Earthquakes, Cowardice and True Manhood

On May 12, 2008 an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.9 on the Richter scale devastated the Sichuan region of China. At the time of this writing the death toll stands at 69,181 souls.  While China physically was shaken by this historic seismic event, tremors of another kind have rocked the moral foundations of the nation.  

Many accounts of human heroism, sacrifice and bravery continue to pour out of that nation. In stark contrast to those heartening accounts, however, is a story of a secondary school teacher, Mr. Fan. When the earthquake struck, he told his students, "stay calm, it's an earthquake." Then he proceeded to run out to safety himself, not helping his students flee with him. He didn't even look back.

Richard Spencer of The Telegraph, tells Mr. Fan's story and allows Mr. Fan to speak for himself:

"I ran towards the stairs so fast that I stumbled and fell as I went. When I reached the center of the football (field), I found I was the first to escape. None of my pupils was with me."  His explanation for his actions: "I have a very strong sense of self-preservation."  

As you can imagine many in China are outraged at his self-orientation and moral lack of concern for the welfare of his students. Providentially, his students did get out safely and none were harmed in the quake. When his students asked, "Teacher, why didn't you bring us out?" Fan answered, "I have never been a brave man and I'm only really concerned about myself." At the end of the Spencer article Fan said he would not even have stopped to save his own mother from the earthquake.

Fan's actions and his very public statements about his philosophy of self-preservation continue to swirl on the web now weeks later. Even the Wall Street Journal recently reported on it. Authors continue to wrestle with the moral question of whether he should have helped his students out or not. I agree with those who find Mr. Fan's actions cowardly. However, my question is this: is there an increase in moral indignance over Mr. Fan's cowardly actions because he is man and not a woman? In other words, is it more grievous for a man to shirk the protection of those in need because he is male?

It would be disturbing if a woman teacher abandoned her students to save herself from harm (though hard to even imagine). But something deep inside our hearts pangs all the more, if a man is unwilling to show courage and self-sacrifice for the good of others in his care.  Why is this so? I suspect it is owing to the imprint of God's image engraved on all human hearts.  It is neither cultural, nor ethnic, nor temporal, nor learned.  Rather, I would suggest that it is part of God's created order that men bear the greater responsibility to protect those in need.

Much more can be said on this topic, and tomorrow I will outline a biblical understanding of a man's charge to protect. For now consider that when the very worst danger imaginable (the wrath of Almighty God) was about to rest upon the very first family (Adam and Eve) on account of their sin, God, knowing full well that Eve ate of the forbidden fruit first, did not ask, "Eve, where are you" but rather asked, "Adam, where are you?" (Genesis 3:9).  

Here's one final word of hope regarding Mr. Fan., though he would not save his own mother, he "might have made an exception for his one year old daughter." Even in someone like Mr. Fan, the echo of God's design, though stifled, remains.  Pray for Mr. Fan, and many other men like him, that he learn to "play the man" (I Chronicles 19:13) with courage to protect all those in his care.