Gandhi and Christianity

 

29 September 2006God’s Kingdom is within usOctober 2^nd.2006 will be Mahatma Gandhi’s 137^th.birthday. He was proclaimed by many as one of the world’s greatest spiritual leaders, not of the century but of all times. He was ranked not just with Thoreau,Tolstoy and St.Francis,but with Buddha, Mohammed and even Jesus. In fact to me he is the human version of modern Jesus.He was a devout Hindu but became the conscience in the hearts of all men,including the British colonialist who were predominantly Christian. He lost his life in the hands of his own Hindu followers for protecting the Muslim minority in
India during the time of post-independence partition. His actions demonstrate what the ruling majority in a political system should do to protect the minorities under their rule. Fr.John Dear recalls that when Gandhi was asked what advice he had for Christians, the great Indian independence leader wisely replied, “First, I suggest that all Christians must begin to live more like Jesus Christ. Second, practice your religion without adulterating it or toning it down. Third, emphasize love and make it your working force, for love is central in Christianity. Fourth, study the non-Christian religions more sympathetically to find the good that is within them, in order to have a more sympathetic approach to people.” His advice to Christians should make us ponder on our own words and deeds as the followers of Christ. Gandhi, a staunch Hindu has understood Christianity better than many of us as he recognized that love is central in Christianity.The following words of Gandhi bear very special significance to all mankind especially Christians:“The

Kingdom of
God is within us and that we can realise it not by saying, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but by doing God’s will and work. Therefore if we wait for the Kingdom to come, as something coming from outside, we shall be sadly mistaken.”He continues  “Do you know that there are thousands of villages where people are starving and which are on the brink of ruin? If we would listen to the voice of God, I assure you we would hear God say that we are taking God’s name in vain if we do not think of the poor and help them. If you cannot render the help that they need, it is no use talking of service of God and service of the poor. Try to identify yourselves with the poor by actually helping them.” Today most of us indulge in all sorts of activities like fasting, abstinence, meditations, offering masses,     holding mammoth prayer sessions and so on, imploring the

Kingdom of
God to come to us to heal us from all ills. We wait for the

Kingdom of
God by carrying out all these rituals but fail to appreciate that His Kingdom is within us.For us Christians, the

Kingdom of
God, is the love of Christ burning within our hearts, ready to be shared with others around us – our spouse, parents, children, priest, colleagues, friends, the poor and needy, the sick and dying and even our enemies.Gandhi realized this love of God within him and shared that love with the millions of downtrodden in
India. He saw God in the poor and the suffering and become one with them. By doing so he has demonstrated himself as a better Christian than many of us. “Man, for instance”,says Gandhi, “cannot be untruthful, cruel or incontinent and claim to have God on his side.”  In the light of these words of the Mahatma, where do WE stand in our daily life? 

Dr.Chris Anthony 

 

National day, more than flying of flags

As we approach our national day on 31.8.06, our national media is full of reports of the various ways people celebrate our hard earned independence. Various generations celebrate in ways peculiar to their own experiences in life in our beloved nation, as it turns 49 come this August 31. 

To demonstrate our patriotism to the nation, we are encouraged to hoist the national flag in our homes, offices, shops and on cars. It is becoming increasingly more common to see cars fully draped in the beautiful colors of the Jalur Gemilang. Some of our politicians even go to the extent of castigating those who do not hoist the national flag as being unpatriotic and ungrateful for what the country has done for them.  

In schools our children are asked to wave flags as they sing the national anthem and other patriotic songs. Almost daily the schools organize assemblies, eloquent speeches and other activities towards this end. Being children as they are, most of them are very happy to participate in all these as they create an environment of festivities during the month of August each year. 

Is national day all about waving the national flag, singing patriotic songs, having parades and tea parties? Definitely it transcends these physical expressions of joy of our independence. It should be a day to recollect our achievements and failures over the years since independence. While celebrating our victories it is also the time to resolve to right the wrongs in our country. 

A number of issues need to be urgently addressed; otherwise all our achievements will come to naught. Some of theses include the deteriorating racial and religious tolerance, rampant corruption, high road accident rate, unacceptably high crime rate, unavailability of affordable quality education, costly basic health care, poverty, unemployment, arrogant and indifferent civil service, lack of freedom of expression and respect for human rights and alarming deterioration of moral and human values. 

As loyal citizens we must ask ourselves how we can contribute to the peace and harmony in a multi-racial and multi-religious country. To make “merdeka” more meaningful for the rakyat, serious concerted efforts by all parties must be made to correct these wrongs in our society. 

Displaying flags, singing patriotic songs, wearing special costumes, participating in parades and banquet are just superficial displays of patriotism.These do not instill true and lasting patriotism. Nationalism and patriotism are not inborn in us. They should be cultivated from an early age just like how parents nurture them in their children..

The nation, like parents, must provide for her citizens all the necessary needs before it can expect undivided patriotism and loyalty.Only with the provision of the basic needs, can true patriotism develop in the people.

Dr.Chris Anthony

Privitisation of ambulance service not the solution

 

 

28 September 2006 Ambulance service,solve not shelve the problem

I refer to your   report “Corporatise ambulance services, says MMA” (Star, September 28).

It was shocking though not surprising to know that there is a critical shortage of ambulance in the country. The health ministry is finding it difficult to cope with the increasing demands of ambulance service. 

Accidents, which comprise about 5,000 a day, are only part of the medical emergencies, what about the other non-accident emergencies?   

The delay in the arrival of an ambulance at the site of an emergency is not a rare occurrence. It is also not uncommon to have an ambulance that is ill-equipped and inadequately trained-staffed to render proper resuscitation to a seriously injured victim in the all important “golden hour”.  

At present in all major towns, the all important ambulance service is provided by the Malaysian Red Crescent Society, St.John’s Ambulance, the Department of Civil Defense and private hospitals. Within their constraints they are doing a good job but there is a dire need for much improvement in these services. 

We are told that the Health Ministry is planning to purchase 800 new ambulances and it is also looking into the possibility of privatizing the ambulance service to make it more efficient Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek admits that the ministry faced a “big problem” with the ambulance services and had proposed outsourcing the services. This is the typical way problem are solved or rather shelved these days – privatization.  

The onus of providing an efficient and modern ambulance service throughout the country is on the Health Ministry. Other voluntary bodies may be roped in to help but they alone are responsible to provide this vital service to the people. It should not abdicate its responsibility to the rakyat with its excuse of improving efficiency. 

Privatisation may not be the solution to this problem as it would be profit driven and nothing else. Like all other privatized projects, it would not only bring hardship to the people but also be subject to abuse for monitory benefits. Imagine having to pay hundreds of ringgit to transport the sick a few kilometers to the nearest hospital. Who would foot the bill especially in case of road accidents and dire emergencies?. 

Purchasing modern ambulances is important but it should also be accompanied by well trained and motivated staff to provide the service with passion and dedication. Without the latter it would a waste of taxpayers’ money to buy expensive vehicles fully fitted with state of the art equipment. 

Medical care including ambulance service is a basic right of every citizen and they should be easily accessible at an affordable cost. 

 

Dr.Chris Anthony

 

Pak Lah in control?

24 September 2006 

Reforms must be seen to be done

I refer to your report “I consult the cabinet on all matters, says Abdullah” (Star,September 18). 

After a spat of criticism of the administration of Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, many Malaysians were beginning to give in to despair. The timely reassurance by the prime minister that he is in control of his administration and has not forgotten the reforms he pledged should be welcome.  

While we agree that reforms must be introduced after careful planning and the results will take time to be seen, nevertheless the people must see the signs that reforms are being undertaken by the governing authorities. Only then will they have confidence in the government. 

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi started off with the right pledge to improve the nation and he should maintain his focus and be more aggressive in putting into place measures towards driving the nation towards that direction. 

A number of reforms may be already underway. Among the most obvious is the tolerance of the present government to dissenting opinion. Even the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz had admitted this recently. The prime minister says  that he would not resort to making arbitrary changes  without consulting his Cabinet colleagues  which is an encouraging piece of news.  

In Parliament, backbenchers and the Opposition are allowed more room for debate.  Similarly we hear ministers making all sorts of comments and even BN MPs are questioning certain actions of their own government such as the comments made by Datuk Zaid Ibrahim (BN-Kota Baru) recently. These were never heard of before. 

Our newspapers now appear to report issues that were never possible before. The recent statement of the former Lord President regarding his sacking and the public debate of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), were notable examples. More people are also expressing their opinion through the press without being fearful of reprisal from the authorities. Whistle blowers are encouraged to come forward to help in investigations. This openness, although a small step, is the beginning of a long process of steering the nation back in the right direction, and if not hampered will go a long way to check the wrongs in the country. Suppression of  public feedback and constructive criticism are sure ways to degrade the development of any organisation. Datuk Sri Abdullah may have his weaknesses and shortcomings like all of us but he is humble enough to be willing to apologize if he is wrong, which many of us will not. His less combatant and more reconciliatory approach makes more friends then enemies at local and international level. It is also reassuring that in a multiracial and multi-religious society like ours, he does not resort to racial tactics for political advantage. 

He may be not able to put an immediate stop to all the ills entrenched in society but at least he doesn’t use those for political mileage. I agree these measures may not be not enough and there is much more to be done. Changes are coming although at a snail’s pace. In order to effect these changes, there is a need to change the mindset of the administrators at all levels and the public at large.    

 It may be an uphill tussle but with him at the helm, with patience and political will, God willing, we will ultimately succeed to build united
Malaysia, which every citizen will be proud of. 

Dr.Chris Anthony

 

 

  

National day, more than flying of flags

As we approach our national day on 31.8.06, our national media is full of reports of the various ways people celebrate our hard earned independence. Various generations celebrate in ways peculiar to their own experiences in life in our beloved nation, as it turns 49 come this August 31. 

To demonstrate our patriotism to the nation, we are encouraged to hoist the national flag in our homes, offices, shops and on cars. It is becoming increasingly more common to see cars fully draped in the beautiful colors of the Jalur Gemilang. Some of our politicians even go to the extent of castigating those who do not hoist the national flag as being unpatriotic and ungrateful for what the country has done for them.  

In schools our children are asked to wave flags as they sing the national anthem and other patriotic songs. Almost daily the schools organize assemblies, eloquent speeches and other activities towards this end. Being children as they are, most of them are very happy to participate in all these as they create an environment of festivities during the month of August each year. 

Is national day all about waving the national flag, singing patriotic songs, having parades and tea parties? Definitely it transcends these physical expressions of joy of our independence. It should be a day to recollect our achievements and failures over the years since independence. While celebrating our victories it is also the time to resolve to right the wrongs in our country. 

A number of issues need to be urgently addressed; otherwise all our achievements will come to naught. Some of theses include the deteriorating racial and religious tolerance, rampant corruption, high road accident rate, unacceptably high crime rate, unavailability of affordable quality education, costly basic health care, poverty, unemployment, arrogant and indifferent civil service, lack of freedom of expression and respect for human rights and alarming deterioration of moral and human values. 

As loyal citizens we must ask ourselves how we can contribute to the peace and harmony in a multi-racial and multi-religious country. To make “merdeka” more meaningful for the rakyat, serious concerted efforts by all parties must be made to correct these wrongs in our society. 

Displaying flags, singing patriotic songs, wearing special costumes, participating in parades and banquet are just superficial displays of patriotism.These do not instill true and lasting patriotism. Nationalism and patriotism are not inborn in us. They should be cultivated from an early age just like how parents nurture them in their children..The nation, like parents, must provide for her citizens all the necessary needs before it can expect undivided patriotism and loyalty.Only with the provision of the basic needs, can true patriotism develop in the people. 

Dr.Chris Anthony