Countries

Today the Khmer language teacher brought along a third grade sociology textbook to teach me about the origins of Cambodia and the national anthem. Since coming to Cambodia, I have often heard the national anthem, which is broadcast on the radio at 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Although I had never seen the words, the music was quite moving. I never expected that today the teacher would teach me to sing the national anthem! No matter how broken and impoverished this country of Cambodia is, no matter how indignant the government makes people, the teacher still sincerely requested me to learn to sing the national anthem, probably because he loves his country so much. This is my first time to learn to sing a national anthem, but it is not even my own national anthem!!!

I am studying primary school curriculum here, and it is like learning civics all over again. The focus for third grade students - patriotism, unity, mutual respect between ethnic groups, love and care for public property and national treasures, and such like viewpoints - sometimes leaves me doubtful whether or not these children can understand them, and I also feel like they are trying to be "hard sell." However, these are all basic and important parts of civic education.

A weak nationalistic view

Being born in Hong Kong under British control, I heard the British national anthem ever since I was little, but no one ever required us to sing it. I recall that the year of the handover, at the graduation ceremony of an Australian curriculum school, the school very sensitively realized that since control of this place had already been given back to China, then before playing the school song, they should play the Chinese national anthem. But when they did, no everyone understood that they should stand up in respect, and instead some people felt strange or laughed. This is pretty much the reaction and view of this generation of Hong Kong people to a national anthem.

A little understanding found in a foreign country

Living in a foreign country one is often asked, "Where are you from?" The idea is to find out what kind of person I am. On the field, how one sees ones national identity is not an unimportant issue. As I am with colleagues of different nationalities, being able to accept and honor my own national identity can avoid responses arising from my own self-deprecation. Not only this, but also many of the local people (including non-church people) like to compare and make distinctions between Chinese people from different places. They all look more highly on Hong Kong people. How do I myself look at Hong Kong people's identity? I can see and appreciate that Chinese people from all three areas have their own abilities and growth, and so I can do away with unnecessary comparisons and give thanks for God-given peculiarities and advantages.

Rebecca Chung Fung-kwan