To win the generation battles against the ‘lion’ called globalization
- Pastor Th. Mangthianlal
As a way of beginning this article, let me put down a thought which I came across last year during my computer training put up by the establishment there.
Every morning in Africa, the deer wakes up. It knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Similarly, the lion also wakes up in the morning. It knows it must run faster than the slowest deer, or it will starve. It does not matter whether you are a lion or a deer; you have to keep running in order to survive. We are living in a fast changing progressive society.
Survival is assured for those who have the stamina to run fast and keep running. Those who give up halfway will be swallowed up by the strong lion of competency.
However and in which ever way we may oppose, globalization is here to stay and grow. The recent pipeline dream conceived by India which will run through the Zo indigenous land to Myanmar sent a shocking alarmed gong across the journalist fraternity in Aizawl. The NESO (North East Students Organisation), the apex umbrella of the seven sister states students’ body, are staunchly against this dream project. This was conveyed to me by one prominent journalist I interact with during the process of my private research work. Then there is again the Trans-Asian Highway conceived and envisaged by a conglomeration of National governments in Asia, where India is the pro-active player, which will cut through the heartland of the Zo family. Not only that, Moreh-Namphalong has become an International trade centre along with Champhai-Zokhawthar, all located in the Zo founding and habited land in Manipur, Mizoram, Sagaing Division and Chin State. I do not want to comment and have a value judgment here. But one thing is certain, with any kind of blessing or development or new dreams, there also comes challenges and a needy adjustments as an individual and as a collective family-nation that we need to make.
Also, drug trafficking and small arms running are routine phenomena across our land which has its port of delivery as far as Delhi, Sri Lanka, Africa, Middle East, Europe and US. And not to forget, the opening of the uncontrollable and unpredictable goods swapping across the borders of India, Myanmar and Bangladesh and other Asian countries has contributed or effected the Zo economy and world view.
When we are yet to explored and fully grasp the length and breadth of our land, authorities and players in different places took decisions about our land and future after observing from a satellite aided technology. It seems at times others know about our land, though not necessarily about us, more than us. And there is a clarion call that these people even can play a great role in pointing the course of our destiny, with or without our willful participation – though God is the ultimate dispenser of our temporal and eternal destiny.
The rapid invasion of the 21st century post-modern gadgets and technology has changed and influenced the Zo lifestyles and cultures. The opening of our borders has taken us off-guarded. The Asian and global development and changes has effected us directly and indirectly, in every way. Globalization, unheard or undreamt by our ancestors is a new battle we are fighting today. Unlike the previous enemies of our forefathers and foremothers, this new enemy has no face, color, border, nationality or identity. This time we cannot kill the enemy nor defend from entering our midst. We do not have the political nor economic force to stop it.
Therefore, to win the generational battles in the war against (or with, whichever side we may be found!) globalization, I propose seven foundations of the Zo ethos.
First, fear and love God always. However time changes and culture evolves, nothing can substitute the importance of being rooted in God’s word, way and will (3Ws). The only surest way that the winds and wings of globalization will not sweep us down, spiritually, economically, psychologically, physically, culturally and ethnically is by being rooted and standing firm in Jesus Christ – the Rock of Ages! The best for our individual and national foundation is to fear and love God always and in all circumstances and changes.
Second, being rooted in our culture and way of life. No culture or way of life is superior to another. Anyone who despise his or her own culture and folks’ way of life is worst than a beast. Living out one’s own culture and appreciating and adopting the good culture of the people around us are a sign and symbol of healthy Christianity. Let’s learn to be rooted in our own culture and people’s way of life; else we will be drowning in the oceans of cultures around us. No one who is unfaithful to his or her own culture and people can be trusted.
Third, use everything and every circumstance for God’s glory and for the advancement of the gospel. Globalization is a new ally for the glory of God and for the advancement of the good news around the ethnic-nations that surrounds us. Let us open our spiritual eyes, do a research and embrace the multi ways globalization has open doors for our participation in the spiritual kingdom and join the wagon that suits our calling and gifts.
Fourth, try to know all skills and acquire as much integrative knowledge as possible but be specialized in one. Our integrative skills and knowledge will be our ally in the rapidly integrative world and our specialization will be our foundation to be an authentic and seek after actor in the stage of globalization. In this new world of globalization, doors are always open for the best expertise in any fields. If we can compete with the best of the best, the world is at our finger tips and the earth will be our stage, village and homeland.
Fifth, let our life be an example of tlawmngaihna-chhak, i.e., roughly can be translated as ‘service to others in the spirit of the love of Jesus Christ with a lasting-selfless-charity in heart-mind-body’. Without tlawmngaihna-chhak, the war against globalization will seem like insurmountable task. But with it, no matter what the opposing forces is, we will triumph and come our victorious at the other side of the mountain.
Sixth, comply with globalization that goes along well with Biblical values and that promotes and respects life and human dignity. Since globalization is a complex fibers and it may be hard to capture the big picture, even by those who sit at the top of it, yet many of its wings and parts can be for pro Zo family and be an ally to serve our healthy interests. Instead of suspecting globalization as an enemy or a necessary evil, let us adjust fast with a sensitive heart and mind and work together with it as far as those that allow our faith to function with a Bible-guided-conscience life.
And the seventh, as an individual and as a family-nation we must unite our hearts, heads and hands to survive and progress in the midst of MNCs (multinational companies) and TNCs (transnational companies). There is no other alternative. If we stand alone in this time, we will perish like fools, silently, shamefully and sorrowfully. The simplest reason – our economic, intellectual and political power could not compete that of the MNCs and TNCs. But if we join together, there is a bright, better and beautiful world for us in the future of globalization. If so, we will reap this harvest individually and collectively.
It may not be out of place to mention here that another significant and interesting reward globalization is bringing is the opportunities opening up for renewing our kindred spirit who were divided by the cruel walls of the three thin red lines (read, the three international boundaries cutting across our land and people living in Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh, India’s North East and Myanmar). Globalization has broken down this barrier to some extent, though still in a very limited way. We must be prepared and ready to channel the current of globalization to foster and revive our age old brotherhood-sisterhood for our welfare and for the welfare of India, Myanmar, Bangladesh and those nations around us. Globalization has open unlimited doors to show our love and be at service to our kinsmen and kinswomen across the international borders and also to be useful and be a blessing, spiritually and physically, to those other ethnic groups whom we had never encountered or shared our lives in the past.
Another important thing we need to note is – will globalization survive? But I prefer to put the question the other way round, for I am convinced that globalization will triumph (though I am not for or against it). Globalization is an extended arm of capitalism. And capitalism survives because its system is in coherent and could naturally acclimatize with human’s nature and attitude. Ergo, where capitalism survives and thrives, globalization will surely too.
We have the choice today before it is too late. We can be either a willful participant of globalization for our welfare, present generation and posterity in alignment with pro-life, pro-environment and pro-equal opportunity for all or we will be opposing globalization and be sweep away, individually and nationally. Therefore, let us take the first step today and now – both you and me. And if so, we will not be swallow up by the strong ‘lion’ of competency called globalization, even if it comes in the form and shape of South East Asia super highway, international markets, low and cheap goods, unending innovative gadgets, UN and National laws, outsourcing, and so on. Instead, globalization will serve as a vibrant lifeline for our individual and family-national being.
[*The writer is a spiritual and society worker. He coined the word eternitarian, i.e., a person who greatly values and works for the humanitarian cause as well as, with the same or greater breathe, for eternity. At present he is the Academic Dean at Asia Antioch Seminary, Guwahati, India. He can be contact at manganart@gmail.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ]
- Pastor Th. Mangthianlal
As a way of beginning this article, let me put down a thought which I came across last year during my computer training put up by the establishment there.
Every morning in Africa, the deer wakes up. It knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Similarly, the lion also wakes up in the morning. It knows it must run faster than the slowest deer, or it will starve. It does not matter whether you are a lion or a deer; you have to keep running in order to survive. We are living in a fast changing progressive society.
Survival is assured for those who have the stamina to run fast and keep running. Those who give up halfway will be swallowed up by the strong lion of competency.
However and in which ever way we may oppose, globalization is here to stay and grow. The recent pipeline dream conceived by India which will run through the Zo indigenous land to Myanmar sent a shocking alarmed gong across the journalist fraternity in Aizawl. The NESO (North East Students Organisation), the apex umbrella of the seven sister states students’ body, are staunchly against this dream project. This was conveyed to me by one prominent journalist I interact with during the process of my private research work. Then there is again the Trans-Asian Highway conceived and envisaged by a conglomeration of National governments in Asia, where India is the pro-active player, which will cut through the heartland of the Zo family. Not only that, Moreh-Namphalong has become an International trade centre along with Champhai-Zokhawthar, all located in the Zo founding and habited land in Manipur, Mizoram, Sagaing Division and Chin State. I do not want to comment and have a value judgment here. But one thing is certain, with any kind of blessing or development or new dreams, there also comes challenges and a needy adjustments as an individual and as a collective family-nation that we need to make.
Also, drug trafficking and small arms running are routine phenomena across our land which has its port of delivery as far as Delhi, Sri Lanka, Africa, Middle East, Europe and US. And not to forget, the opening of the uncontrollable and unpredictable goods swapping across the borders of India, Myanmar and Bangladesh and other Asian countries has contributed or effected the Zo economy and world view.
When we are yet to explored and fully grasp the length and breadth of our land, authorities and players in different places took decisions about our land and future after observing from a satellite aided technology. It seems at times others know about our land, though not necessarily about us, more than us. And there is a clarion call that these people even can play a great role in pointing the course of our destiny, with or without our willful participation – though God is the ultimate dispenser of our temporal and eternal destiny.
The rapid invasion of the 21st century post-modern gadgets and technology has changed and influenced the Zo lifestyles and cultures. The opening of our borders has taken us off-guarded. The Asian and global development and changes has effected us directly and indirectly, in every way. Globalization, unheard or undreamt by our ancestors is a new battle we are fighting today. Unlike the previous enemies of our forefathers and foremothers, this new enemy has no face, color, border, nationality or identity. This time we cannot kill the enemy nor defend from entering our midst. We do not have the political nor economic force to stop it.
Therefore, to win the generational battles in the war against (or with, whichever side we may be found!) globalization, I propose seven foundations of the Zo ethos.
First, fear and love God always. However time changes and culture evolves, nothing can substitute the importance of being rooted in God’s word, way and will (3Ws). The only surest way that the winds and wings of globalization will not sweep us down, spiritually, economically, psychologically, physically, culturally and ethnically is by being rooted and standing firm in Jesus Christ – the Rock of Ages! The best for our individual and national foundation is to fear and love God always and in all circumstances and changes.
Second, being rooted in our culture and way of life. No culture or way of life is superior to another. Anyone who despise his or her own culture and folks’ way of life is worst than a beast. Living out one’s own culture and appreciating and adopting the good culture of the people around us are a sign and symbol of healthy Christianity. Let’s learn to be rooted in our own culture and people’s way of life; else we will be drowning in the oceans of cultures around us. No one who is unfaithful to his or her own culture and people can be trusted.
Third, use everything and every circumstance for God’s glory and for the advancement of the gospel. Globalization is a new ally for the glory of God and for the advancement of the good news around the ethnic-nations that surrounds us. Let us open our spiritual eyes, do a research and embrace the multi ways globalization has open doors for our participation in the spiritual kingdom and join the wagon that suits our calling and gifts.
Fourth, try to know all skills and acquire as much integrative knowledge as possible but be specialized in one. Our integrative skills and knowledge will be our ally in the rapidly integrative world and our specialization will be our foundation to be an authentic and seek after actor in the stage of globalization. In this new world of globalization, doors are always open for the best expertise in any fields. If we can compete with the best of the best, the world is at our finger tips and the earth will be our stage, village and homeland.
Fifth, let our life be an example of tlawmngaihna-chhak, i.e., roughly can be translated as ‘service to others in the spirit of the love of Jesus Christ with a lasting-selfless-charity in heart-mind-body’. Without tlawmngaihna-chhak, the war against globalization will seem like insurmountable task. But with it, no matter what the opposing forces is, we will triumph and come our victorious at the other side of the mountain.
Sixth, comply with globalization that goes along well with Biblical values and that promotes and respects life and human dignity. Since globalization is a complex fibers and it may be hard to capture the big picture, even by those who sit at the top of it, yet many of its wings and parts can be for pro Zo family and be an ally to serve our healthy interests. Instead of suspecting globalization as an enemy or a necessary evil, let us adjust fast with a sensitive heart and mind and work together with it as far as those that allow our faith to function with a Bible-guided-conscience life.
And the seventh, as an individual and as a family-nation we must unite our hearts, heads and hands to survive and progress in the midst of MNCs (multinational companies) and TNCs (transnational companies). There is no other alternative. If we stand alone in this time, we will perish like fools, silently, shamefully and sorrowfully. The simplest reason – our economic, intellectual and political power could not compete that of the MNCs and TNCs. But if we join together, there is a bright, better and beautiful world for us in the future of globalization. If so, we will reap this harvest individually and collectively.
It may not be out of place to mention here that another significant and interesting reward globalization is bringing is the opportunities opening up for renewing our kindred spirit who were divided by the cruel walls of the three thin red lines (read, the three international boundaries cutting across our land and people living in Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh, India’s North East and Myanmar). Globalization has broken down this barrier to some extent, though still in a very limited way. We must be prepared and ready to channel the current of globalization to foster and revive our age old brotherhood-sisterhood for our welfare and for the welfare of India, Myanmar, Bangladesh and those nations around us. Globalization has open unlimited doors to show our love and be at service to our kinsmen and kinswomen across the international borders and also to be useful and be a blessing, spiritually and physically, to those other ethnic groups whom we had never encountered or shared our lives in the past.
Another important thing we need to note is – will globalization survive? But I prefer to put the question the other way round, for I am convinced that globalization will triumph (though I am not for or against it). Globalization is an extended arm of capitalism. And capitalism survives because its system is in coherent and could naturally acclimatize with human’s nature and attitude. Ergo, where capitalism survives and thrives, globalization will surely too.
We have the choice today before it is too late. We can be either a willful participant of globalization for our welfare, present generation and posterity in alignment with pro-life, pro-environment and pro-equal opportunity for all or we will be opposing globalization and be sweep away, individually and nationally. Therefore, let us take the first step today and now – both you and me. And if so, we will not be swallow up by the strong ‘lion’ of competency called globalization, even if it comes in the form and shape of South East Asia super highway, international markets, low and cheap goods, unending innovative gadgets, UN and National laws, outsourcing, and so on. Instead, globalization will serve as a vibrant lifeline for our individual and family-national being.
[*The writer is a spiritual and society worker. He coined the word eternitarian, i.e., a person who greatly values and works for the humanitarian cause as well as, with the same or greater breathe, for eternity. At present he is the Academic Dean at Asia Antioch Seminary, Guwahati, India. He can be contact at manganart@gmail.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ]
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