reputation (noun)
1. the estimation in which a person or thing is held, esp. by the community or the public generally; repute: a man of good reputation.
2. favorable repute; good name: to ruin one's reputation by misconduct.
3. a favorable and publicly recognized name or standing for merit, achievement, reliability, etc.: to build up a reputation.
Since I work in a field where customers have no qualms about firing their doctor for any number of deficiencies or transgressions I tend to put a lot of effort into doing a respectable job in order to build a favorable reputation. I believe that this is not only the right thing to do, but is the safest way to continue to put food on my family's table, if you know what I mean.
Thus I have been astonished over the reports of disgrace coming from China. What happens when a country produces food items and medical goods and seems to be unconcerned whether or not these products are safe to use? We no longer have to wonder:
"China stops sale of drug to treat leukemia, arthritis"
"China weighs image damage from food safety scares"
"Potentially toxic consumer products made in China turn up in Europe"
"Health food maker promotes 'China-Free' products"
Not being an expert on sinological economics I can only speculate on the severity of the damage China has done to its reputation with these latest scandals involving the sale of tainted food or medical products, but I did get a chuckle out of that last headline. Who would have thought that a health food company would be able to improve its sales by placing a "China-free" sticker on its protein shakes or pet food?
Those who think that striving for excellence is a waste of time perhaps have no fears about brushing their teeth with Chinese toothpaste laced with diethylene glycol. As for the rest of us we're happy to follow these stories emanating from the PRC, for they remind us to eschew shortcuts, to keep our composure, to persist in the face of hardship, to never skimp on doling out kindness, to take pride in our work - in other words, earn the respect of all those who meet us.
After all, our reputation is on the line.
- Log in to post comments
Important people are not consumers of any of these goods. Only the 'little people' could be harmed, but clearly the government has no business taking care of the 'little people'. Those who really matter, what George likes to call his base, are unaffected.
The US has done quite a bit of harm to its food reputation by bitterly fighting country-of-origin and GM label legislation in the EU, and by fighting for - and gaining - exemptions to testing requirements for beef in Japan. The feeling is in either case that they would not want to fight such things unless there were things to hide. I don't know if that is warranted - probably not - but the actions can't help but create that impression.
I agree with you, Craig. We must eschew shortcuts, and do all that we can to keep our medicines and our food safe for all. We may be imperfect, but we are striving for quality and have saved untold numbers of lives because of our efforts. Let's continue to take pride in our work and keep aiming to be a little better each day.
Note that the response of the Chinese government is to execute the head of the agency responsible for monitoring food safety. Possibly a bit extreme, but probably more effective than the U.S. approach of allowing the official to retire to a job in the private sector with triple the salary and no need to fork over the bribes he took.
for Janne,
How does your nation explain the consumption - in the USA - of GM drugs and food?