Even the destruction is a blessing

纵做鬼，也幸福 (zòng zuò guǐ, yě xìng fú): Even the destruction is a blessing

This is a famously bad line from a poem written by Wang Zhaoshan, vice chairman of the Shandong Writer’s Association, to honor those injured and killed in the May 2008 Sichuan Earthquake.

Wang’s poem was criticized as being insensitive to the earthquake survivors and unabashedly intended to curry favor with his Party superiors, with its praise of the Chairman and Premier, as well as its reference to joy at being able to watch the Beijing Olympics.

A member of the Shandong Writer's Association, Li Zhongqing (李鐘琴), resigned in protest over the poem. Tie Ning, chairperson of the Writer's Association of China, condemned Wang's insensitivity, saying “At a time when the nation and people have experienced such hardship, when we are suffering so much physically and spiritually, using these kinds of words to express these emotions is totally inappropriate. It's very regrettable.”

The following is a rough translation of the poem:
------
A Personal Account From the Wasteland

--An earthquake survivor in the midst of the wasteland thinks about all that has transpired since the earthquake and gradually has this feeling of gratitude----

Spared from dying in the disaster, what complaint can I harbor?

The Chairman beckons, the Premier calls.

The Party dearly loves the country; its voice enters the wasteland.

1.3 billion people weep together.

Even the destruction is a blessing.

Military cars arrive like silver eagles.

On the left, the military is our uncle.

On the right, the police is our aunt.

I just hope that before seeing the grave I can see a screen.

Watching the Olympics, I will call out with joy.

A netizen created this image, which juxtaposes Wang's poem with images of body bags.