Newsletter of the WSCF Asia-Pacific Region
No.2, May - August 2001
Perspective
Violence Against Dalits and India's Official Stand
Women Space
Media Violence
Violence Against Women
Solidarity
No! To the Distorted History Textbook
Regional News
Movement News
Cover
The artwork in cover is done by Esther Ng from SCM Singapore.
Editorial Team:
Rev. Shin Seung Min
Ms. Necta Montes
Ms. Wong Yick Ching
Violence. When one thinks of violence, it appears in all forms and in almost everywhere. Ranging from the obvious effects of the countless rounds of war we witnessed on earth, to violence done to women, to children, to animals, to the environment, to a different race or religion, and to people of a minority culture. As much as there is visible physical violence, there is also a kind of violence we rarely observe: the emotional violence we could inflict to each other and to the self in our daily life. Violence covers a wide spectrum and it needs our utmost attention and efforts to make all our lives a better one.

When I read the World Council of Churches' (WCC) brochure on its coverage on the Decade of Violence, there appears one very contemplative statement: Who/what are the perpetrators (of violence)? For most human beings, it has often become a habit to shift the blame to others, to focus on the people who are the visible and apparent perpetrators, and to ally ourselves to people who are working in the process of alleviating violence, peace building and conflict reconciliation. While this is one aspect of human beings' efforts to overcome violence, another important aspect is to honestly ask ourselves are we in any manner, contributors to one form of violence or another? Although most of us do not inflict physical injury to others or declare wars out of no reason, could we be called an accomplice when we fail to be sensitive to the environment in our daily practices? Or when we overlook the patriarchal system that has effected a subtle (or even obvious) violence to women, or perpetuating the sense of superiority over others (leading to racism, discrimination and inequality)? And importantly, are we neglecting to be kind to others?

Violence starts from the self. It starts when we neglect the spirituality in ourselves that comes in the form of kindness, love, compassion and peace. It starts when we became unkind, insecure, negligent, and heavily obsessed with our own beliefs of what should be correct and right. Before we cultivate peace and alleviate violence in all other pressing issues, we have to first address the cultivation of our own spirituality in relating to another living being and to the environment. To understand our own spirituality is an arduous task, but we have to since as Christians and as human beings, it is unmistakably, just what we have to do.

This issue of Praxis carries messages of anti-violence. We have an article as well as a poem on Violence Against The Dalits by Elizabeth Joy, another on Media Violence Against Women, and one on Violence Against Women - An Issue of Human Rights. There is also a solidarity message on the Anti-Japanese School Textbook which could be deliberately shunning the responsibilities of War Violence. We hope these articles would inspire some contemplation on making life more peaceful and beautiful for every human being. Have a good read!

Wong, Yock Leng
Regional Women’s Coordinator