Is there a way out?

The perspective from Hong Kong is not promising.  The coronavirus itself is actually reasonably under control - people have generally returned to work; schools are gingerly planning to re-open.  But the virus is still raging in many countries and the extend of the aftermath is still not clear.  Most worrying, however, is the political situation.  The yellow-blue conflict sees no sign of abating, the establishment is increasingly strident and taking more and more draconian actions to suppress dissent.  Granted, as many people are saying, that we are still enjoying much physical comfort, economical prosperity and relative personal freedom compared to many other places in the world.  But we have lost much of what we used to enjoy and more importantly, the signs are that the worse is yet to come.  

Stepping back to take in the bigger picture - the Holocaust happened 80 years ago but it is still raw for the Jewish people.  We don’t hear much of it in Hong Kong but when I was in the USA, anti-Semitism has never been far from the consciousness.  Hostility against the Jewish people seems to be spearheaded by more extreme factions of Muslims these days; but for thousands of years Christians were the chief persecutors of the Jews.  Currently, the contest between the Israelis and the Palestinians for the same piece of land sees no promising resolution. 

My own venture into service-learning in a foreign country started in Cambodia.  The genocide there happened 40+ years ago but it has never seen proper closure.  Different from the Jewish case and many others, it was perpetuated by Cambodians against Cambodians.  I don’t know whether that makes it worse.  But it does make it more difficult to comprehend.  

Service-Learning also brought me to Rwanda, whose own version of genocide took place 20+ years ago - meaning that many of the killers are still active in society, living next to what is left of the families of their victims.  It was Hutus against Tutsis - but it is generally believed that the two are essentially the same race.  So this cannot be explained simply in racial terms either.  A cold-sweat-inducing connection for us HongKongers is the use of the term “cockroaches” to dehumanise the victim, both in Rwanda and in Hong Kong.  Will Hong Kong descend into Rwanda 1994?  I shudder to think what might happen down the road when I hear some of my “friends” screeching the term with such vitriol.  

But Rwanda also brings hope.  Reconciliation is the emphasis now.  The whole country is clean, hard working, vibrant, confident and hopeful. And the Christian churches are playing a key role in the very difficult process of reconciliation.  Many people who have personally suffered, and lost many many family members are leaders in the effort to forgive and rebuild.  

Similarly in South Africa.  The genius and immense courage of Nelson Mandela, supported by many including the Christian churches, have prevented the bloodbath predicted by many, when the Apartheid regime was dismantled.  Today South Africa continue to face many problems.  But the country is one of the most prosperous in Africa, enjoys relative freedom, and is looking optimistic.  

The Christian churches have also played a positive role in Eastern Europe, when the Soviet Union collapsed.  Many Eastern European countries continue to face challenges.  But there is no mass exodus from these countries even though their citizens are not fenced in like before.  

Church churches have a history as long as the colonial one in Hong Kong.  They built schools, hospitals, and may charities.  They continue to be respected and enjoy much freedom to preach and practice.  An estimated 10-20 % of the population are Christians, depending on whose numbers you believe.  Unfortunately, mainline churches seem to be concerned more about when worship service can resume, rather than ministering to those who are deeply troubled, hurt, or agonising over the social injustices and conflicts.  If anything, many stand with the establishment rather than the oppressed, due presumably to the desire to “obey the authorities”. 

Churches could and perhaps should show us a way out.  But sadly, it appears that they aren’t, so far.