Two events have gripped the world in recent weeks. One is the devastating April 25 earthquake in Nepal with a subsequent and equally damaging May 12 one which killed thousands and left hundreds of thousands injured and homeless.
The other is boat loads of persecuted Rohingya, a Muslim minority in Myanmar, who seek asylum in Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia to no avail. Stuck at sea with Bangladeshi migrants, they are collectively rejected landing rights anywhere, and thousands have perished at sea, dying sometimes violent, but mostly torturous deaths from thirst and starvation.
While the world has been united in bringing aid to the Nepalese, the boat people have become a hot potato that no one wants to handle. Both situations are heart-wrenching but the one that truly outrages my sensibilities is the plight of the Rohingya refugees.
Oppressed pariahs in their homeland, this ethnic minority are not recognized as citizens with rights due to their alternative religious beliefs in a predominantly Buddhist state. They have been confined into ghettos with bleak futures. Those rich enough to get out have placed their bets on a sea journey that invariably leads to death.
If they survive, where do they go? They are not welcome anywhere. The only glimmer of hope now is that the Philippines has just signalled a willingness to give safe haven to the refugees.
It is easy for me to lend a helping hand to the Nepalese by writing a cheque that hopefully translates into food and rebuilt shelter for the affected, but I cannot do much to help the Rohingya. I can only remember them in prayer and perhaps support groups that seek redress for them.
What does it take for us to treat every person with fairness, and to respect their dignity even if we do not share the same beliefs, cultural backgrounds or language? Instead of feeling threatened, we should allow ourselves to be enriched by the differences. Diversity is what makes life interesting and helps us to grow into more multi-dimensional beings. And if we bothered to look a little deeper, we would realize we are not that different underneath. We all want and need the same things: love and acceptance.
So even though I may not be able to help the Rohingya directly, I can be more aware of others in my immediate sphere of influence and ensure I do not treat people who make me uncomfortable by brushing them aside and ignoring them. I can spend more time getting to know them. Befriend them, as Jesus befriended hated Zacchaeus or the scorned woman at the well.
I am no better, and no worse, than the next person regardless of age, sex, intelligence quotient, accomplishment, social or economic status. My value is equal to his or hers in that we are all children of God, made in His image and likeness. He is my brother. She is my sister. We are all related and we all live together in one abode called Earth. Let's not fight or exclude others but work towards a world without borders or poverty. So lend a helping hand where needed for true wealth consists in the act of giving.
The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, Luke 4:18
The other is boat loads of persecuted Rohingya, a Muslim minority in Myanmar, who seek asylum in Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia to no avail. Stuck at sea with Bangladeshi migrants, they are collectively rejected landing rights anywhere, and thousands have perished at sea, dying sometimes violent, but mostly torturous deaths from thirst and starvation.
While the world has been united in bringing aid to the Nepalese, the boat people have become a hot potato that no one wants to handle. Both situations are heart-wrenching but the one that truly outrages my sensibilities is the plight of the Rohingya refugees.
Oppressed pariahs in their homeland, this ethnic minority are not recognized as citizens with rights due to their alternative religious beliefs in a predominantly Buddhist state. They have been confined into ghettos with bleak futures. Those rich enough to get out have placed their bets on a sea journey that invariably leads to death.
If they survive, where do they go? They are not welcome anywhere. The only glimmer of hope now is that the Philippines has just signalled a willingness to give safe haven to the refugees.
It is easy for me to lend a helping hand to the Nepalese by writing a cheque that hopefully translates into food and rebuilt shelter for the affected, but I cannot do much to help the Rohingya. I can only remember them in prayer and perhaps support groups that seek redress for them.
What does it take for us to treat every person with fairness, and to respect their dignity even if we do not share the same beliefs, cultural backgrounds or language? Instead of feeling threatened, we should allow ourselves to be enriched by the differences. Diversity is what makes life interesting and helps us to grow into more multi-dimensional beings. And if we bothered to look a little deeper, we would realize we are not that different underneath. We all want and need the same things: love and acceptance.
So even though I may not be able to help the Rohingya directly, I can be more aware of others in my immediate sphere of influence and ensure I do not treat people who make me uncomfortable by brushing them aside and ignoring them. I can spend more time getting to know them. Befriend them, as Jesus befriended hated Zacchaeus or the scorned woman at the well.
I am no better, and no worse, than the next person regardless of age, sex, intelligence quotient, accomplishment, social or economic status. My value is equal to his or hers in that we are all children of God, made in His image and likeness. He is my brother. She is my sister. We are all related and we all live together in one abode called Earth. Let's not fight or exclude others but work towards a world without borders or poverty. So lend a helping hand where needed for true wealth consists in the act of giving.
The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, Luke 4:18
No comments:
Post a Comment