Posted on 11/21/2019 6:00:16 AM PST by chrisnj
I know what I am about to say will cause irate comments, but here it is – my 2-cents:
I spent my young adult days at HK and 47 years in USA since then. I have seen a lot and I have my views of the current situation at Hong Kong, which is rather different from those held by the congress critters and many of my fellow US citizens.
To my dismay, many US folks fall into the trap of the lame-stream media, despite the fact that they have been complaining about the disinformation and misinformation constantly spewed on the airwaves.
HK people enjoy tremendous freedom - speech, religion and everything else. It is a democratic society with the added touch of socialistic support for the poor and the old.
At the beginning the peaceful protests accomplished their objective – no extradition of alleged criminals from HK to China.
The protests keep on and on and turn into the current violent riots, for no clearly stated objectives. All pundits, without looking at the situation objectively, are busy advancing their own verdict on the situation and passing one-sided judgment such as - the protesters are fighting for freedom, and, the government is crushing their hopes and fights for freedom …... Most listeners buy into their pitches – they side with the protesters, even when the protesters turn violent, at the expense of the ordinary HK citizens whose lives/livelihood have been greatly disrupted. They condemn the government for trying to keep law and order in a restrained manner. All these without a clear understanding of what is really going on. Even (or especially) the congress critters ignorantly 'pass' legislation to 'stand with the protesters'. Please ask the congress critters and those who are sympathetic towards the violent protesters - if this happens here in USA, will congress pass legislation to 'support' the violence? (Yes, the RATS just might do this, but not the more rational legislators.) Are the violent 'black lives matter' 'protests' to be supported, by legislation? Are the violent 'cop-killing' rampages to be supported, by legislation? Is the antifa violence to be supported, by legislation?
As is in any parts of the world, this kind of 'protests' smell fishy. There are always ulterior motives; they are, more often than not, paid for/fanned by some groups trying to push their own agendas, agendas that are not aligned with the well-being of the people they claim to 'help'.
Do we want to support these violent protesters/acts that are causing chaos to the peaceful, democratic, free world at HK?
Should we 'support' this so-called 'freedom fighting' at any costs?
Here in USA, we might have a just cause for starting a civil war, (look at all those RATS' outright unlawful acts against a duly elected president.)
At HK, the residents enjoy great freedom and democracy (Ask the ordinary people at HK!). The Chinese government has more or less lived up to its 'one country, two systems' promise. There is no reason to protest violently for no clearly stated objectives.
Most certainly, there is no reason for USA to 'support' their violent protests, by legislation!
They need to take it underground.
I predict the men with guns and the will to use them will be the ones who come out on top, regardless of the moral struggle.
The people of HK have dreams that their freedoms will live on beyond 2047, that is not going to happen.
China intends to have them firmly under their thumb by then.
Wow, how could you possible not side with HK protesters? How far down the rabbit hole has Free Republic gone...
This is a Deep State trap for Trump, also, as he may no longer have an explainable way to avoid signing it.
The call of the protesters should be for mainland Chinese to gain the all freedoms of Hong Kong by 2047.
Hmm. OP’s last post before this one was August 8 of last year. Then there is another two-year gap, last posts being in August of 2016.
Wow, how could you possible not side with HK protesters? How far down the rabbit hole has Free Republic gone...
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I think the poster makes a good argument. Can you specifically point out the flaws in his argument and why (specifically) we should support these now violent protests? Thank you.
As to the murkiness of motives of the protestors, I don't think they are murky at all. These protestors know, at the gut level, that they are fighting a force that wants to deprive them of ALL freedom.
You are wrong.
China has been slowly removing freedoms from the people of HK
China openly desires world domination...but first over HK and Taiwan.
If you think your job or material possessions are more important than your freedom....then YOU are the problem.
What are the motivations of the protestors?
Thank you for this thoughtful post.
I have been saying they should take their win and declare victory.
You are correct. Something smells on both sides.
It's important that the world see what is going on the HK. It's important that it be visible and above ground.
BTW, the CCP would love for it to go underground.
Unless we send them arms, our support is mere posturing.
We live in political culture of dysfunctional virtue signalling. This has no effect on a totalitarian government in China, willing to commit genocide and has committed genocide to maintain itself. Witness Tibet where the communists machine gunned monks and nuns.
Stay out of the Hong Kong issue, unless you are willing to really support the independence of Hong Kong from Chinese Communist totalitarianism through supply and assistance to make Hong Kong once again independent.
tyranny.
Dean men don’t care if you “support” them or not.
Do you support freedom? Or do you support communism?
It's one or the other.
A free society taken over by communist China after the British lease ran out.
That would be putting our money where our mouth is, not passing resolutions asserting an implied a territorial claim we cannot possibly back up with military force. Simply tell China: "You want to bully your most productive people, no problem. We'll take them, and thank you."
Yours is a well-reasoned post which actually is the view of the vast majority of HK people. They are wary of China for sure, but small groups of radicals occupying universities, shutting down the subway and throwing firebombs is not what they want either
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