On Father’s Day, I went with my wife to an event organized by the Read Cross, to honour those who have given blood 25 times, or its multiples. It turned out there were ~2,500 people who have given 25 times in HK, like me. In fact, I have given 10+ times in USA, and another 10+ times in Canada. So I have given roughly 50 times in total, just about enough to qualify for the next step up. I looked around, and we were all sorts: old, young, men, women, well-dressed, casually-dressed, trendy, old-fashioned - quite a cross section of HK.
It was a nice gesture of the Red Cross. However, we certainly did not let them stick a needle in us to take 500 CC of our blood, 25 times, just to get a nice lunch, a small towel folded in the shape of a wine bottle, and a pin. So why did we do it? For the satisfaction that someone who lost a lot of blood through surgery, child birth, ulcers, internal bleeding, etc., would survive, maybe? Why do we give others our blood, time, and other precious things? For no apparent benefit to ourselves? That does not sound very rational, does it?
Just now, we were watching the movie “X-Men: The Last Stand” on TV. Towards the end, Jean Grey’s uncontrollable alternative personality “Phoenix” began a massacre with her terrible power. Trying to stop her, Wolverine himself was at the brink of being killed by Phoenix. At that point, Phoenix asked Wolverine whether he was willing to die for “them” - perhaps referring to the other mutants and humans. Wolverine told her that he was willing to die for her - meaning Jean Grey, apparently.
Whether Wolverine was willing to die for other mutants, humans, or Jean Grey, why do we humans think that sacrificing for someone else is such a noble and desirable thing to do? It is certainly not rational. Unless there is an implicit assumption of immortality - life after death. Even then, there must be love involved. Where does that come from? Where else but God Himself?
I saw this young man with his tremendously entertaining puppets in Vienna last summer (2010). And I just uploaded a video of his saxophone-playing puppet to youtube. In fact, I wrote about him and his puppets here, sometime last summer.
The video is at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAv5XuIkCDs
I sent my earlier post “What happened in 1989?” to the “letters to the editor” section of a local newspaper. But I did not really expect the editor to publish it, because of some of the fairly strong words in there. Several days later, my letter was actually published. It was toned down significantly, but with the main conclusions intact. To some extent, one can still say what one wants to say in Hong Kong.
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Upon request, I am attaching the original post below, so you can see what had been changed by the editor.
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What happened in 1989?
Some people say this is not yet the right time to make a final judgement on June 4, 1989. In fact, it is amply clear, for anyone who care to look, what had happened. A large number of young people stood up to demand peacefully that China open up both economically and politically. A lot of people across the nation agreed with them. It was a great opportunity for China to take a big step forward towards modernity.
Unfortunately, some people who were in power but were small-minded and selfish were afraid of losing their power. They convinced DXP, who held the ultimate power, that his position was threatened, that chaos and violence were imminent. If DXP had sided with the reformers, he would have been the hero who opened the door for China at a pivotal moment in history.
Instead, he sided with the small-minded LP and will forever be known to be lacking the courage to take China forward when the opportunity presented itself. Instead, he ordered or at least agreed to the massacre. He failed the test when it counted.
God likes us to be released from oppression, whether it be physical, economic, political, or spiritual. People who work for liberty and respect for humans are on God’s side. Small minded and selfish people who exploit and oppress others are despised and will eventually be discarded by history.
Early morning, starting around 1:30 AM, Hong Kong. As a result, I didn't sleep much last night. But it was fun trying to sneak a glimpse of the lunar eclipse through the thick and moving clouds. At these times, I wish I had a better camera.
Some people say this is not yet the right time to make a final judgement on June 4, 1989. In fact, it is amply clear, for anyone who care to look, what had happened. A large number of young people stood up to demand peacefully that China open up both economically and politically. A lot of people across the nation agreed with them. It was a great opportunity for China to take a big step forward towards modernity.
Unfortunately, some people who were in power but were small-minded and selfish were afraid of losing their power. They convinced DXP, who held the ultimate power, that his position was threatened, that chaos and violence were imminent. If DXP had sided with the reformers, he would have been the hero who opened the door for China at a pivotal moment in history.
Instead, he sided with the small-minded LP and will forever be known to be lacking the courage to take China forward when the opportunity presented itself. Instead, he ordered or at least agreed to the massacre. He failed the test when it counted.
God likes us to be released from oppression, whether it be physical, economic, political, or spiritual. People who work for liberty and respect for humans are on God’s side. Small minded and selfish people who exploit and oppress others are despised and will eventually be discarded by history.
On our way to the Candlelight Vigil, we heard from our friends who were already there that the grounds were filling up. We could not find out whether it was full already, and were worried that we might not be able to get in. On the one hand, it was encouraging to hear that a lot of people were attending. On the other hand, it would have been disappointing for our group, particularly those who were looking forward to attending for the first time. When we came out of the MTR station in Causeway Bay around 7:45PM, the streets were crowded with people moving in the direction of Victoria Park.
We decided to move in the direction of the football fields. When we saw that the crowd was moving forward, even though it was slow, we felt encouraged. Finally, after an apparent eternity, we entered the last football field, and sat down at a spot where we could see the stage, albeit from a great distance. 5 minutes after we settled down, the last football field was full. It was not yet 8 o’clock. Later, we heard that people were filling out the lawn, and the basketball fields. Many on the street could not get in because of the roadblocks and detours.
For the first time, Szeto Wah was not there in person. But he still appeared in a pre-recorded video. He did not live to see the massacre rectified. Will we? I don’t really know. I hope we do. But even if I don’t, I will continue to come because it is the right thing to do. I believe many people feel the same way.
For many years, it was older folks like me who attended, people who watched the events unfold, who were hopeful, worried, and then disgusted at the massacre. For many years, we did not fill up the 6 football fields. And we worried that as our generation die out, lose hope or interest, there might not be enough of us to sustain a credible remembrance.
It is therefore heartening to see so many young people showing up. Not the least the young people from our church. Many of them were not even born in 1989, or too young to have understood what happened. In them there is hope for the future. The generation of 1989 was not alone, nor unique in the history of China. They did not start the movement towards a more modern and open China that treasure the universal rights of human beings. Nor will the movement end with them. In remembering what happened on June 4, 1989, we are carrying the torch forward.
Then there were those from mainland China. Some, like my former student, were from the mainland, but are now living in Hong Kong. And there were many who came specifically to remember the event. Hong Kong can be proud to be again playing a significant role in the opening of China.
Eventually, and hopeful, we will also come to realize that the foundation of respect for human beings is knowledge of and faith in God, the creator of the universe. Without Him, there is no basis for true respect, compassion and love for each other.
This is the program of the Candlelight Vigil on the 20th anniversary 2 years ago. This time it will likely be similar. I have several friends who will be participating for the first time. Come and join us.
