Over 2,000 people died in last week’s earthquake that hit the Qinghai province of China. Today, the country’s government is asking for a day of mourning, but some aspects of the recognition of loss of life has a compulsory feel. An example: all forms of entertainment have been taken off television to run government messaging about the quake.

We speak with Andrew Jacobs, Beijing correspondent for the New York Times, who says the country’s people are reacting with a mix of cynicism and sorrow.