關於 england ethnicity ，我們在網路上蒐集到這些相關的討論、資訊與評價

介紹番，《香港革新論》共同作者、青年學人何俊霆 Justin Ho

【#香港革新論文章】

// 放到這個港中關系的大框架下來看，「推普廢粵」和「棄繁從簡」又洽洽與其他強推港中融合的舉措互相呼應。不禁令人懷疑，這些語言政策背後的真正動機，就是要令粵語跟繁體字無法再成為香港與大陸人之間的分隔線，以便兩地文化漸趨同化。若然有天粵語與繁體字消亡，香港的主體性亦將岌岌可危。//

/ 何俊霆（《香港革新論》共同作者）

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

語言，盛載了我們的主體性
(原文刊於2016年2月24日《蘋果日報》)

教育局課程發展議會在去年12月發表公眾諮詢文件，當中涉及「普教中」與強制學生學習簡體字的課程發展理念再度引起爭議。那邊廂，無線J5日前開播，不但播放大量普通話節目，就連字幕也全是簡體，觀眾仿如置身大陸。事實上，自主權移交以來，有關「推普廢粵」與「棄繁從簡」的爭議及憂慮，可謂從未止息，上述事件大概也只是冰山一角。

作為大部份香港人的母語，粵語的地位與重要性無容置疑。然而，坊間在討論捍衛粵語時，往往在於強調粵語的文化內涵、歌頌其優雅。筆者認同粵語有其獨特、古雅之處，但若然我們將事件放到整個鼓吹港中大融合的框架下來看，不難發現粵語的重要性，絕對不限於語言學與美學上的價值；粵語對於香港作為一個有別於大陸的社群至關重要。

語言是文化的載體
語言學家薩丕爾（Edward Sapir）指出，人類的社會及文化經驗均以語言來理解與整理。因此，語言所包含的文化概念和分類往往會影響使用者對現實世界的認知。而他的學生沃夫（Benjamin Whorf）更認為人類思維跟語言密不可分，語言的結構會影響使用者認知現實世界的結構，因此不同語言的使用者傾向有不同的世界觀。縱使由這個所謂薩丕爾-沃夫假說（Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis）所引伸出來的語言決定論（Linguistic Determinism）普遍被駁斥，作為其弱化版本的語言相對論（Linguistic Relativity）卻被普遍接受，亦被不少研究所引證。換句話說，一方面，語言盛載著文化獨有的概念與世界觀；另一方面，文化怎樣形成與傳承，和語言也有著密切的關系。也許正是因為這個原因，在諸如納粹德軍與日本皇軍的極權統治，同化語言往往是其首要任務之一。

語言是社群的邊界
更重要的是，語言除了是文化的載體，更是一個社群的邊界；而粵語作為一種有別於大陸的常用語，更是香港獨特性的關鍵。語言不但是溝通的工具，更往往決定了哪些人能夠與哪些人交往。縱使身處相對接近的地理位置，若然兩個群體沒有共通的語言，也難以與對方溝通。久而久之，這種語言的不同便形成了某種獨特的社群邊界，同時亦使語言不通的社群發展出不同的文化。誠如學者巴塔查亞（Bhattacharya）指出，與英語混雜及受殖民地時代的社會改變影響的港式粵語與大陸的粵語不論在口音、用詞，甚至文法上也有明顯分別。這種語言上的獨特性，亦正正是香港能夠發展出有別於大陸身份認同的其中一個重要因素。隨著大陸「普簡優先」語言政策的推行，這項因素的影響只會越見明顯。

放到這個港中關系的大框架下來看，「推普廢粵」和「棄繁從簡」又洽洽與其他強推港中融合的舉措互相呼應。不禁令人懷疑，這些語言政策背後的真正動機，就是要令粵語跟繁體字無法再成為香港與大陸人之間的分隔線，以便兩地文化漸趨同化。若然有天粵語與繁體字消亡，香港的主體性亦將岌岌可危。

延伸閱讀：

Bhattacharya, A. (2005) Chinese Nationalism Contested: The Rise of Hong Kong Identity. Issues & Studies. 41(2). 37-74.

May, S. (2001) Language and minority rights: ethnicity, nationalism, and the politics of language. Harlow, Essex, England: Longman.

【革新保港 民主自治 永續自治 ── 香港前途宣言】
https://goo.gl/aAAKqv

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#香港革新論 #推普廢粵 #棄繁從簡 #普簡優先 #香港人梗係講廣東話 #做咩要迫我睇簡體字 #親不見 #愛無心 #香港主體性 #無線 #普通話節目 #簡體字幕 #要咁心急中港融合咩

反對黨中選定候選人楊美盈的一篇介紹自己的英文文章，從這篇文章可以看得出它的架構完全是依魅力故事學的角度來講。（也隱著Joseph Campbell英雄之旅的影子，連這個也講給你們聽，我已經夠慈悲了）。

細節不要問我，除非你是我的學生，就可以在秘密社團討論。

其餘的，若不是我的學生，可以報名 5 月 25 和· 26 日的 《江魔式毒辣NLP》

Entering into Politics - The Story Behind. By Yeo Bee Yin（杨美盈）
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"Why are you involved in politics?" I think this is the question my family members, friends, and many others will ask.

It's a long story. I am writing this story today to make sure that, if ever, I forget what am I in politics for, it will serve as a reminder.

Part I: The Beginning - Seed of Love

It all started in 2001 with my first Fast and Pray for Malaysia. Since then, I started to see Malaysia very differently and began to sow the seed of love for this nation. I remember I was only 18 years old then. Looking back now, I realized, I too, can be a part of the answered prayer. How marvellous.

Part II: Years on Distant Shores

No, I am not a super patriotic person that nothing else matters to me beside Malaysia. Being a 'kampung' girl, I dreamed of going overseas - to study, to work and to see the world.

Part II (a): Eyes Opened

My dream finally came true in my fourth year in UTP. I was offered a 6-month internship placement in BASF world biggest chemical site in Ludwigshafen, Germany. As a chemical engineering student, and being the first student in UTP to get the offer, it was indeed was a great blessing for me.

Internship in Germany was my first taste of international exposure as they take interns from all over the world to Germany. I spent countless of hours with some of these friends here discussing about just about anything under the sun.

In Germany, the church that I attended was Rhein River Baptist Church, which is a church of the American army who are based in Mannheim. I was one of the few non-military church members there. Through my interaction with the American armies, I began to understand what "Democracy", "Liberty" and "Patriotism" really mean.

During my stay in Germany, I also took the opportunity to travel to neighboring countries like France, Italy, Luxembourg and England. It was in these trips that changed my world view about culture, nation, development etc.

Before coming to Europe, as a top student, I thought I knew a lot. After I came here, I realized how little I knew about the world. I began to question why in Malaysia we did not learn a more complete world history, different political systems, different ideologies, arts and culture? Neither have we been taught to think critically and objectively. I began to realize that what we've been taught in the schools have been crafted in such a way that we can be easily manipulated if we are not careful. Our syllabus was (and still is) flawed and politically biased.

I have to admit that before coming to Germany, I was an ardent supporter of Dr Mahathir and his legacy. I read his book, watched his documentary, supported the blind protection of GLCs and race-based affirmative action, thinking that it's true 'patriotism'. (You can see how brain-washed I was then.)

Six months of internship in Germany has completely changed my world view , my eyes began to open, my previous perceptions shattered and I began to see things very differently. There is actually a much BETTER way for Malaysia.

I was 22 years old then.

Part II (b): A Disheartened Young Malaysian

After the internship, I came back to Malaysia to finish my study in UTP and graduated in 2006. Before I finished my study in UTP, I received offer from my dream university, Cambridge University, for a program called MPhil in `Advanced Chemical Engineering. I was so happy! So I started to apply for funding from various organizations. I didn't get any. Although disappointed, I wasn't blaming anybody as I understood that nobody was obliged to fund me. Despite financial difficulties in his business in 2006, my dad agreed to fund my study in Cambridge.

However, I still had one problem. I was bonded to Petronas for 10 years and was supposed to serve my bond after I finished my study in UTP. So I wrote to Petronas again to ask for deferment of service until after I finished my master degree in Cambridge. A few weeks later, I was called to come to the education unit. I really thought everything was gonna to be ok. There, I saw a nice guy, he told me that the program was great and he really wanted to help, but it was in the policy that they couldn't allow any deferment for the bond or I would have to pay up my bond in lump-sump. My dream crashed.

I did not blame Petronas for that, as they were just following the contract and it would be a havoc if every scholar would come and ask for deferment or for more funding. I understood that. However, it was a small incidence in the education unit that made me utterly disappointed with how things work in Malaysia. While waiting at the lounge, I met two returning scholars from Nottingham University, UK. I started to talk to them. After a while, an education unit guy came and met them, I accidentally saw their results - one of them get second class lower and the another one a third class. That blasted my mind. Here I was, with a CGPA of 3.95/4.00 begging only for 1 year of deferment, not even a scholarship, but was denied. Here they were, spent 4 years in the UK fully sponsored and yet graduated with mediocre results.

Am I not as much a Malaysian as them? Being a 23 years old, I was utterly disheartened and disappointed.

Part II (c): The Only Way out

It was just a few days after I came back from Petronas education unit that I received a call from an American oil and gas company informing me that I was recruited. How did I get the job? While searching for scholarships to Cambridge, I casually attended 5 stages of job interviews with this company as my mom advised me to go for job interview experience. The salary would allow me to pay up my Petronas bond in just a few months! Since the offer was great and there was no way that I could attend Cambridge anyway, I decided to take up the job.The company assigned me to Turkmenistan where I spent most of my next 2 years.

I was 24 years old when I left home for Turkmenistan and never thought I'll be back again. My plan was to climb up the corporate ladder and finally settle down in one of the developed countries.

Part II (c): When Money Rules

Being paid in a salary comparable to many general managers here in Malaysia, I managed to settle my bond with Petronas very quickly and saved some for myself. With the traveling allowances from the company, I traveled to many other countries too during the holidays. Life was great, I worked hard, played hard. Because of the good compensation scheme, I did not really think much about what I really want to do in life, my dream or my passion for the country. What I went after were money, bonus and performance. I became terribly self-centered.

I just didn't care anymore.

It was until 9th Mar 2008, when I opened The Star online and saw the news on the political tsunami that I realized how I still love and care about my country. They were just buried very deeply under my frustration and disappointment. How I wished I would be able to contribute to the change no matter how small the contribution was, instead of just seeing it as an outsider.

I began to question, why am I here? Is this really what I want to pursue? Do I do this because there's no more option? Do I do this just because of money? If I were born in the US with many other opportunities, would I still leave my home and do what I am doing now? How many more Malaysians out there left Malaysia because they went for better opportunities, just like myself and many other Malaysians abroad I've met throughout the years?

After more than half a year of consideration, I quit the job just months before my second promotion (when I still could resist the temptation). I wanted to be back to make a change to my nation, so that our next generation do not need to wander around the world for a better future, because the better future IS in Malaysia. I knew that I am a nobody and of me coming back would not help much, but I thought I should just do my part as a Malaysian, to serve our nation, regardless.

However, before I was back for good, I wanted to fulfill my childhood dream first, that was, to study in Cambridge University. I did not need to worry about my finance anymore now as I could afford to pay for everything. So I re-applied and got the admission offer within a month. A double blessing to me was that Cambridge Gates Scholarship, the most prestigious post-graduate scholarship in Cambridge University, also offered me a full scholarship! Everything was paid for including air tickets, living expenses and school fees! I was and always will be grateful for Bill and Merlinda Gates Foundation.

With that, I went to Cambridge University at the age of 27 years old, a long-delayed dream finally came true.

Part II (d): Living Cambridge Dream

My experience in Cambridge continued to make my burden for Malaysia even stronger. Throughout the year, I've met with many brilliant Malaysian students or working adults from top universities in the UK. I usually asked if they will one day be back to Malaysia. For those with JPA or Petronas bond, they said yes because no choice, whereas for those who are not bonded, almost 80% said No or they'll only be back to Malaysia if they can't find a job in UK, Europe or US. Malaysia has become the last resort. For the Gates scholars, it's even more dismal. Out of the 10 who have received the scholarships from 2001 to 2010 (unfortunately none received the scholarship in 2011 and 2012), I am the ONLY 1 who is back.

Where do many of the talented Malaysians go? There are all at the foreign land seeking for better opportunities and a better future. Can we blame them for not coming back? NO, absolutely NOT. Malaysia has just too little to offer them.


Part III: Hello Malaysian Politics


After pursuing my personal dream, as I've promised myself, I was finally back to Malaysia to pursue my dream for the country. Even with a strong burden for the country, it hadn't crossed my mind that I should be in politics, mainly because to me, being a politician was too far-fetch. I had no idea as in where to start, what to do, and which party to join. Also, I had been non-partisan all my life. What I thought I would do to make a change was probably community works and joining NGOs.

Until my company did a project with Democratic Action Party (DAP) in their general election social media campaign that I was exposed to politics first hand. I finally came to realization that if I want to make a good impact in this nation, with the limited things I have, it can only be done effectively through politics.

So joining politics? It was a tough decision, especially this year, only 1 year plus after I started my own business. I am not a person that go after fame and power, why bother to join politics? In addition, I am already 29 years old, isn't that better for me to find a husband and start a family? (God knows, when I was young I wanted to get married at 25!). Why waste time fighting for a job, of which I'll risk losing every 5 years and getting a pay that is not even half of what I used to get? Why bother to play the so called 'dirty politics'? As my mom has so rightly put it, "you can have a decent and comfortable life now, why choose such a hard life?".

However, what my mom did not know, is my love for this nation since I was 18 years old, and my desire to see a better Malaysia.

As I look back my life, by the grace of God, I was blessed with good and free education, MNC job training as well as so many different opportunities of international exposure. What I want to do now is really to be a faithful steward to the gifts of God and use them to bless my fellow Malaysians.

"For everyone to whom much given, of him shall much be required" Luke 12:48

So I've made up my mind to join politics.

Even after I've decided that I should join politics, I wasn't quite sure of which party to join. I was still a non-partisan by then. So I examined through the ideology, history and leadership of different parties, and had finally come to a conclusion that DAP is the best choice for me.

Ideologically, with years of European influences (though a The Economist reader), I have always been a social democrat, so it fits just well. Historically, DAP stood the test of time and never wavered in its principle. Finally, I think I can follow the leadership of DAP without worry because most of the time they make sense to me (unlike the other side) and most importantly, they uphold integrity and righteousness.

One setback of DAP to me was the party ethnicity-mix. It is still made-up of mostly Chinese and I am definitely not very into a race-based party. However, as I was involved in the Roketkini (DAP Malay news portal) Facebook page promotion, I could see the effort of DAP to reach out to Malay population and a genuine intention top down to make DAP a multiracial party. No party is perfect anyway. So I decided to join DAP and believe that through hard-work and time, we can build a true multiracial party together.

Part IV: Hope for the Future

So now, I am in politics and volunteering in DAP. What am I going to do for the next 20-30 years in politics?

Firstly, my heart is to use my gifts to serve the people regardless of income, race and religion. I believe politician is in fact public servant, we should always work towards maximizing the interest of the public.

For the long run, my hope for Malaysia is very simple. I hope that through the hard work of our generation, we'll make sure that Malaysia can be a land of opportunities and equality for our children. I hope that Malaysia can be a land where, no matter how big and what your dreams are, they can be fulfilled here; and no matter what your potential are, they can be reached here. I hope that our children, no matter where they are outside of Malaysia, they will so look forward to come back to Malaysia. I hope for a Malaysia that is free from corruption, united regardless or race and religion as well as competitive in the global economy.

And now, I shall work hard for it. May God bless the works of our hands.

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This is one of the articles summary of: www.yeobeeyin.com

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