Re: hakka: HK envy

["Dylan Sung" <dylan@sungwh.freeserve.co.uk>]

Hi Jonathan, Wing Lau and Fellow Hakka Netters,

(I've just copied to Hakka Global Network and not included your email address to reduce repetition of received email messages, and of course to the Hakka Forum and wing.lau as an update.)

:Hakka people traditionally(for the past few hundred years) lived in the
:mountain areas as flatland has already been occupied and as Hakka expand
:forward due to increased population, it has to expand into existing local
:people usually in flat land and inevitably created tensions and armed
:conflicts. 

Yes, many of us, me included, are of this Hakka background. However the past is a different country. 

:The Hakka language while is among the 6 largest dialect group is losing
:ground rapidly due to weak economic, cultural, and to some extent political
:power.  The Hakka need to regain self-confidence as an ethnic group to
:ensure its cultural survival and prosperity.
:This can be done through education and cultural activities in individual
:families, Hakka associations, and Hakka community at large.

We need to look at the present and the future. What's been done is done, and there is no way we can change that. However, we can affect the future by doing something now. Ranting on about the past wrongs done to A or B by C and D isn't going to solve anything in our everyday lives right here, right now. Bellicose language doesn't help with our reasoning for our cultural recognition. 

To gain respect, we must respect others, whatever their backgrounds. If we stir up the hornet's nest of hate towards other ethnic groups because of past injustices, what does that say about ourselves? That is why I raised my voice against such recklessness. Please do not mistake Hakka patriotism with the need to hit out at others. This is not a sensible solution.

Cheers,
Dylan.