天水圍的出路
來自明報2007年10月22日論壇版，題目：天水圍悲劇的啟示——在社區中尋出路，作者陳惜姿，中文大學新聞與傳播學院導師《天水圍12師奶》一書作者。天水圍又再發生悲劇，故事千頭萬緒，有很多角度可以探討，新移民婦女的哀歌、精神病人缺乏關顧、政府提供的服務不敷應用等。而種種批評中最「就手」的，莫如指摘社工劃地為牢，各自為政......以致每次有悲劇發生，毫不例外地，社工都成為眾矢之的。
我反而想唱唱反調，社工對居民的幫助，其實有限得很。
人人都問，香港從前比今天窮得多，今天窮人起碼有綜援，不會餓死，不用賣仔賣女，但為什麼今天的家庭悲劇，比以前厲害？
與我的奶奶談起，她在葵涌村(又稱葵涌新區)住了40年，那是最早期的公共屋村，屬九反之地。居民都是一窮二白的搬上樓，家家七八個子女，開飯都成問題。
聽她說起她的老街坊，對面的男人坐監，隔鄰一家四個兒子三個食白粉，哪家的兒子又被人斬死了，像是很平常的，都是聽來嚇人一跳的故事。但她從沒聽過有女人跳樓，更不會和子女同歸於盡，掛在口邊的就是：「個個都係咁捱架啦!」是那時的人求生意志特別強嗎？還是有別的奧秘？
我奶奶都是窮人，但在一層樓中，環境算好，是第一家有電話和電視的。街坊入來看電視借電話，她來者不拒。大人要開工，有小孩無人照顧，大可帶到她家裏。街坊進而借錢買麵包、買奶粉，她負擔得到也會借，到如今樓都拆了，仍有人未還清債。我稱她是「新區俠女」。
我相信全幢42座不止她一個俠女，全港則更多。那時街坊沒錢買米，可以賒，出糧才結帳，真是沒錢的，老闆不會逼人太甚。用今天的話說，那就是「社會資本」，街坊綿密的網絡關係，帶來信任和關懷，是渾然天成的自助組織，這正是天水圍目前最需要的東西。
這不正正是基督教最核心的群體價值嗎？這不正正是教會最有本錢提供的嗎？
Labels: Reflection, Thorns
我想, 是現在的人有堅定意志的...少了很多. 公屋的人, 窮的, 大不了會成為黑社會.我不是指當黑社會是好事, 但至少不是有問題就死掉算數. 好的, 可能就打三份工, 或者細路十歲就出黎搵食. 窮, 但至少不會走上絕路.
以前人與人之間有信任, 鄰居大家真的能做到守望相助. 但今時今日, 我想很多人連鄰居姓甚名誰都不知道, 又如何可以互相幫助?
Posted by
蛋治 Canchi |
October 23, 2007 11:42 AM
People like us in North America don't have any shortage on material, same as the churches. And some of the churches don't put this kind of stuff in a high priority. And actually we are giving up chances to act out our faith, to tell/show people God's love in us.
I remember when I went to the Hill Song United concert, the preacher said that why let the rock star to be the loudest voice to lead people to do good things on earth, but not the churches?
I'm not saying that churches should focus on social justice/ charity work, but I think that's the thing we must include in the church agenda.
Posted by
CHOWMEIN |
October 23, 2007 12:21 PM
Jesus said, love your neighbour as yourself. And we asked, who's our neighbour? We thought they're the people who we "conveniently" encounter (such as family members or colleagues). But this term also means neighbour, literally.
We have given up the idea of "neighbourhood" in North America. We don't even know our neighbours, not to mention having a relationship. This loss is actually much bigger than we thought.
The church should be a place where people can be connected. And a church should be community based, helping the community become a real community. When a church gives up her social-community function, the community dies.
Yes, God has not put any salt or light in the world other than the church.
Posted by
Alan Yu |
October 23, 2007 11:38 PM
睇新聞嘅時候，見到列治文被飛機撞嗰橦大廈嘅居民唔知去邊度住，有中僑有慈濟幫佢哋，我wonder點解咁多間教會都無一間可以去幫吓呢班朋友？
真係有咁多其他更重要嘅事要處理咩？
Posted by
May Chan |
October 24, 2007 6:27 PM