 350,000, with which he financially aided nearly 300 poor students in tuition and living expenses. Someone once calculated that Bai Fangli donated his labor equivalent to riding the pedicab to span the earth at its equator 18 times in his 19 years of voluntarily supporting education if RMB 0.5 was charged for each kilometer of taking the pedicab. In 2012, CCTV program—People Who Moved China—paid a special tribute to Bai Fangli and called people who were like Bai Fangli, but had never been praised “the Bai Fanglis”. Each time when his name is mentioned, this old man with boundless love becomes an excellent symbol of the spirit of the era, and the measure of and impetus to civilized behaviors.