Her resignation has not yet been accepted by PKR leaders, and there are lots of people who are willing to support her through this crisis. However, there are also some who had demanded her resignation, such as Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo. He said:
Another "gem" was spoken by Kuala Kubu Baru MCA assemblyman Wong Koon Mun, who said:“This is a moral issue and Malaysians cannot accept leaders with moral issues and so she must vacate her State Assembly seat."
"And if it’s her boyfriend as rumoured, it is morally wrong for a single woman to allow a man access to her room."What utter hypocrisy! Rather than focus on the wickedness of the crimes committed by the perpetrators, they choose to villify the victim by attacking her moral character. This is no different than blaming a rape victim when she is raped. Even if a rape victim does sex work for a living, that does not lessen the fault of the perpetrator in any way.
In the same manner, although Elizabeth Wong may have had sexual relations as a single woman, that should have no bearing whatsoever on the crime that has been done against her - a gross violation of her privacy. It is an abuse of a woman's body and her sexuality; it speaks of the double standards practiced in society where it is OK for men to have pre-marital sex and gain a rank up the social ladder. But for women who engage in the same practices, they are labeled sluts.
Would the same virulent moral accusations be thrown at Elizabeth Wong if she had been a man? Most probably not. In fact, such pictures would probably not have been taken at all as they would not have caused half the furore they're causing now. So, why is it that women's bodies are so easily exploited? Enough with placing women in moral straitjackets of so-called purity and chastity while men are not held accountable for the same standards.
Surely there cant be any disagreement about the violation of privacy issue . No one questions that the perpetrator deserves to be brot to justice. I can also appreciate the gender issue that arises in the context. But it seems to me that everyone has chosen either to ignore, brush aside or excuse the morality of her action/s as irrelevant. It is not irrelevant. The fact that she has been victimised is a separate issue, but I cannot agree that just becoz it was a private affair which didn't hurt or harm anyone else, that she is a mature adult entitled to lead her own life the way she sees fit, that she has done so much good in public, that she has not broken any criminal laws, which are all good and true, but all that doesnt excuse her from being subject to a much higher divine law which governs all human morality. It is sad that this is the issue that everybody seems to forget in all the hype.To be fair, i dont know and i dare say many who are making comments dont know for sure the exact content of the photos or the circumstances of how they were taken. The morality of her action has to be held accountable and judged not against any relative, variable human standards, but against the absolute standard of divine law, which is present in every religion. If she has breached that, then she should do the right and honorable thing - confess, repent and resign. And surely God is gracious to forgive and reinstate, as we too should be.
ReplyDeleteChristine: If she feels that she has done a dishonorable thing, then she has every right to resign. To me though, she only has to answer to God for such actions in her private life.
ReplyDeleteIf her people want to boot her out just because they think she had pre-marital sex, then so be it, I guess.
Although, I really don't see how one's sexuality matters in one's job as a politician. To me, values like integrity, humility and selfless leadership are more important than one's sexuality. For example, having a lesbian prime minister with high integrity would surely serve the people better than a heterosexual corrupted prime minister.
Incidentally, Iceland's prime minister, Johanna Sigurdardottir, is openly lesbian.
Boo, while I agree with your line of argument in this context, consider this: How would you perceive God-appointed leaders whose sexuality is a matter of concern, i.e. homosexual pastors, and therefore respect them? Bear in mind leaders around the world is God-appointed, in or out of the church. Indeed, we are all accountable to God for all our actions and choices. Yet, while a homosexual prime minister may be able to fight for certain things like equality, it still does not make them righteous in any way, by God's and our standards as the salt and light of the world. A gay pastor may be able to lead a church and even cause growth, but it doesn't mean that s/he and the church - for that matter - is inwardly or outwardly righteous. Robin Hood may be a hero to the poor, but he is still a criminal.
ReplyDeleteHaving said all this, I am not discriminating those who choose a sexuality that differs from natural relations. Neither am I condoning the actions of those who desire to gain political power by means such as those we've unfortunately been able to observe in our country. However, even the most minute and secret sin can cause spiritual crippling of (for instance) the church and hence the downfall of its leader should he or she not confess and repent of his or her sinful ways. I cannot stress more on how thoroughly righteous one has to be as an individual more than the Word of God already has. Only by grace can we enter, and only by grace can we stand. Get that right, and the other roles we play in life would be right as well.
Dear princess daughter of mine,
ReplyDeleteIt isnt about sexuality or gender or privacy or how we or anybody else 'feel' about what we have done or not done . Its about right standing before God... inside and outside. There can be no separation between public and private life, whether you are a politician, king or beggar. Its hypocrisy otherwise. I dread to think wat kind of role models the young generation has to look up to when we adults say its ok to act one way becoz its my private life, i can behave however i want, so long as i do good in public. Does a politician who does every thing right for his constituency but doesn't love his wife in private get your thumbs up, since he's done nothing criminally indictable or 'morally wrong'?? 2 wrongs don't make a right, even if everybody else mixes up the issues, as Christians, we must know where God stands on our behaviors, attitudes and values.
And I am not talking condemnation; none of us can stand before a holy God and say we are righteous. We can only stand as John correctly points out by grace. Its not a simple matter of letting God judge. God calls us to test everything, according to His word. We are not judging people, Jesus never did that. We are judging actions - and it doesn't matter whether they are public or private actions. So whilst i can applaud all the homosexual/lesbian leaders who do a good job governing in public positions , the fact of the matter is God says their actions in pursuing and living values which are contrary to His standard will always be an indictment against them. We may think its harsh. But let's remember God is love; He gave us the law becoz He knew we would mess up our lives and never get our potential fulfilled if we go our own way. And becoz He is love, the way is always open for confession and repentance for those humble enuf to seek forgiveness. Thank you John for putting things in correct perspective.