History complex: Hong Kong needs to rekindle its curiosity and regard for the past
Danny Chan says citizens must reclaim the right to reflect on their past, and be willing to accept the different interpretations that exist
History must be subject to regular scrutiny; everyone needs a past to make the present meaningful and substantial. The issue is whether such scrutiny answers the needs of the community.
Shying away from the pain and suffering of the past does the community no good at all. Through reflection, we can heal the scars of past trauma
The past may appear fixed and stable, yet it is always inconclusive, or new interpretations would fail to rejuvenate our imagination. Here in Hong Kong, historical reflection has long parted ways with the community, especially following the scrapping of history as a mandatory subject in the school curriculum. Now, when our society's attention turns to its past, it is often in a top-down approach. And the debates that follow usually end up in a pro- or anti-China deadlock.
It may be easy to blame that on the increased political tensions; another problem, though, is citizens' apparent lack of a historical blueprint.