海龟浮上海面

A job hunter, a philosophy major, went here, there and everywhere in his search for employment, but in vain.

Having run out of options, he swallowed his pride and took up the offer of playing a tiger in a costume at a zoo. He was locked up in a cage, where he was supposed to imitate various tiger-like movements to entertain visitors.

To his horror, another tiger appeared in the cage and started approaching him. He panicked and was on the brink of collapse when the tiger said: "Don't be afraid. I'm also a philosophy major."

Nobody's Child (Harry Hibbs)

As I was slowly passing by an orphan's home one day,
I thought I'd stop a little while just to watch the children play.
Alone, a boy was standing, and when I asked him why,
He turned with eyes that could not see and this was his reply.

Chorus>>>

I'm nobody's child, nobody's child.
I'm like a flower, just growing wild.
No mommy's kisses and no daddy's smiles,
Nobody wants me, I'm nobody's child.

People come for children to take them for their own,
But they seem to pass me by and why I never know.
I know they want to take me, but when they see I'm Blind,
They always pick some other child and I am left behind.

Repeat Chorus>>>

No mommy's arms to hold me and soothe me when I cry,
Sometimes I feel so lonely, I wish that I could die.
I'll walk the street of heaven where all the blind can see,
Then I'll be like other kids, There'll be a place for me.

Repeat Chorus>>>


Nobody's Child (Beatles)

As I was slowly passing
An orphan's home one day,
I stopped for just a little while
To watch the children play.
Alone a boy was standing
And when I asked him why,
He turned with eyes that could not see
And he began to cry.
I'm nobody's child,
I'm nobody's child.
Just like the flowers
I'm growing wild.
I got no mummy's kisses
I got no daddy's smile.
Nobody wants me,
I'm nobody's child.
No mummy's arms to hold me
Or sue me when I cry,
'cos sometimes I feel so lonesome
I wish that I could die.
I'll walk the streets of heaven
Where all blinds can see.
And just like for the other kids
It will be a home for me.
I'm nobody's child,
I'm nobody's child.
Just like the flowers
I'm growing wild.
I got no mummy's kisses
I got no daddy's smile.
Nobody wants me,
I'm nobody's child.

Further Reading:

1. Intercountry Adoption - CHINA
   
2. ChinaOrphans.org
   
3. Beatles - Nobody's Child (link to MP3 download site)

Saturday 1989.10.14 19:35

In the gloomy basement theatre of Hong Kong Art Centre, with rarely any backdrop or prop, two actors, one with long hairs and the other's snow-white, are formidably conveying their messages with overstated narratives and body movements.

They are encircled by about a hundred audience, among them sat Fang attentively. According to the synopsis written on the event handout, it is a synthetic drama by messing The Myth of Sysiphus up with Waiting for Godot, so to speak.

Fang sits with "long-hairs" and "white-hairs" in a bar on the other side of the waterfront boulevard not too far away from the Art Centre. They have been there for about an hour.

"We'll have a gathering tomorrow afternoon at Xinhua News Agent's Wanchai headquarter. We'll bring with us a paper coffin and will burn a paper man at the end." Long-hairs said.

"You have been organising events in a roll in the past few months. Do you think it make sense at all? What have you guys achieved?" asked Fang.

"They're some kind of performing arts." White-hairs said aimlessly.

"Actions are everything, Fang. We show also to our fellow citizens what they can do. Unlike in the mainland, at least we can do something here. Whatever it's going to be. We just can't sit and do nothing..."

"Somebody have to show their discontent about what had been done this June. Don't you think so?" White-hairs interrupted.

"You're probably right. Many may share your views, but not the actions. Are yours a bit too extreme?"

"Extreme actions have to be answered by extreme reactions. By the way, we've done nothing subversive, all abide by the law." Long-hairs said uncompromisingly.

Even if there is no real wind of change yet at least there is a noticeable breeze freshening up. Democracy by its very nature, is something that will take many years to root before it can flourish.

At about the turn of the millennium, Long-hairs has turned himself from a guerriller street fighter into a legislator voted by his fellow citizens. He has his hairs cut, but still stays uncompromising. White-hairs, with his hairs turning gradually black, remains an activist in drama performance and many other civic affairs.

Friday 1989.10.13 14:15

Fang is in the middle of wrapping up his article on the computer. It is about Hong Kong's trade and investment perspective with China for the coming year of 1990.

"Yvonne, is your printer free?"

He raises a little of his voice to his secretary whom he shares with another colleague in the research department.

"Yap", she said.

He hits the return key and says, "There it goes!"

Before leaving for a coffee at the pantry he reminds Yvonne, "Please send it to Donald after it's done. Dear." Donald is the Council's Chief Economist.

Yvonne is a graduate in secretary profession of the city's most saught-after vocational college. She is slim, blossom to her fullest extent, with a sexy voice like she is having a cold and would sneeze in any moment.

Fang invites her once in a while for a drink, or two.

Friday 1989.10.13 14:42

Fang is in Isabella's office sitting with her and his coffee. She is the manager of the China Desk. She married to a linguistics professor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and is taking the job as a sightseeing opportunity to travel around China.

"How's the project going?" Fang said.

"Not much. Most businesses howaday are taking a wait-and-see attitude. Only if we come up with sometime pervasive and hit-to-the-core recommendations, otherwise they won't give a damn."

"We maybe able to invite a couple of division heads of the Ministry of Electronic Industry with technology transfer import quotas to attain a break-up section."

"If the business is real, we maybe able to recruite a few more to join the delegation. But don't aim too high." She said.

Obviously, the bait has missed the cunt and drooped straight down the stream with the hook.

It sounds like it is Fang's job to jet-up the number of heads of the visiting group, instead of hers.

"All right, we'll see."

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council is setting off to organize a trade delegation to attend a business conference in Beijing hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade in early December. China is trying hard to tidy up her image to the world in face of the U.S. embargo.

Fang, the Council's economist of Asia, will accompany the delegation to Beijing.

Christmas to many Chinese is seen more as a whistle blowing signal indicating that the year is coming almost to a close than a symbol of Christianity. This sentiment is further manipulated by local retailors' significant price-drop of their off-seasoned produce, hence is being directed into a "holy" shopping spree.

But it is certainly not for the growing number of local Christians.

Since late 1970s, following the central rulers' adoption to a more pragmatic approach to run their country, there's no question that religion has made a strong comeback. Protestantism and Catholicism have rebounded.

Even by officially released figures, about 5 million Catholics pray in nearly 5,000 officially registered venues. Protestants are said officially to number around 16-17 million. Researchers suggest the real figure is more likely to be around 50-70 million, and Catholics about 12 million. The add-up unfortunately exceeds the total number of communist members.

However, Catholicism in China is a paradox, because it is allowed only in China's appointed churches, but allegiance to the Pope is not. Beijing severed relations with the Vatican soon after 1949. The Vatican and Beijing appoint rival bishops to their rival churches.

Thus, to a larger extent than Chinese believers of most other religions, Catholics have formed underground churches. But it seems that regardless of Beijing's attitude, the floodgates to religion have opened and Chinese people are embracing Christianity. And, with the doors to China open, it is not easy to control the details.

The entire structure of the church in China, which is smothered by state-run organizations like the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association and the Three-Self Church (San Zi Jiao Hui) is the real sticking point between Beijing and the Vatican, which has operated from a base in Taiwan since its church leaders were expelled from China in 1951.

Through a series of quiet contacts, Beijing has insisted on two things: Vatican recognition of the People's Republic of China, instead of Taiwan and non-interference in China's internal affairs.

The first point seems less volatile, as many believe the Pope is eager to add a China visit to his legacy. The question of control, or allegiance, is more complicated.

It really doesn't matter to most in China what happens between the Vatican and Beijing. Official or unofficial, they pray to the same God.

Merry X'mas to you, ALL!


Further Reading:

1. Three-Self Patriotic Movement
   
2. An Amazing Tale of Christianity in China
   
3. The East is Praying
   
4. Christians: Worshipers in a Dark Place
5. Chinese Churches Face Challenges of Growth
   
6. Bold Congregations Risk Official Wrath
   
7. Catholics in China, the unofficial story (Update: Jan 8)
   
8. Marxism and Religion: Opiate of the People? (Update: Jan 9)