500 rally in Hong Kong against Christian right movements
Slogan says "The pantisocracy is close; God should repend". Photos from http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=47471402827
About 500 people went to the streets of Hong Kong yesterday rallied against religious right groups for hijacking public opinion on contentious issues such as gay rights, reports the Apple Daily.
The rally was organized through Facebook and online forums by two teenagers, Cheuk Yin Lee, 16, and Hei Fai Tsun, 18. Both are studying at Christian/Catholic schools. The Facebook campaign started 18 days ago and has attracted over 2000 members. About 500 joined the “Protecting Civil Values From Religious Right” Demonstration” on Sunday.
The organizers name themselves “Concerned and Action Group Against Religious Hegemony” (宗教霸權關注行動) in Chinese, and “The Civic Movement Network” in English.
On Facebook, they wrote:
We call ourselves “the civic movement network”. We come from many walks of life including students, professionals, teachers and parents. Some believe in religion, other do not, however despite our differences, we share a common belief. Together, we treasure the core values of our civic society which have developed extensively – equality, human rights, democracy, rule of law, mutual dialogue, rational debate, tolerance, free and independent thinking, pluralism, transparent governance, care and concern for the minorities and under-privileged, respect for an individual’s rights and freedom to choose their lifestyles in pursuit of their happiness as long as others are not harmed.
Recently, we have seen alarming signs that demonstrate that these core values are being eroded and trampled upon. There has been a push towards singluarism, close-mindedness, conservatism, intolerance, authoritarianism and discrimination. Some groups push their agenda, ideology and values by their own ways and means which go against the core values of a civic society. These groups simplify complex public issues into plain black and white matters with a consistent moral and immoral dichotomy. Furthermore, they hijack public consultations while positioning themselves as the moral voice and label all differing opinions as “immoral”. This effectively destroys mutual dialogue, rational debate, tolerance, free and independent thinking, pluralism, and individual rights. These groups can mobilize large groups of people and have networks in places such schools where they stir up people to join under malicious slogans, getting school teachers and students to follow their agenda, mocking our civic education, stifling free and rational thinking.
For issues concerning our human rights and the improvement of rights of minorities, they hijack the consultation process, stall legislation to improve human rights and equality, thus hindering the development of our civic society. This pushes our society towards singularism, intolerance and anti-intellectualism. Understanding and tolerance have been replaced with fear-mongering where misinformation is spread.
Some recent examples include misrepresenting amendments for the Domestic Violence Ordinance as a case of forcing society to accept homosexual couples; claiming that the review of Control of Obscene and Indecent Article Ordinance (COIAO) will result in a media flooded with “pornography” and “immoral material”. We see shocking opinions and reasons that defy reason and logic. They relentlessly silence any dissent while pushing their agenda forward and showing bigotry to certain minority groups like sex workers and homosexuals. There are many other issues which are being threatened by these intolerant members of our society.
We want to raise our voices to warn the public of the dangerous direction that our society may head and that we should work to return our society to the path of a civic society.
For this, we will hold a rally on 15-February-2009 (Sunday) to express our voices and pledge for support. We call on those who treasure the core values of a civic society like we do to come and support us and say an assertive and peaceful “no” to the religious and ideology tyranny while asking them to respect the fair and square rule of engagement in a civic society. We are aware of the harm that has been done and we must heal our society and reconcile.
Christian right groups have been lobbying to revise the drafted “Domestic Violence Ordinance”, demanding to exclude violence among same-sex common law couples from being protected under the Ordinance. They said protecting violence against same-sex common law couples would mean accepting same-sex relationship as “family”. They said accepting same-sex couples means promoting HIV/AIDS. Christian groups have also been demanding the government to enforce stricter rules on censoring “indecent” publications. The government is inviting public input in reviewing the “Control of Obscene and Indecent Article Ordinance”.
According to the government website:
The policy intention of the COIAO is to preserve the free flow of information and safeguard the freedom of expression enjoyed by Hong Kong people on the one hand, and to reflect standards of public decency as they should apply particularly to articles intended for young and impressionable people on the other.
Demonstrators said the Christian right are like the “Taliban of morality”, saying they twisted the teachings of the Bible to fit their own conservative agenda. The rally participants also accused the government and politicians for “collude with the ultra right” to block freedom of speech.
Cheuk Yin Lee is a Catholic and has been going to the church since 13 years old. He went to a Christian school when he was at F.1. According to Lee, he was scolded by his teacher after going to a Halloween party held at the Ocean Park. At the biology class, he was shocked that the teacher required the students to study the “religious point of view” when evolution was taught. Lee quit the Christian school two years later. He is now studying at a Catholic school.
“I think there is more freedom in Catholic schools,” Lee said.
Tsun said he was very concerned when hundreds of religious right advocates surrounded the legislature building a few weeks ago when the domestic violence laws were being debated.
“I was completely stunned,” Tsun said. “I don’t understand how they could mobilize so many people to do that (surrounding the legislature). I’m so worried that Hong Kong people have become so narrow-minded.”
They argue that they are not against the Bible but they want to say that the Bible IS NOT the absolute truth. Many gay rights groups participated in the rally.
Hong Kong doesn’t have any pride parade (in fact, the only Asian city that hosts a pride parade is Taipei). The anti-religious-right campaign is a rare event in Hong Kong.
Here’s their YouTube (Chinese):
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mK_WuXUrSyc
Here’re two TV features produced by the RTHK. They showcase the increase in influence of the religious right on Hong Kong politicians. They also argue that the “family violence ordinance” is about human rights and should not become a discussion on morality.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_D2aUpXYtg
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ix1UBgaLePs
Now the HK people are realizing the power of the religious right, the same shocking mental process that I went thru in Canada. However, I think the Hong Kong people are luckier because the society still allows the mainstream media to talk against the religious right…. not in Canada. It’s too much a taboo here.
——————-
Just found some interesting sites in HK (in Chinese):
The Scary Bible (Truthbible.net)
Canada is a backward, ignorant racist regime.
The RTHK tv programme is so fair and objective.
YOU don’t ever see something like that in Canada. Here, we only get propaganda.
sorry hk boy, i deleted your posting about mingpao closing the san francisco article. i really don’t think it has anything to do with this article here. and i don’t really need a reminder. hope you understand. :)
Canada does have it fair share of racism but luckily we aren’t as bad as other countries.
hows this for a protest of rights!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kogWLPJII1M
edwin, this is totally FUNNNNY!!!! thx for the laughs. u made my day. :)
I was laughing so much at work.
She’s like a little child.
Your blog is getting better and better! you could have a your own TV show haha or do you want to be anonymous?
hahaha, whoever took the video was funny too… he/she seems to be chasing this woman around to shoot. haha
thx for the nice words, edwin. TV show? no kidding…. i’m EXTREMELY camera shy :P
The media in Canada has a great many stories about the evil caused by the religious right. Look at any article dealing with the Anglican Church and gay marriage rights. The “Canadian Anglican Church divides over gay marriage ” is a common topic. Look at this weekend’s Vancouver Sun discussing the Mennonite Church in Abbotsford and how it views incest committed by a pastor there. Yes, the Canadian media covers the religious right pretty well!