The forward-looking society

The fast economic development of China in the past decades has no doubt benefited from a future-oriented attitude, taking decisions based on their impact on the immediate future. This strategy certainly payed off, given the fast rise of GDP and leading economic position in Asia, and arguably in the world at large. However, there are some serious side-effects to this forward-looking approach. Neglecting to look back from time to time, reflecting on the impact of fast growth, or even sideways, to compare your heading with those of your fellow countrymen, has lead to an increasing wealth gap, not to mention environmental problems. Large areas of China are not benefiting as much as the focus areas of economic growth in the South-East. And even there, within the metropolises of Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, the social disparities have increased alongside the growth in wealth.
A forward-looking attitude is also prevalent in traditional patterns such as finding a suitable partner for marriage. More often than not, the choice is based primarily on financial benefits for the future of the family of the bride-to-be, with a substantial dowry to be paid to the bride's parents before she can be taken away to be incorporated into her future husband's family. In many cases, Chinese people don't get to marry the one they love, but the one most suitable for a sustainable and financially sound future of the family.
Even in daily routines such as driving a car, looking forward seems to be the only rule. Hardly any Chinese driver ever looks sideways, let alone backwards in their rearview mirror, before taking turns or passing other vehicles. Pedestrians behave in a similar manner, crossing the street without ever glancing sideways, just straight ahead in the direction where they are going, often forcing me to brake abruptly when driving my bicycle.

慢 means: “slow”