Chinese Dad Defends Making Nearly-Naked 3-Year-Old Exercise On Snowy NYC Street

via Daily Mail

This past week, a Chinese father was reamed by the internet for a video he posted of his three-year-old son being forced to exercise half-naked on the snowy streets of New York City last month. Nanjing businessman He Liesheng vigorously defended himself in a long interview with The Daily Mail today, drawing a bizarre parallel with the U.S. troops sent to kill Osama bin Laden in Pakistan last year: "Those troops were specially trained—they were the elite. In the same way, I believe the way I am raising my son will make him special and better than everyone else."

Liesheng is proud of the "Eagle Father" moniker the internet has bestowed on him: "Like an eagle, I push my child to the limit so he can learn how to fly." He's come up with an incredibly intense child-rearing regime for his son—who just turned four yesterday—who he has nicknamed Duo Duo ("more more"). He obsessively micro-manages his life with meticulously detailed weekly schedules that cover every minute of his day, from the moment he wakes at 6 a.m. to bedtime at 8.30 p.m. He said he chose this approach after his son was born two months premature, weighing just 4lb. "The doctors told me that he might have suffered some brain damage and might have developmental difficulties. They told that me he would be a bit backward and not like other children," he said.

He was shocked by the outcry his video caused: "I didn’t realize people would react in the way that they did. In China, about 60 per cent of people disapprove of what I did, 20 per cent approve and 20 per cent of people don’t know what to think. But I don’t regret what I did and I would do it again—or maybe another similar kind of exercise to make him stronger." He says he had negotiated an agreement with his son before making him do it; he further explained why he made him do it:

First, I wanted to do something to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Second, I did it because China is developing very fast and I wanted to show that if a child can accept this kind of extreme education when they are young, they can overcome any difficulties the future might hold. And third, I did it because I want Duo Duo to be strong.

Liesheng says he doesn't "care about the negative reaction," and the Daily Mail thinks he actually revels in it, with his dining table and coffee table covered in laminated Chinese newspaper cuttings of the story. He now plans to write a book in his "Eagle Dad" persona to promote his approach to parenting, ala Amy Chua, who wrote a book about her "Tiger Mom" parenting method. But it does seem that the controversy has caused strain on his marriage; his wife stayed in New York since Duo Duo returned at the beginning of February for what Liesheng described vaguely as "personal business." He added, "His mother just wants him to be a normal boy but I want him to be exceptional."

As for Duo Duo, the Daily Mail's Chinese translator asked him what he remembered about his run in the snow: "I was very cold and I was unhappy...Don’t make me do it again."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Ben Yakas in News on February 12, 2012 1:10 PM

Comments [rss]

Anona Mous

It's a common thing in the Eastern Europe countries. It builds a child's immune system against the elements. Whatever, as long as this kid doesn't get sick!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/worl...

Peanut_Butter

Clearly most of the commenters have never seen the movie Soldier.

Peanut_Butter

What's up with the coat? OFF WITH IT!

"Tim Osman"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

famdoc

This is child abuse, pure and simple. He should be barred from re-entering the country.
If this child had some sort of congenital heart problem, he could have died.

birdtird

you know who would be proud of this....chuck norris

santijose

Now they all want to write books and make $, @ the expense of their children well being.

angry_pickle

I wonder if this father realizes that micromanaging his son from dawn to dusk might just make the kid a robot unable to think for himself? Reminds me of that Asian kid who ended up torturing people for fun in California and his dad admitting that he used to physically, mentally, emotionally abuse his son as a child because he wanted his son to be "successful".

rubyeveryday

Why is this about a "Chinese" dad and not just about some asshole?

Peanut_Butter

Good question - ask the original poster.

Adam Moreira

Those in the Armed Forces choose that on their own will. This dad is a real loser.

ElvisShalit

I think pop has got a little brain damage too. His head is about to explode.

PicoPhreako69

"...I believe the way I am raising my son will make him special and better than everyone else."

Ah, yes.
One more person who isn't shy about how badly he wants to be in the 0.1%.

Adam Moreira

He would fit right in with the .99% that Occupy Wall Street reps.

Midnight Fapper

this is the reason why america is toast.

this man's efforts, albeit somewhat unorthodox should be lauded. mr. liesheng is raising a warrior, not some namby pamby candy ass. shit like this puts hair on your chest.

just look at the twinkle in young duo duo's eyes, that is unflappable confidence and a well centred boy. in fact, he's more alpha than 95% of so-called men i encounter in the usa.

now, take three year old prototypical american billy: chubby butt couch potato, brainwashed by leftist lunatics, and coddled from day one to avoid hurting his wimpy little feelings. a whiney little fuck who'll get his ass kicked on the schoolyard by people like me (i used to anihilate pansies).

that's fucking bullshit.

i'm having kids in a few years and would love to read his book.

robingee

Pffft, too funny. Everyone here knows you're a total douche and you act like you're 12 with your dumb misogynistic crap. You're not having kids soon, no women are the least bit interested in you, it's so obvious in the way you post. Ha.

shocktheday

Agreed. This kid took a short jog, Dr. Herbert Benson documented Buddhist monks who sleep out in the cold overnight up in the Himalayas to develop their skills to regulate their metabolism in conditions where most would probably die. He's also written several books on mind healing.

Doesn't seem as absurd as Western medicine which some lists side effects of cancer, suicidal thoughts, liver failure, heart failure, etc ...

robingee

"Dr. Herbert Benson documented Buddhist monks who sleep out in the cold overnight up in the Himalayas to develop their skills to regulate their metabolism in conditions where most would probably die. "

Well by all means take an extreme example done by a select few people by their own CHOICE and apply it to a tiny child. Hey, people have climbed Mt Everest, why can't my 3 year old do it? Idiot.

shocktheday

Where did I say the kid should climb the Himilayans ? I was just pointing out there are alternatives to traditional methods / medicine which at times we have too much faith upon. That said, GFY