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KINGSPARK NEWS Club Number: 30119 2006-07 Rotary Year : Issue 23 : 1 June |
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is the biweekly bulletin of the Rotary Club of Kingspark Hong Kong Club Website: http://www.rotary3450.org/kingspark-hongkong |
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| Chief
Editor : Francis Wann Club Webmaster : John Wan |
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Editorial
(No
Big Deal; Social and Moral Values) - By Francis Wann |
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District Website | RI Website | RI President | TRF | News Room | Global History Fellowship |
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No Big Deal The last edition of this Kingsparknews went without an editorial, and if my memory serves me right, it must be the first time in the history of this online bulletin that our webmaster decided to go it alone. The result was a lone piece of article and that was it. If you bother to check the sites and newsletters of many other Rotary clubs, including- Alas - your honourable DG's - you'd be amused when you notice when they're last updated. Many of them have become archaic and most of the information is irrelevant. But not for Kingspark. Webmaster John has over the years been at pains to make sure that at least twice a month, rain or shine, Kingsparknews will see the light of the day. While you might think it's not any colossal commitment, you should also realise the physical limitations and problems of connectivity in places which are substantially less hi-tech than ours. Normally we would wait in case an unexpected article arrives, but at least we have at least two or three articles guaranteed. The fact that this time my editorial was allegedly "lost in the mail" suddenly reminds me of how fragile the virtural world of electronic transmission could be. I joked with Webmaster John that you can never really delete an email; it's stored at the ISP and can be retrieved. Has anyone noticed indeed? Well not our President who not long ago made a renewed personal pledge to urge every member to contribute to their official club newspaper. President Patrick still owes members an explanation and he certainly has a lot to answer, but his time is running out and his next president's column will probably be his last official entry for his term. Well not that the editorials are classic masterpieces, but they certainly are intended to be time sensitive. I still remember my last editorial was titled "Social and Moral Values" and explored the issue of the Chinese University Students Journal which made sensational headlines for tabloids. Today it seems passe and that it was our society - not the students - who is actually on trial. If we are in anyway shocked by the contents of their journal, please also remember they are the immediate products of our education system. Well if you listen to our students enough, you'd probably understand their moral values. When the Obscene ArticlesTribunal tried to label their contents as Category II , most students would think they're no big deal at all. Indeed my last piece also coincided with the dates when EMB Secretary Professor Arthur Li began to give evidence to the Commission of Inquiry on allegations relating to HKIEd. I was there on the last day of the inquiry last Saturday. Arthur Li is certainly not someone who 'd give in easily and next week the Counsel for both sides will deliver their closing submission before the Commission produces its report before June 14. It could be anybody's guess what the verdict could be. There have been numerous inquiries of various fashion as well as Legco select committees but they tended to end with a whim - and a long list of mild "recommendations". As they all said in their witness statements, academic freedom is the cornerstone of our society. But there must be occasions when academic interference falls into the grey area under the guise of accountability and budget constraints. In Arthur Li's own submission, " the Government has a duty to listen and share (its) opinions and give guidance and directions where appropriate. It is incumbent for all to be open and to discuss problems, perceived or otherwise..." In other words, it's no big deal. When Secretary for Justice Mr Wong Yan lung SC, JP spoke to the Rotarians during our 47th Annual Conference about a week ago, he talked about his honour of being able to serve everyone including the Government. It probably is not easy for all civil servants to serve two masters, and perhaps Mr Wong could find more inspirations in the Rotary's four-way test when at times the vision is not clear... At one point,
Martin Lee asked Professor Li if he'd ever use his influence in the
Government to achieve his objective. Li replied, " I'm only a servant."
Social and Moral Values
It was supposed to be a joke, but what a bad joke it was! But Sir David, who now represents major business interests, was at least not mincing words. He also reminded us a few things basic to the Basic Law, inter alia, Hongkong's capitalism is to stay, the introduction of the much argued Article 23, and the importance of a two-chamber system. So ten years on, is the world a better place? Rotary has been around for just over a century to date, and undoubtedly from time to time we're also disturbed by the changing social and moral values. France now has a new president, Britain will soon have a new prime minister, and America might have a woman president. The whole world's changing in front of our eyes and suddenly we seem to be at a loss, unable even to convince ourselves of the new social order. Yes, the news of the Chinese University's student journal has been all over the place, and I dare say the budding editors have good reasons to congratulate themselves for such massive publicity. Indeed nobody would have noticed its publication were it not for anything as sensational as such. I haven't read their paper, and I could safely assume that most people haven't either and they simply made their judgement based on newspaper articles. I would add my voice of disapproval to such cheap journalism, but that's beside the point. Their editors should understand very well the nature of an official university student newspaper and the prestige which it carries. There is no cause for alarm if they write something we don't approve of - the society will be the judge, and perhaps it's this sick society they're up against. The students on the editorial board might think they're being victimised and are now appealing against what they consider highhanded disciplinary action. Understandably students outside CU offer their support. Why not? It costs nothing to issue a statement condemning this and that under the grand banner of freedom of speech. What's harder for them is to prove to the outside world their publication does indeed a work of substance by universal standards. It's quite possible some of the editors and their readers at university are Interactors. What's left of a student newspaper if it doesn't aspire to shock the public, the establishment, and the uninitiated. The fuss we now see also gives them a chance to look at the broader issue of university education. Let's hope they won't be swamped by the voice of their many supporters and maintain their integrity in their next edition. I remember our PDG Alex Mak was once an editor for the then HKU's official student publication "Undergrad" in his university days, and I'm sure he still has a lot of fond memories of being involved in social issues in those days, including the fight against corruption within the Police Force. What makes a paper respectable and readable is perhaps a lesson all editors have to learn - including yours faithfully. Our students might be immature, but university students are always at the forefront of all challenges. And as the Commission of Inquiry into the HKIEd affairs continues with both sides slinging mud at each other, one wouldn't be surprised the core values of our education system are crumbling at its roots. Let our students rock; let them remind us how inadequate we are. |
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I would like to correct my brother though about the last issue being unique. It actually was not, for: I used to upload issues after issues of Kingspark News with nothing but an article from the Webmaster; and I did it every week. It was a commitment, to borrow a phrase from my brother. I did not dislike the chore. In fact, I was looking forward to my own weekly column at the time. Come to think of it, that is no big deal either. Past Governor Raymond Wong has been doing the editorial work for Looking East - the official weekly bulletin of Kowloon East - for God knows how many years. I guess it could be over 30. He is still doing it, even though he is no longer a member of the club. Such dedication and commitment is unusual. In Buddhism parlance, though, that could be seen as a form of attachment, which would need to be looked at carefully and be severed if it needs to be. It has been said many times and by many people that he has done it so well for so long that his work is irreplaceable. As such, no one dares to stick his neck out to volunteer to be editor; and so the cycle continues. If that sounds familiar, it is because a similiar subject was actually discussed at the board level some years back in our club. I would not repeat the arguments advanced from both sides at the time. They are no longer topical or relevant anyway. Suffice it to say that when the conditions are conducive, such jobs would move to someone else or they would disappear altogether with little or no notice. These things happen all the time. I used to think that the indifference and lukewarm attitude of certain members to club affairs was a reflection of their reluctance to take up responsibilities or ownership of the club. It seemed that they did not think it was their club; or that they were happy to be a passenger. "I want to be simply a happy member," was an actual statement or a typical quote from one such member. I have since learnt to take a detached view of such behaviour. Besides, there could be more than that which meets the eyes. What one sees may not be what the real picture really is; and so on. "Ownership" was repeatedly discussed in "English Patient". When, after having slept together, Katharine asked Almasy what he hated most, he said, "Ownership. Being owned. When you leave you should forget me." However, Almasy later began to demand ownership of Katherine. "I claim this shoulder blade" he said jokingly when he touched that part of the anatomy, and then went on to claiming other parts, as if it were a proclamation that his love for Katharine would entitle him to ownership of her. In the case of the Almasy-Katharine affair, there is passion and possibly love which gives rise to desires - a desire to own, a desire to be together, and so on. One could argue then, that the apparent lack of ownership could be a direct consequence of an absence of passion and love towards the club and hence Rotary. That could be fundamental. Many of us grew up with songs which glorify love - mainly between men and women - Love is a Many Splendoured Thing; The Voice of Love; A Man and A Woman; As Time Goes By; The Story of My Love; Can't Buy Me Love; and so on and many many more. Love of course is a derivative of eros, philia and agape, the three levels of love expounded in the first encyclicial of the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI. Very briefly, eros is about love between a man and a woman; philia is concerned with love of things in general such as arts, music, literature and includes brotherly love, love between friends; and agape, which is the highest order of the three, is about sacrificial love, unconditional love, love not asking for return, love for love itself. It shows that languages are not the most perfect medium for communication. Indeed, those of you who have meditated on the scriptures of Pentecost Sunday would find that languages only divide people, but with the coming of the Holy Spirit, all people of every race could understand what was said by the apostles in one simple language. Lest I might be misunderstood, the Pope did not say that love between men and women is bad. Indeed, eros is essential for the continuing existence of the human race. As Erich Fromm put it in "Art of Loving", love is the only logical answer to human existence. The Holy Father is simply saying that Man ought not be obsessed with just one form of love as if love between a man and a woman were the most important thing in the world. In a few hours, I would be away for a few days in Taipei to visit our sister club there. Then, in a few more day, I would be in North America and other places, meaning that I won't be in Hong Kong for most of June, but I would try to be in touch with the club. Until the next issue, I give you my love. |
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Views in any article in Kingspark News reflect those of the authors. They are not necessarily the views of the Rotary Club of Kingspark or of District 3450. You are welcome to write to Chief Editor Francis Wann or Club Webmaster John Wan on any topic, particularly in response to articles published in Kingspark News. We would publish all contributions as long as the authors identify themselves, the contents are not offensive or abusive, and would not offend common decency or common sense. You need not be a Rotarian to write to us and you have a choice to withhold your name in the published version. Where the contents make reference to statements or policies of individuals or organizations, we would try to obtain a response from the latter for publication in the same issue if possible. |
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Chief Editor
: Francis Wann The Board of Directors President :
Patrick Wong |
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