HK Democracy or Not

It bothers me a bit these few days about the by-election in HK. I know that I cannot change people's views but it bothers me to the extent that I should state a few, hopefully, objective points.

As we examine the history of China and the current situation in Asia, there are a few interesting points to note:

• China was ruled by dictatorship dynasty after dynasty. There were emperors that were good and there were bad ones. There are still many of them, to date, considered to have done a lot of good for the people.
• India has democracy. However, India is still very poor. Yes, it has achieved a lot economically but so has today's China. Democracy hasn't brought majority of people out of poverty because of the intrinsic cultural and social structure.
• Taiwan has democracy but corruption persist or may have even gone worse. People are crying out for better economic management by the elected government.
• Singapore is ruled under dictatorship. It is a prosperous country. Its low level of corruption and clean government is what a lot of democratic or non-democratic countries admire to have. Mr Lee Kwan Yew is considered one of the best leaders in world history. I am sure that if he thought democracy was the best thing for Singapore at the time, he would have implemented it in Singapore from day 1.
• Australia has democracy. It is a pretty decent country but people are still condemning the elected government not doing a good job.

Those points bring me to think that we get good and bad government under various types of systems. Dictatorship is not the ultimate answer and neither is democracy for HK. In fact, I don't think anyone knows the answer if we truly ask ourselves.

We are all steered by our ideological thinking that is shaped by own view, upbringing and people around us. No matter what, in such a discussion, various groups need to work together. We all need to abandon the "all or nothing" approach. The HK government has admitted that the current system is not perfect and is willing to work with different groups. Let's not insist that democracy is perfect.

Yes, it is a long road and people are getting tired, frustrated and angry. Let's persist on that road working with the government to ensure that each (small) step is in the right direction. HK cannot afford to get it wrong when it is already facing fierce competitions from Shanghai, for example.

If HK has democracy today with the composition of the current MPs, I very much doubt if the "government" is able to function well. It is not the system that determines the success of a government, it is the people that are in there.

Democracy to me is the "essential evil" in a capitalist world. I don't know what works best for HK. My gut feeling tells me that the level of maturity is not there for full democracy today. The government and the various political groups need to work out what's the place blueprint of democracy that fits HK's unique cultural and social fabric.

If yelling will help, I will. If throwing banana peels will help, I will too. Instead, I believe that God is the ultimate ruler in the world. I resort to yelling to God in my pleas to Him through my prayers and ask Him to have His will be done in HK.

I will leave it at that.

20 Years After 4th June 1989

It is almost a month now after the 20th year commemoration of the student movemnt on 4th June 1989 in China. I have long had my view on that event in that the action of stopping the student movement becoming a country-wide riot was necessary but perhaps without the use of bullet on weapon-less students.

I read and heard quite a bit about the "wants" of democratic movements in Hong Kong. They all want one thing - the Chinese Government to admit to the mistake and apologise for it. There are also many Christians among those people.

I start reflecting on Christian's involvements in shouting those same slogans. Are those slogans and demonstration going to help?

The reality is that what is being demanded of the Chinese Government is not going to happen today, tomorrow or any time soon. It takes time.

Even in a democratic county like Australia, it took the government many many years to say "sorry" to the "stolen generation" issue. Australian Government separated a generation of Aboriginal children from their families in an attempt to "make" them Australian. Most people would think that a demoncratic government wouldn't have done that and would have admitted the wrongs very quickly - Not so.

I reflect further and think about Jesus saying "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." (NIV John 8:7). I am not sure if any of the Christians shouting the slogans can "throw" that stone at the Chinese Government.

Christians, let's not blind our eyes and don't just follow the democratic movements onto the street and shout slogans. What Christians need to do instead is to pray for the Chinese Government to grow with maturity in becoming a more open and caring government for the Chinese people.

Nathan is 5 month old today

Time flies. Nathan was born 5 months ago today. We spent a nice day around Federation Square in Melbourne.

Here are some of the photos that we took with Nathan.

From Baby Nathan 朗研

From Baby Nathan 朗研

From Baby Nathan 朗研

From Baby Nathan 朗研

From Baby Nathan 朗研

From Baby Nathan 朗研

From Baby Nathan 朗研

From Baby Nathan 朗研

Nathan is looking like a kid but still sounds like a baby!

Nathan passed his 3-month old mark 2 weeks ago. We had a lovely day last weekend outdoor with him after catching up with some good friends for lunch.

He really enjoyed the occassion outdoor under a bit of sunshine. Dad obviously enjoyed taking pictures for him.

Hey, these picture is making Nathan looking like a kid. But then, he can't hide the fact that he is a baby when he cries!

From Baby Nathan 朗研

From Baby Nathan 朗研

From Baby Nathan 朗研

From Baby Nathan 朗研

From Baby Nathan 朗研

Mourn, we should. Be thankful, we should.

Here I am on the National Mourning Day in Australia. It is a National Mourning Day for the bushfire victims.

I can boldly say that there has not been an event in my life that humbles me this much. There has also not been an event that allows me to emotionally experience the truth in those very basic Christian practices - be prayerful and be thankful at all times - as much as this event.

I am a fan of Christian writer Philip Yancey. Two of his books are my favourite - "Where is God when it hurts?" and "Prayer - Does it make any difference?".

The one key message from each of the books I gain is (not Philip's words but my personal gain from the books):

- "Where is God when it hurts?" - When we see all the tramatic events happening, perhaps the question to ask is "Where is the Church when it hurts?". As a Christian, I should reflect on what my own circumstances and be truly thankful. Whatever that is happening around me, eg job instability, pales into insignificance. I need to be thankful to God.

- "Prayer - Does it make any difference?" - The key to prayers, perhaps, is not whether it can change God's decision or not. Prayer is a key vehicle to make God visible to people. God loves the people around us. I, as a Christian, pray for people around us because of God's love, because I love them - even though I don't know them but their stories sound so close to me.

Both messages are about God's presence in this world. I am sure that a lot of people ask why God allows these things to happens. I ask the same question but I know that God will not answer my questions as He gave me answers through Philip's books long time ago.

I sincerely wish this National Mourning Day can have an effect on those affected people in such a way that the healing path can start for them. I mourn with them. I am thankful that I can mourn with them. My prayers, although cannot be heard through human ears, I am sure that God can hear and He will work through people's hearts.

God, please have mercy on us in these devastating fires.

It has been a long and warm night.

After 46.4 degree Celsius day in Melbourne, the night was not all comfortable to sleep in. Fires have been burning around the state of Victoria. As I woke up on and off during the night, I listened to the radio hearing the escalating situation. I cannot imagine how much more uncomfortable a lot of people are feeling out there.

I heard on the radio that fires kept burning out of control, homes lost, people's lives lost. Urgent threat messages kept popping up on the radio. It was quick, urgent, sudden and scary.

As I slept in my comfortable home, I suddenly felt small. I felt small because I could not imagine how it was like right there at the various fire locations. I felt small because things all happened in such speed.

I heard a lady called up the radio station telling her story: She got a text message from her son in Traralgon being trapped in his house because there was fire burning around his house. She then lost contact. Her other son and his father tried to drive there but the roads were closed. It was not until 4 hours later that he called again saying that he was still holding on. He was able to fight the fire and kept himself safe.

Story likes that makes me feel small. I cannot imagine how fearful and worried that the mother was when she did not hear from her son. I cannot imagine how helpless the father and son was when they tried to get there but could not. Above all, I cannot imagine how it was like to be fighting the fire right there at the scene.

I also heard a story about a family that lost their home. They had to stay in their car on a road during the night because they did not know which road was not closed so that they could drive to somewhere safe.

It is a world that human boasts about the strength and achievement of mankind. This day reminds us that we are all very small in the larger scale of the fierce nature.

On a smaller scale, perhaps at individual level, what happens in the last 24 hours puts things more into perspective for me. Boxing day Tsunami, Sichuan earthquake and today's wild fires in Victoria all make me very humbled and small.

I remembered that all I was worrying about 24 hours ago was how hot it was going to be. Did I think about people in the bush were not worrying about the heat but the high fire danger? Did I think about those people who could be trapped by fires and closed roads?

All my problems seem to pale into insignificance. I also feel helpless. I think about what I can do to help. Perhaps, I can at least pray to God.

Lord, please have mercy on us. Please have mercy on those people that are affected. Lord, I plead to you that you help us all.

Nathan is 2 months old!

Nathan just reached his next milestone - 2 month birthday on 11th January 2009.

In the last two months, Carol and I are full of joy. We thank God for Nathan. We thank God that Nathan is growing up well. He also took is 2-month immunisation today and took it well.

On 10th January 2009, we had a dinner with families and some family friends for Nathan's birth. It is usually a traditional celebration at 1-month birthday. We chose to do it for Nathan's 2-month birthday as it would have been better for both mum and baby.

I am a bit slow with my blogging due to the holidays. I hope to pick it up again. There are a few things I have in my mind to share with regular readers of my blog. It is not just about Nathan but also other things that have been happening.

I took the following picture on Nathan's 2-month birthday after his bath.

From Baby Nathan 朗研

Photo taken with Nikon D300 and 50mm f/1.8D Picture Control Neutral Saturation+1