The Book of Odes says, “How much the people rejoice in their prince, a parent of the people!” He likes what the people like and dislikes what the people dislike. This is what is meant by being a parent of the people. [The Great Learning, chap. 10]
Today, I decided to try to interpret the above excerpt from the book The Great Learning which is from the topic "The State as a Big Family" in Achieving Social Harmony.
The above analect is trying to say that a state must be like a family. That a person must treat everyone as someone whom he can rely on. Someone who will always be there when he needed someone. They should help and support each other to let each one grow in any ways. The father in this family is the prince since he is the head of the state. As a father, the prince will act as the head of the family. He is always there to provide the needs of his people. He makes sure that he will be able to please them and correct the necessary wrong doings. He fights for his family and makes sure that he treats everyone fairly to ensure the bond and tie that keeps them together. The line "he dislikes what the people dislike" means that he makes sure that he keeps all his people away from danger. He makes sure that they are always safe. Another thing is that this means that he listens to his people. He patiently talks to them and listen to their opinions. He does not make decisions all by himself. The people also get a part on the conversations concerning state matters.
"This is what is meant by being a parent of the people". The prince as the father does not act alone, he is with his children. All together, they settle things. The prince does not separate himself from his people, instead he lives with them to get closer to them, to keep the bond in the relationship, to make their state a more unified and solid state.
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