By Bishop Stephen Chow Sau Yan, SJ
The “Dynamic Zero Covid” policy has been a tune playing in our ears for quite a while. It has been effective in containing the spread of Covid in Hong Kong until the scary fifth wave. Somehow this once effective policy seemed to have met its match. Executing the policy over a lengthy period appears to have had adverse effects on the local economy and livelihood. Might some modifications of the arrangements be advisable?
I am not going to have an in-depth discussion on the policy here. To me, what is interesting is how we can apply the metaphor of a virus to darkness in ourselves and our communities.
It is said that the rebuttal rhetoric used on social media in Hong Kong has become more intensive and abusive since 2019. This phenomenon can be seen across the board, including the Catholics. The unaddressed pains and hurts may have contributed to this excessive phenomenon, which in turn generated anger, distrust, hatred and deep divisions among us. It is like the outbreak of Omicron; no sectors are spared while many lives are lost. Something must be done to slow down and even halt the proliferation.
If we are to draw from the Dynamic Zero model while looking at the darkness as the virus that has affected us personally and communally, how can we contain the spread, acknowledge the victims, and adequately treat those hurtful effects of darkness according to its severity and urgency?
The painful and divisive effects have affected many, if not all, to different degrees. These effects cannot be addressed by the legal system alone, but through lives reaching out to lives, addressing our vulnerability as human beings. It is after reconnecting the humanity among the affected parties that our looking back at what has gone wrong can be doable, constructive and helpful.
Look at how people in Hong Kong have come to the help of one another with material and financial giving during the different waves of Covid attacks. That allowed us to, once again, have the feeling of who we are as a community, supporting each other under the Lion Rock. We need time and space to spread this sense of community further and deeper. Our Church is more than ready to help. However, we need other social constituencies, especially the government, to make this possible.
While we cannot expect the rebuilding and healing efforts to cover the whole of Hong Kong over a short period, we must allow ourselves and our community to coexist with the effects of darkness before the break of the new dawn marked by reconciliation. That does not mean we are to befriend darkness but not to react strongly against those who are carrying its effects. They need our understanding, compassion, patience, faith and hope to begin their healing process. Taunting or punishing them without active and appropriate assistance will not bring forth healing.
With our love conveyed individually and communally to those in need of it, the strength of our community will increase, allowing us to emerge from darkness together and stronger. Even strong enough for us to look back at our past mistakes honestly for deeper healing and far-reaching development. Here is a great quote for summing up, “Truth without love is brutality, and love without truth is hypocrisy.” (Warren W. Wiersbe)
+ Stephen Chow, SJ
