According to Li, some five years ago, when he saw Zhang Xuejun, Secretary of the Dengfeng Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, the highest-ranking local official, cycling around to listen to people's opinions and trying to solve their problems, he thought the amiable leader really had the interests of the community at heart. In addition, Zhang's strong leadership has helped Dengfeng's economy make significant progress over the past few years.

While talking with some friends one day, a suggestion came up to erect a monument as a symbol of appreciation for the good deeds Zhang had done for the area. Despite an overwhelming agreement to make it happen, Li is the only person who took action.

In July 2008, Zhang entered his fifth year in office with growing prestige. Li used the occasion to begin planning the erection of the stone monument in honor of Zhang. With the approval of the village community, Li selected a location and raised 3,000 yuan ($437) in donations. Within three months, a 3-meter-high stele with a 176-character inscription went up on a village hillside.

To have a stele inscription was one of the highest honors for ancient Chinese officials. Liu Daoxing, Vice President of the Henan Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, said, "It recognizes not only Zhang's good deeds as a Party member, but also the integrity of the Party." Li and other supporters have watched China's social progress over the past three decades, and attributed this to the government's determination to improve people's livelihood. The stele for Zhang is an example of this sentiment.

But Li's stone inscription received mixed reactions on the Internet. Many online commentators criticized Li's shallow awareness, saying that government officials are obliged to fulfill due responsibilities and avoid the abuse of power. Citizens, who are the real owners of a nation, do not need to feel grateful for the service they received from the state, they said.

"I did my duty," Zhang told local Dahe Daily, asking Li to remove the stele because he did not think it was appropriate to be honored in this way.

Saying thanks

Pan Hongqi (Beijing Youth Daily): Expressions of gratitude can be shown in various ways to praise officials, including a stele inscription.

As the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China proposed to improve the levels of democracy, and to guarantee people's rights to know, to participate and to supervise, it has created a better atmosphere for free expression. At the beginning of 2008, the People's Daily, a leading national newspaper, released an editorial titled "Mind Emancipation Is Preconditioned by Free Expression." That is to say, to ensure people are open-minded, it is necessary to allow them free expression.

It matters more that citizens can freely comment on officials' performance, rather than receiving praise. Whatever measures they take to express their true feelings, as long as they are legitimate and reasonable, should be allowed. Procedurally to ensure people's right to speak, they will be encouraged to deliver judgments, leave online comments or hold face-to-face dialogues as they like, and the way Li has used to express his appreciation is another possibility. To substantially ensure a citizen's right to give his/her opinions, whether positive or negative, mature or emotional, socially beneficial or for personal gains, if their opinions are reasonable, they should be protected.

The more China opens to the outside world, the more Chinese people feel free to express themselves. The villagers, who chose a traditional method to thank this local official, are no different from those sending thank you letters, and deserve equal respect and understanding.

Yan Daqun (www.qianlong.com): Virtuous officials in ancient times were honored by having monuments erected by benefited civilians. In fact, stele inscriptions are no difference from today's confidence votes, through which the preference is obvious.