What an interesting time to be in Hong Kong.
I normally don't see myself as someone who is very involved in politics. Compared to a lot of people in the US, I think I don't know enough. That doesn't mean that I don't have my own stance, I'm just not as educated about the complexities as some others might be. I still try to stay updated though and on top of major issues, even if only on a very general level.
That's why I felt so surprised when my roommate thought I was very interested in politics. Girl, no. This is not an extreme-out-of-the-norm-interest. This is something you should be worried about. This is your future that's being affected and not in a small way either. The direct and indirect consequences are very relevant to you in the future. So I'm sorry, but if you think that this doesn't change anything for you because you're studying Finance, then please think again.
The Issue
For those of you who don't know, the Chinese government has decided to rule out fully democratic elections in Hong Kong in the 2017 election. When I asked my roommate about what she thought about the class boycotts or student protests, she didn't care. It's certainly interesting that she didn't care about such a big issue but at the same time, it's very frustrating. Elaboration:
Sidenote: This girl went to an interview for one of the big-four and was asked to talk about this issue in a group discussion. She didn't know anything about the topic and didn't know what to say so apparently she used what I said to her for the interview. Wow. Go get your own thoughts. After the interview, she told me she was going to read the news more because they ask about it. No. Just no. You should care and know about the world you live in because you live in it! Not because you need to pass interviews.
"Excitement from Study Abroad" Factor
I've talked to my other exchange friends about the protests too and it seems like we care about it more. Maybe I'm being a bit harsh. Maybe it's because I'm an exchange student and this is happening while I'm here so I find it extra interesting. Maybe I wouldn't do much if this were happening in the United States. But even with all those "maybe's," I'm sure that at least I would have cared and had an opinion.
Futility
Since quite a few of my friends here are from mainland China, they think that the protests are useless because the CPC won't change their decision. Some of them think so in a more....negative way than others though. Xixi has called the protests "stupid." I'll admit that it is definitely a step up from Rachel though. At least she has an opinion. The phrase "The greatest evil is inaction" has never rung truer to me before. Also, I appreciate Xixi's comment because I like to hear different point of views. Even if I may not agree with it, being able to see and accepting how others think is important. I like Jennifer's opinion the most though. I think its a bit more fair. On the other hand, it's also closer to mine so I'm probably just biased. Like Xixi, she also thinks/knows that the Chinese government is very powerful and student protests won't make a change. Still, it is good to support the protests because it allows students and people to voice their opinion.
Outcomes
Student Protest and Civil Disobedience
Like I said, I don't know much about history -- or at least to the degree that other students do. But still, in my point of view, student protests are very important. We are becoming the future of our countries and on top of that, we are the scholars in our respective countries. Even though it may not feel like much sometimes, we've been educated far enough. Education is form of power and we can't just let it go to waste by sitting back and doing nothing with it. Our education gives us influence, and I think it does so particularly in the eyes of our governments too. I feel like this is even more true because we are in a country where students and scholars are respected. (I mention this because sometimes I feel like adults in the United States see a bunch of students and think that they are fooling or causing trouble.) My parents have been raised in a third-world country so being able to attend college and having access to so many channels of information makes me feel like I've come a long way even though I know that there is still a long way more to go.
During the Vietnam War, college students protested against US involvement. In South Africa, students protested against apartheid. Do I even need to mention Tiananmen Square? Sure, students didn't always get what they want but they created impacts in other ways and as they say: you never know unless you try.
That's why I felt so surprised when my roommate thought I was very interested in politics. Girl, no. This is not an extreme-out-of-the-norm-interest. This is something you should be worried about. This is your future that's being affected and not in a small way either. The direct and indirect consequences are very relevant to you in the future. So I'm sorry, but if you think that this doesn't change anything for you because you're studying Finance, then please think again.
The Issue
For those of you who don't know, the Chinese government has decided to rule out fully democratic elections in Hong Kong in the 2017 election. When I asked my roommate about what she thought about the class boycotts or student protests, she didn't care. It's certainly interesting that she didn't care about such a big issue but at the same time, it's very frustrating. Elaboration:
- I think it's interesting that she doesn't care. It's a comment on the personality and outlook of some of the students here. I am not here to enforce what I think is wrong or right to other people. All I can do is learn from what I see while I am here. Being so opposed to her view in a way, lets me look at myself retrospectively. I don't think I'm always very involved in a lot of issues so seeing her disregard the protests makes me criticize my own lack of involvement. Apparently studying business, she and also a lot of her classmates don't care. She just says she's very focused on her school work and that even if she did participate, it wouldn't change anything because she, being one person, can't make a change. I think it's interesting that a lot of students here think that. Post-modern, much?
- It's frustrating though because she has such invalid arguments in my point of view. If everyone thought along those lines, no one would do anything about any issue. Nothing would ever change. If anything, it gives the government and others (authority figures, organizations, corporations, etc.) even more power to impact your world negatively. I think it also infuriates me because I'm also a business student and I care. She made it seem as if business and politics are completely independent of each other which I find absurd because what happens in the political realm will effect the economy and business world.
Sidenote: This girl went to an interview for one of the big-four and was asked to talk about this issue in a group discussion. She didn't know anything about the topic and didn't know what to say so apparently she used what I said to her for the interview. Wow. Go get your own thoughts. After the interview, she told me she was going to read the news more because they ask about it. No. Just no. You should care and know about the world you live in because you live in it! Not because you need to pass interviews.
"Excitement from Study Abroad" Factor
I've talked to my other exchange friends about the protests too and it seems like we care about it more. Maybe I'm being a bit harsh. Maybe it's because I'm an exchange student and this is happening while I'm here so I find it extra interesting. Maybe I wouldn't do much if this were happening in the United States. But even with all those "maybe's," I'm sure that at least I would have cared and had an opinion.
Futility
Since quite a few of my friends here are from mainland China, they think that the protests are useless because the CPC won't change their decision. Some of them think so in a more....negative way than others though. Xixi has called the protests "stupid." I'll admit that it is definitely a step up from Rachel though. At least she has an opinion. The phrase "The greatest evil is inaction" has never rung truer to me before. Also, I appreciate Xixi's comment because I like to hear different point of views. Even if I may not agree with it, being able to see and accepting how others think is important. I like Jennifer's opinion the most though. I think its a bit more fair. On the other hand, it's also closer to mine so I'm probably just biased. Like Xixi, she also thinks/knows that the Chinese government is very powerful and student protests won't make a change. Still, it is good to support the protests because it allows students and people to voice their opinion.
Outcomes
- I don't think the protests are entirely useless though. When I watched the news a few weeks back, student leaders were not actually looking for the CPC to change their policy. Rather, they wanted to spread awareness of the issue which much more practical to me. Small steps.
- The protests also generate involvement among students especially. In some ways, it trains them to be more vocal about their opinions and to stand up for what they believe in. Am I being too American? It also makes the issue more personal to them so it encourages action whether it be for current or future issues.
- While talking on the bus with Jennifer, I thought of the protests gaining foreign attention so that other countries can put pressure on the CPC -- politically or economically, like I said, it's all connected. Immediately, I felt a bit bad though because it is her home country. On top of that, it reminds me of the Vietnam War. Of course I was thinking of the United States when I said "other countries" because we are always trying to give off this image of democracy and freedom. I didn't say it though because I thought it'd be a bit too...much. I also thought to myself if we should really be getting into another country's business. A lot of people are always so regretful that the US took part in the Vietnam war but being from the South, I always had the impression that it was helpful. Being used as a puppet, not so much but it can't all be clean cut. Still, we are already involved in a lot of other countries' politics as it is and I don't know if anyone in or outside the U.S. really wants us butting in again (although I already saw a petition to the White House about this whole ordeal).
Student Protest and Civil Disobedience
Like I said, I don't know much about history -- or at least to the degree that other students do. But still, in my point of view, student protests are very important. We are becoming the future of our countries and on top of that, we are the scholars in our respective countries. Even though it may not feel like much sometimes, we've been educated far enough. Education is form of power and we can't just let it go to waste by sitting back and doing nothing with it. Our education gives us influence, and I think it does so particularly in the eyes of our governments too. I feel like this is even more true because we are in a country where students and scholars are respected. (I mention this because sometimes I feel like adults in the United States see a bunch of students and think that they are fooling or causing trouble.) My parents have been raised in a third-world country so being able to attend college and having access to so many channels of information makes me feel like I've come a long way even though I know that there is still a long way more to go.
During the Vietnam War, college students protested against US involvement. In South Africa, students protested against apartheid. Do I even need to mention Tiananmen Square? Sure, students didn't always get what they want but they created impacts in other ways and as they say: you never know unless you try.