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KINGSPARK NEWS Club Number: 30119 2007-08 Rotary Year : Issue 15 : 17 February 2008 |
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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
(Much
Ado About Nothing) - By Francis Wann |
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District Website | RI Website | RI President | TRF | News Room | Global History Fellowship |
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Much Ado About Nothing
Indeed I still haven・t come across anyone of any background who seems to be immune to the scandal. We・ve seen bishops, legislators, teachers and literally anyone with a mouth making various comments. The moral crusades among us were understandably abhorred at the unspeakable nature of the whole saga, lamenting the loss of basic human values and the like. Sometimes I just wondered, well it・s going to make us world famous. Suddenly we find ourselves on moral high ground talking down to others. While the police were desperately trying to justify their actions, others have already been talking about making sex education compulsory in schools, and then we have expert panels discussing the nature of education and what teachers should do at school etc. I watched some of these forums which tried to go to the root of the problems and explain the psychology behind it. But I gave up after a few minutes and I don・t expect any of our youngsters in their average mind would want to go on with the moral lecture. Then I realized one thing, ie whatever premises they put forward, it・s always that our education is to blame, that we・re not doing enough . It・s not the first time I mentioned here that they take education as the easy target whenever anything socially undesirable happens. With hindsight, those who still believe that our own education system is able to instill a sense of moral into our students must be talking out of their heads. Give us a break. What began innocuously on internet chatrooms some two weeks ago have got the whole community sitting on the edge. Now people are talking about how to ：protect； our youths who might be corrupted by excessive internet porn; next they may want to block websites they consider inappropriate; next they may impose more controls on internet file sharing etc. Today our students know more about mp3 than tape recorder, some in their generation, some probably have never seen records or cassettes. They make calls via internet or skype, and they communicate with others on Facebook etc. Yes, they belong to a class of their own which is to a certain extent never understood and considered decadent by the outside world. A few days ago I went to a performance by the UK・s National Theatre as part of the Hong Kong International Arts Festival. It was appropriately called ：Chatroom；. In the show, the actors and actresses chatted (and joked) freely about school, love, life, future, politics, and even death. In the virtual world, the discussion can be extreme, but it can also be damn serious. Anyway, it・s the world they・ve created. And to the outside world, it says, as usual, ：Meeting in progress；. |
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From
the Charter President
As I checked the dates on the calendar, I was hardly in Hong Kong so far in 2008. In fact I was here for less than a week, but I managed to attend a club meeting, on 30 January. To many Rotarians, the club is almost like a home; and I'd like to think that our members would think likewise, at least some of the time, or at least when they are away from Hong Kong. Many old timers were very proud - and I'd bet they still are - of being a 100 percenter, meaning they attend all the meetings with at least 60% at the home club. Many clubs in the district still recognize such achievement and the outgoing president would normally present them some appropriate awards. While travelling in Sydney and Tasmania, I met a few Rotarians or rather I was recognized as one because I wore a cap with the Rotary logo. I met them not at club meetings, but at markets, tourist spots and restaurants. One Rotarian was selling honey products at a Sunday Market. He was from a rather young club in the Tasmania Rotary District. His club was only chartered in 2000. He told me that the proceeds would go to a community service project. I spent Ash Wednesday Down Under. Indeed, one of the things I missed is attending Mass. The Feast Day traditionally marks the beginning of Lent, a period during which Christians are encouraged to reflect on their Faith and their relations with God and through God, their fellow human beings. Scripture readings selected for this period are typically meaningful and contemplative. For example, yesterday's was from Matthew 5, which is part of the Sermon on the Mount, in which Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment on love. He began by referring to the ancient laws of Moses which commanded them to love their neighbours and hate their enemies. Jesus told them however to love their enemies: bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefuly use you and persecute you. No easy tasks at all. You have heard every time a member is inducted that Rotary is not a religious organization, but that the precepts held by many Rotarians are highly regarded even by the vert religious. It is Rotarians who were forgiving and loving and who would pay for the education of children who attacked their countries. I refer of course to the first Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship, awarded to Japenese students. These must be true Rotarians practising the new commandments ordered by Jesus. In today's scripture readings, we see God calling Abraham to s grest destiny, one which would make him great and famous, but one which was not easy to follow. At the age of 75, Abraham had to leave his land, families and people and go to a strange land, never to return even the day he died. Abraham was hailed by Christians as the Father of Faith. God told Abraham that He is the one and only one God, and he took the word and founded a new religion based on his faith. Abraham could be regarded as the founder of the relions of Catholics, Christians and Muslims who all believe in one God. In a similiar vein, Rotarians have been called to an order of service and to serve. Rotarians believe that service would bring about international understanding and world peace, and many Rotarians have been working towards that goal selflessly. Just as Abraham did not see the land God promised him, nor owned any piece of land after he left his when God asked him to so do, many Rotarians might not see any reward for the good work and for the service they have rendered other human beings. Many Rotarians might not witness world peace in their life time, but that would not deter them from doing good or to work towards world peace. Let us contemplate on this theme as we celebrate next week the 103rd Anniversary of the founding of Rotary and World Understanding and Peace Day. |
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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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President :
Marvin Lai |
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