24 Jul A Different View of “Pure”

I’m in China participating in the English camp for Chinese teachers. We had the teachers participate in a values survey.

• The number one value among our teachers: “Respect and honor your parents and grandparents.”
• Least important: “Keeping oneself disinterested and pure.”

This requires some explanation. What they mean by this is that they want to remain connected with people, in touch, not aloof. “Pure” in this context is seen as negative. It implies that you are unwilling to be “dirtied” by others. I like that.