exercise 4

March 13, 2023 By: Jiayi Han

There was a three-year construction activity in my hometown, aiming to change the dirty and messy phenomenon in the city and improve the beauty and modernisation of the urban environment. The urban village in the city centre was demolished, and all the villagers moved to a new community on the outskirts of the city. Many of the remnants of the last century have also been redecorated, with the same shape as the signboard and layout, but have lost their ancient characteristics.

As a person born and raised in the 21st century, I absolutely support this construction activity. It brings me subways, street parks and commercial buildings. I don’t have to worry about straying into a small village and getting lost when travelling. I have benefitted from all the benefits of science and technology and the development of the urban environment, and I have easily adapted to these changes.

But not everyone feels the same as me. For example, the villagers who were forced to relocate did not leave completely voluntarily. The ancestral halls and temples they have inherited from generation to generation have been demolished, and the place where they will live in the future is also far from the city centre. Especially for the old-fashioned elderly, it is sad to say goodbye to the familiar old houses and neighbours. It is difficult for them to recognise the newly installed colourful glowing signs, dare not approach the bustling and noisy commercial centre, and do not know how to buy subway tickets, which adds a lot of inconvenience to their lives. Similarly, the members of the city’s historical research institute are also affected, because many of the precious buildings with research and preservation value have been completely demolished and can no longer be copied. While young people like me enjoy convenience and technology, a considerable number of people are saddened by the subversion of everything they are familiar with.

We can’t criticise which emotions are right, but before deciding to change the environment of a place, we should take into account the multiple emotions and reactions that different groups of people may have. History and reality are created by people, and they also need to serve people. It is also a great goal to promote the evolution of the environment while protecting more people’s feelings.

link:http://www.he.xinhuanet.com/zhuanti/sjzdby/