Between the Polarized Extremes of Abortion

From my contribution to a forum hosted by Speaking of Faith:

I’m a recent college graduate who is re-engaging with my home church where I came of age spiritually throughout my teenage years. Coming from a liberal culture in the Boston public schools, I attended Gordon College, a Christian liberal arts institution, and really wrestled with spirituality, ethics, and politics. I believe we ought to protect life in all forms, but I am frustrated at how Evangelicals have engaged in politics with a holier-than-thou attitude and a non-negotiable approach to complex public policy issues.

It’s been difficult trying to articulate a biblical view of justice, compassion, and equality (therefore endorsing some “liberal” agenda items) and not be dismissed by fellow Christians as “not serious enough about faith.” The assumed norm is that a Christian should have a clear conviction on life ethics and marriage and family values, and when political support for a candidate who is pro-choice — that is deemed to be an unchristian and immoral choice. This seemingly unequivocal support for pro-life candidates and the GOP is only matched by a stubborn suspicion of liberal

candidates and movements, which advocate for moral values such as creation care, economic stewardship, equality, peace-making and justice — all of which are prominent moral issues in the Bible. I personally believe that this type of support is encouraged by the assumption that Christians ought to stand up for what’s right while the secular society is doomed — which is an incomplete and divisive view of civic engagement.

Moreover, the reality that life-ethics is such a vital issue adds to the self-righteousness of Christians that are for it. However, this is often just a proxy for conservative agenda to maintain the status quo of unfettered spending (government and individuals), free-market fundamentalism, and worst of all, not addressing the problem Christians are trying to tackle in the first place. Voting pro-life thus becomes the easy choice for Christians because it ultimately asks very little for the Christian in terms of civic engagement and in return rewards him or her with the satisfaction of standing for the truth. Why wrestle with justice, inequality, gender and sexuality in a pluralistic society when a Christian can start and end political engagement with the ballot and the picket signs? When the battle is focused on verbally attacking pro-choicers, harassing abortion clinicians, and fanning the flames of culture wars (of sexual ethics, class, and race) — it diminishes the opportunity for Christians to step in as agents of compassion, affirmation and effectiveness. This then results in extreme pro-choicers and other secularists filling the vacuum with inconsistent life-ethics and removing moral and spiritual dimension in such vital choices — leaving pregnant women with little middle-ground alternatives.

After all, public discourse is important, but uncivil debates do not serve women who are facing the decision to terminate to sustain pregnancy. Christians should be as scandalized by the daily murders via abortion as daily struggles that women face and the larger culture and narrative of gender roles, sexual ethics, social accountabilities, family, and class. Unfortunately, these conversations are quickly deemed as socialist or liberal and therefore unwelcome in Evangelical religious discourse — a dynamic which I think shows that Evangelicals are “single-issue” voters with an underlying materialistic and individualistic agenda. I think, therefore, voting pro-life feels good, a Christian feels good to know he/she is on God’s side, but are slow to examine the causes of high abortion rates (abortion is not always just a convenient choice), slow to lead a lifestyle of service and sacrifice (think about how frugal and generous habits can affect the community, and make room for adoption, counsel or service for women and families), and slow to see the humanity in the other side, the victims and those who deserve reaching out to and working with to reduce the number of abortions.

Lastly, I’d like to point out that the GOP and conservatives in the political class recently have courted the Evangelical vote quite effectively, but in fact have betrayed our trust not just by acting with arrogance, exceptionalism, and alienation of opponents, but also simply by being ineffective and unapologetic — which shows in the Bush Administration’s recent cutbacks of contraceptives in Africa. If Christians can start walking humbly in this issue, God also has a host of issues He invites us to be co-workers with him on — to steward nature, to administer justice, to feed the hungry and care for the imprisoned, the sick, and oppressed.

Barack the President – Change begins tonight

On this historical, generational and unprecedented night after twenty-plus months of campaigning – I am proud to witness the election of the 44th president of the United States of America, my adopted country and the most consequential nation-state in history.   As a young Asian American coming-of-age in a post-9/11 world, voted only for the second presidential elections, having no personal memories of the struggles for Civil Rights, women’s suffrage, equality and global security, and being far removed from the deep scars of slavery and Jim Crow – I am grateful to be alive to usher in, with my fellow Americans, across generations, racial lines and cultural diversities, and along with weary eyes across the globe, a new generation of leadership embodied in the first Black and biracial President-elect whom I have observed and supported since his announcement for the presidency.   Beyond the sober verdict on the past eight years of foreign policy hubris, fiscal brashness and the betrayal of domestic trust and international respect – this decision begins a long road ahead for redemption. It starts on a forward-looking note by having the most powerful office in the world occupied by Barack Hussein Obama – a person of grand yet rooted vision, wise political instincts, skillful grasp of law and public policy, and an inspiring and transcendent biography for American and global citizens alike – from the emerging corners of Obama’s paternal ancestry, to the deferred dreams of urban decay where he worked amongst, and to the everyday determination and faith by Americans like his late maternal grandmother.

The excitement tonight is only matched by the tremendous challenges ahead.  The journey will be difficult in repairing our broken economy, divisive cultural fabric, international partnerships, unequal access to education, and the health of our democracy and health – period. It is my prayer that this moment is blessed by God, that change is really going to come, and America will be on the path toward repentance, healing and resurgence in diplomacy, innovation, sustainability and inclusiveness.  I pray that God will keep us humble in the midst of optimism, hopeful in the midst of crisis, and grant us the necessary strength, unity and creativity to work towards justice, peace, and wholeness.

Yes we did!  America has given itself a chance to renew its promise. Although tonight is a monumental milestone for a victory by the unlikeliest of candidates, it is most importantly a wake-up call for ordinary citizens with not only a vote, but a life to live fully and responsibly on behalf of our communities, our world, our children and our future.  We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.  Change begins tonight – let us get to work!

People’s Olympics

2008.08.08 8:08pm – This is modern China’s shining moment, and another quad-annual opportunity for global citizens to demonstrate world peace.  Nations come together and compete, not by bearing arms or wielding swords (except for fencing and shooting) but rather by sending their most talented and disciplined athletes to participate in two weeks of spectacular contests and represent their best and push the limits of human possibility. China has endured decades of humiliation from foreign invasion, mass poverty and internal revolution, and is doing everything in its power to put on the best face for this official coming-of-age milestone. However, Beijing’s Summer Olympics has never been under greater scrutiny and politicking since Berlin’s during the Third Reich. Albeit important voices of dissent, criticism, and even prophecy have emerged since the IOC awarded Beijing the right to host the games, the Chinese government is poised to prove to the world that the oldest continuous civilization is not to be swayed by Western paternalism, foreign interference and internal uprising.  Rightly so, it is the Chinese people’s desire for the world and most of its leaders and citizens to take this moment to enjoy the celebration and be dazzled by China’s rich history, culture and impressive modernization.

The sad reality is that humanity’s conflicts, along with the collateral social, spiritual and physical damage, do not take vacations, be assuaged by lofty slogans, nor pause for grand celebrations. In fact, the Olympic spirit, and the arbitrary “Olympic truce” was spoiled as Vladimir Putin watches the opening ceremony when conflict escalated in the breakaway region of South Ossetia between Georgia and Russia. However, hope does allow us to work harder toward real peace through these inspiring weeks of solidarity and sportsmanship.

Nevertheless, dissent and protest can inspire as well. It is cliche at best and morally irresponsible at worst to marginalize those issues (ranging from Tibet to Darfur, inequality to corruption, pollution to product safety) in order to stage a party. Indeed, some of the most memorable and inspirational Olympic moments have been political in a sense that athletes spoke for the voiceless and empowered the oppressed through their triumphs and accomplishments.  Still, many have dismissed the complicated political, social and environmental challenges in China by adopting the concept that sports and politics should be separate. Although it is a good policy, as vital as church should be separated from state, sports is inherently political.  The race toward the most medal count is only another platform for the human instinct to compete and express tribalism. Host nation China and its state-sponsored athletic machine has put pressure on itself to surpass the US in gold medals. The rising power, with the current spotlight, will be able to foreshadow the eclipsing and weakening, but still unprecedented, hegemonic power. Yao Ming, China’s flag-bearer, is arguably the most well-known and respected Chinese alive. His stature characterizes the remarkable growth of China, and his personality and reputation reflects his country’s values of collective-before-individual, hard-work and excellence. Meanwhile, America’s flag-bearer is relatively unknown, especially compared to the country’s plethora of overpaid superstar athletes. The former “lost boy of Sudan,” runner Lopez Lomong, embodies America’s story of an immigrant’s self-determination and escape from brutal circumstances. These designations are hardly motivated purely by sports, but rather heavily marked by political overtones and patriotic passion. For this instance, the narrative propping up the stars and stripes is a provocation of the contentious issue of China’s business involvement and corresponding political apathy in Darfur – and America’s principle of standing up for human rights.

The Olympics is also a chance for nations put themselves “on the map.” But despite incredible stories of Iraqi, Sudanese, Afghani athletes, and others from smaller and more unstable nations, these next two weeks, as with the previous and next four years will be a showcase of the tension between America and China. Moreover, after the ‘one world one dream’ ends, the world, and especially these two giants, will return to the relentless pursuit of resources, wealth and power – and all the social consequences, environmental destruction and political conflicts that it entails.

Graphics courtesy of the New York Times and The Economist

One China Different Dreams

Monks protest near the India/Tibet border_____ Finishing touches of the “bird’s nest” in Beijing

The ideal expressed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics slogan “One World One Dream” and the reflected Chinese government principle toward a “harmonious society” is increasingly being challenged by recent internal struggles. These tensions are highlighted particularly in independence or what the CCP labeled as “separatist” movements in Xinjiang & Tibet as well as dissatisfied residents across the provinces expressing concerns over land rights, environmental degradation, et cetera. Moreover, external criticism (i.e. investment in Darfur’s genocidal regime, crackdown on dissidents) increases the pressure for China to successfully run its first Olympics – and in many ways, Modern China’s coming-out party in the grandest stage possible.

As China puts on its best face with monumental construction that is transforming Beijing, there are foundational issues of unity that have threatened the central government’s efforts. This week alone, the Chinese authorities reported a failed hi-jacking plot by a Uighur group suspected as being the “East Turkestan Islamic Movement.” Many sources expressed suspicion that China is using the terrorism trump card to dismiss any voices of independence from minority groups. Meanwhile, as the Olympic Flame is set to arrive at the summit of Mount Everest, Tibetan monks and students in the exile community Dharamsala intensify their protest, and continue to march toward the India/China border with similar rallies surging across India and Nepal. On Friday, the streets in Lhasa turned violent – the most chaotic in twenty years. Chinese military vehicles and shops were set ablaze, as witnesses have also reported incidents of clashes between military police, Tibetan and Han Chinese merchants, and numerous people were wounded in the riots.

This unprecedented pressure is inevitable for any country hosting the Olympics. However, this is even more poignant in China’s case – historically and culturally speaking. Will the authorities continue to act more authoritarian and risk backlash? Or will the government take this opportunity to adopt newer approaches in handling unrest? Will the foreign media play a constructive role in goading China or exacerbate Chinese skepticism of foreign intervention? How can the government avoid a 1989-style tragedy? How will this historic event change China politically?

This level of attention is indeed what China asked for and is proud of, but it also brings an international chorus of scrutiny and surge of activism. Not to mention the opportune moment the Games bring for many disenfranchised and silenced groups within China to demand change. The Party (CCP) must get use to this, because it will not go away, even long after the party (Olympics).