同路人語604- 說真話　把祝福帶給社區 Speak the truth Bring blessing to the community

李文亮醫生，跟你和我一樣，都只是一個普通人。他死的時候全中國人都在震撼，要說一句真話，真的是這麼難嗎？

                創辦《同路人》，是盼望能以高質素的中文刊物，協助要留在澳洲的華人，認識及投入這裏的生活，融入主流社會。我知道是不容易的事，我卻願意一試，因為看到所信仰的神發出的呼召。建立及祝福身邊的人，豈不是基督徒（及其他有宗教信仰的人）的召命嗎？今天，我們仍在出版，我為此而感恩。

                武漢肺炎肆虐，不少人因為恐懼，足不出戶，恐怕與人接觸，有機會受到感染這還沒有治療藥物的疫症。博士山最近見到的奇景，是街上、商場內、各式店內，西人比華人多。在華人聚居的各地方，也是如此。墨爾本眾多中餐館，不少都暫停營業，只因客人門堪羅雀，老闆把門關上，省下各項開支，比營業更化算。只盼有一天，顧客不再困在自己的恐懼之中，重新覺得可以與人接觸，回復正常的生活方式，餐館就可以重新營業。

                針對華人社區的生意，百業蕭條，媒體也一樣。在澳洲經營37年的星島報業在上週清盤，停止出版。無疑網絡媒介、社交平台、各類新媒體等，都衝擊著傳統媒體的生存空間。不過，我們都知道新媒體實質上是個人意見發表及傳播的工具，卻不一定是有價值信息的來源，更不容易與人有思想交流、啟迪人心、建構人的精神世界。而且人人都在數碼平台上發聲，佔據這些平台的大都是宣傳、沒有人感興趣的廣告、或是連自己都不願意花時間看，卻又重複發送給別人的垃圾內容。

                我相信好的傳媒，絕對有生存空間。過去中國的大外宣政策，成功地控制了本地華人接觸的資訊，同時也扭曲了中文媒體巿場，令到優質媒體經營困難。今天，巿場汰弱留強，只要社區的有心人能支持，我盼望《同路人》能繼續在澳洲，為全澳華人發聲。過去數年，我們發出的聲音，讓主流社會明白華人長者的需要，投入千萬計在墨爾本興建華人長者護老院。今後，在你們的支持下，我盼望我們能堅持說真的話，說造就人的話，說榮神益人的話，把祝福帶給社區。

周偉文 社長

Speak the truth Bring blessing to the community

Dr Li Wenliang was just an ordinary person like me and you. The whole China was shocked when he passed away. Is it so difficult to speak out the truth?

The vision of making Sameway was to help Australian Chinese to know the way of living here and to integrate with the mainstream society through a high-quality publication. We knew it could be difficult, but we made a go in the calling of our God. To bless and edify people should be the mission of Christians, and all other religion-goers. I thank God for we are still going today.

The Coronavirus has frightened everyone to stay away from any contact from where this incurable infection. It is so weird in Boxhill these days where westerners outnumber Chinese in the mall/shops and on the streets. These happened in other suburbs with higher Chinese population thus restaurants there chose to stop business at least to save some expenses with no return. Hope more people could come out from their fear and return to their normal social life, so these restaurants can come to life again.

Any business targeting the Chinese community is affected, including traditional media. The 37-year-old Sing Tao newspaper closed down last week, amid fierce competition from various network/social/modern media. But there is limitation of the latter types which are more personal-based and lack of quality exchange of deep thinking and reflection. Filling up all these digital platforms are massive publicity and advertisement along with futile information which nobody would care to go through.

                I have confidence in quality media to survive. China’s strategic propaganda over the past years has controlled information feed to overseas Chinese as well as disrupted the regular operation of the other quality publications. At this competitive time I still believe Sameway can serve its mission if given the support it needs. Our representation in recent years has raised the concern from the mainstream society on Chinese elderly homes and a multi-million project is on its way. I hope we can keep going with your support to speak out the truth, to edify God and to bless our community.

Raymond Chow, Publisher