Rumormongers paint false picture

A woman leaves flowers at a makeshift memorial on the Las Vegas Strip for victims of the Route 91 music festival mass shooting next to the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, US October 3, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

AFTER THE SHOOTING in Las Vegas that left 59 people dead and more than 500 injured, the whole world extended its sympathy to the victims. Yet a video was spread online with misleading intent. Wang Tong, assistant to editor-in-chief of Beijing Literature magazine, comments:

The video shows some US residents walking into supermarkets to demonstrate their legal right to carry guns. Those spreading it online claimed it happened after the most recent attack. But it was actually shot in 2014 after a mass shooting at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Worse, those spreading the video also told lies about overseas Chinese remaining idle after the mass shooting incident in Las Vegas, while the reality is that Chinese helped to save lives in the tragedy along with others.

Those spreading these rumors unconditionally praised the US residents for being "brave and courageous" by amplifying the deeds of some of those who helped the victims, while ignoring the deeds of their compatriots.

It seems some Chinese look down on themselves, and are ready to tell lies and mix white with black to set foreigners on a pedestal.

It should be noted that, after the mass shooting happened, the people in Las Vegas, regardless of their race, religion, and gender, showed their courage and solidarity by helping each other. But the attack reflected a serious problem deeply rooted in US society, namely the lack of gun control. Those with evil purposes can easily acquire guns and use them to kill others.

US people have been discussing strengthening gun control for decades, yet the problem remains unsolved. It is US politicians that are to blame for that. So in a sense, they are partly responsible for the mass shootings that happen in the US.

It is natural for Chinese to show sympathy for our neighbors across the Pacific. But those telling lies do a disservice to both countries.