Fr. Tony’s Mid-week Message
Honesty and Reconciliation
June 4, 2014
Twenty-five years ago today, the
Chinese government sent the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) into central Beijing
to reclaim the city from unarmed protesters against official corruption and in
favor of greater democratic life in China and their popular supporters. In the process, several hundred, if not a
couple thousand, people were killed by gunfire and being run over by armed
personnel carriers. To this day, the
subject of “6-4” (June the 4th) is forbidden for public discussion
in China, as it raises troubling questions about the Chinese Communist Party’s
rule and the axiom that “the PLA and the people are united.”
I suffered for several years nightmares
and other symptoms of post-traumatic stress syndrome because of simply
witnessing some of these events. I
cannot imagine the grief and pain of the families who lost children or parents,
including the families of PLA soldiers killed by enraged crowds in some of the
rougher neighborhoods of Beijing after the violence started.
Sometimes, it is necessary to be silent
and act as if things were better than they are, in the hope that things will
improve. It certainly is better than
vengeance and an ever-growing cycle of violence and retribution. But denial is always an obstacle in remedying
past wrongs. The ideal is reconciliation based in truth and taking
responsibility for what one has done. The
success of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission in helping to
build a multi-racial society after the end of Apartheit demonstrates this, I
believe.
I do not know whether such a thing
might be possible in China anytime soon, but I remain optimistic that people of
good will everywhere of whatever political persuasion always are drawn to
honesty, transparency, and treating others well. I am reluctant to say that the Chinese
government, or the Chinese people, should do this or that, knowing how complex
their situation is, and how great the risk they run if they do not maintain a
unified and orderly country.
But all this tells me the importance of
honesty, taking responsibility, and careful attention to the medical axiom
“first, do no harm” in remedying any past wrongs and bringing reconciliation in any of our
relationships.
And I believe that is what Jesus calls
each us to.
Grace and Peace, Fr. Tony+
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