Some people attempt to compare tomato fights around China to the annual La Tomatina in the tiny Spanish town of Bunyol. On one hand, even in Spain, the tomato fight is being increasingly opposed; on the other hand, the Chinese culture is totally different from that of Spain. So why do we have to take after their customs? Every culture has its taboo. If we break whatever cultural taboos we like, allegedly for the purpose of global integration or innovation, the nation will gradually lose the basic reverence for our own culture and this is harmful to China’s cultural confidence and cultural independence.

Shui An (China Business Herald): The gap between food supplies and population increase has long been plaguing China. As a result, the Chinese developed a belief and culture that values food. Tomato fights run counter to this cultural belief.

Maybe some people will argue that as long as someone would like to pay for the tomatoes, the fights are all right. This is one of the worst consequences of this event. It indicates that you can trample whatever you want to as long as it makes you happy. The fact is that the gap between China’s rich and poor is widening instead of narrowing. If people are encouraged to waste whatever they can afford, it is damaging social harmony.

Just for fun

Sheng Xiang (www.jcrb.com): Some people argue that farmers will feel hurt when they see tomatoes are used for a game. But these tomatoes are bought from them. The event has helped promote tomato sales, so why should farmers feel hurt?

Besides, tomatoes are not commodities of national importance. No regulation stipulates that tomatoes can only be used for food.

The tomato fights bring great joy to participants. They are a better entertainment than a lot of dull TV programs.

Wang Wei (xinmin.cn): Maybe it’s because China used to have serious food shortages that people attach such sentiment to food. The image of people wasting food makes them indignant. Besides, due to rising food prices, including vegetable prices, they believe tomato fights are immoral activities. Actually, we don’t need to be so critical about this form of entertainment.

The tomato fight in Guiyang, for example, makes the sponsoring shopping center known to more people. As long as this activity helps to reach this goal, it is successful. No matter what kinds of advertisement the business adopts, it will cost money. But the tomato carnival is one of the best forms of advertising.

Tomato fights also have a great social impact. In real life, gaps exist among different social classes, but in the carnivals, people can mix together freely and openly. It’s a liberating experience.

Liu Simin (China Tourism News): Actually, organizers of tomato fights and similar fruit fights only want to make money and promote themselves, and participants only want to have more fun. Such activities are not illegal and all parties are willing to get involved. Tomatoes and many other agricultural products can be used in many areas, as they are not just food.

As for whether this legal activity is immoral, it’s hard to say. For example, wine is made from grapes and wine is not something we need to survive. While drinking wine is enjoyable, it can also cause problems if people drive drunk. In China, much more grain is used to produce wine and liquor than tomatoes are used for entertainment activities. Shall we ban alcohol that is made from grains and regard it as a waste of food? People should have the basic tolerance for others and remain open-minded in analyzing similar questions.

Ye Zhuyi (Yangcheng Evening News): Tomato fights have incurred criticism, but they really are a form of entertainment. The severe criticism really goes too far.

If we say that this is a waste of food, we need to remember that all large public activities will cost a lot of money. Suppose it is an event like an auto show, then the cost of gasoline will be a big factor. Yet we don’t complain about these types of events. Why don’t we apply the same logic to tomato fights?

It’s believed that young people should study hard and work hard, instead of playing games. However, as a kind of entertainment, tomato fights can help people to relax and get to know others at the same time. The youth have spent too much time on study and work, so why not let them have fun through events like these tomato fights?