It's amazing to see and hear so many protesters and students taking action. It's a big relief from the few days leading up to the originally week-long boycott. Barely anyone at HKBU showed up to the panels held on our very own campus. The Hong Kong Student Federation Union President was there and the turnout was miserable. I'm still hearing comments like "only those studying communications care" though even though this issue affects so many more people than those in specific majors. Maybe its true. Maybe at HKBU, some departments don't care. Still, when I see the protests and the level of participation, I'm pretty sure that such a view is not true and that even if it is, it is only at HKBU.
I've also thought about my position as an American citizen here in Hong Kong. I'm not saying anything will happen because most likely nothing will.....buuuut IF it does, being an American citizen might be more dangerous for me. Right now the CPC hasn't sent military personnel yet but there is a military base right next to HKBU. At least I was told it was a military base. I wonder what will happen if the protests come closer to Kowloon Tong and possibly HKBU. Anyways, on the other hand, maybe it is (in a way) more of my obligation to do something because unlike others, I am backed by the US government. Perks. And of course again, I don't mean anything reckless.
I just don't know now whether or not to join even to just see the protests. It's getting increasingly rowdy and chaotic in a way that I didn't expect. Being here has pushed me further to the brink to take action on issues that I believe in but now I'm having an internal dilemma. Uphold morals, or safety first? I'm trying to strike the best balance I can between them and I know it's not a time to be reckless. I'm not so sure why I am even so interested though because this is not my battle. That's not the best argument though because it would just be selfish to turn a blind eye for issues that don't concern me.
I honestly didn't think the Hong Kong government would do this to their own people. I wouldn't be surprised if it was the US government and police but I always had a feeling that the police were actually on the side of the protesters and students. Maybe I was wrong. When the student protests were still peaceful, the police were extremely helpful and friendly in guiding us around the streets and making sure we stayed safe (and not run over by cars on the road). It seemed more as if even though the police could not protest with the students, at least they could keep them safe. There's a completely different attitude now though. Maybe it's due to orders from the government but I hope that the Hong Kong police officers try their best to refrain from hurting citizens.
Lastly, I just wanted to note that during dessert today, my friends from the mainland expressed that they are scared to attend the protests. They aren't scared of the police or guns, they're scared of the photographers. They're scared that if they get photographed and put in the news, the Chinese government might think they are traitors. They're scared that the government will find them and track them down and that's just the first two steps. To Nat and I, this seems like a bit of an exaggeration because to us, it would be ridiculous for the Chinese government to track down everyone at the protests and see if they are traitors from the mainland. I think its extremely unsettling though because there is such fear of government control, on a level that I've never thought to think about. I've only felt it in books like 1984 or conspiracy theories but it has become a very real fear for my friends who sit next to me. It's been a silent but great privilege to be able to grow up without this fear and I appreciate it especially so today.
LAST LAST NOTE: Chinese newspapers in the mainland have been downplaying the extremity of the protests in Hong Kong. According to my friends, the journalists are saying that there is only a small group of students protesting and that they have been brainwashed by political figures. They are saying that not a lot of people in Hong Kong agree with the protests and that it is not a big deal. My friends also commented that if they were in mainland China right now, they would not not know what was going on and the extremity. I wonder if the images from the news in Hong Kong will ever reach those in the mainland. The pictures and events from today's protests are wildly in opposition to the newspaper articles in mainland China so I wonder
I've also thought about my position as an American citizen here in Hong Kong. I'm not saying anything will happen because most likely nothing will.....buuuut IF it does, being an American citizen might be more dangerous for me. Right now the CPC hasn't sent military personnel yet but there is a military base right next to HKBU. At least I was told it was a military base. I wonder what will happen if the protests come closer to Kowloon Tong and possibly HKBU. Anyways, on the other hand, maybe it is (in a way) more of my obligation to do something because unlike others, I am backed by the US government. Perks. And of course again, I don't mean anything reckless.
I just don't know now whether or not to join even to just see the protests. It's getting increasingly rowdy and chaotic in a way that I didn't expect. Being here has pushed me further to the brink to take action on issues that I believe in but now I'm having an internal dilemma. Uphold morals, or safety first? I'm trying to strike the best balance I can between them and I know it's not a time to be reckless. I'm not so sure why I am even so interested though because this is not my battle. That's not the best argument though because it would just be selfish to turn a blind eye for issues that don't concern me.
I honestly didn't think the Hong Kong government would do this to their own people. I wouldn't be surprised if it was the US government and police but I always had a feeling that the police were actually on the side of the protesters and students. Maybe I was wrong. When the student protests were still peaceful, the police were extremely helpful and friendly in guiding us around the streets and making sure we stayed safe (and not run over by cars on the road). It seemed more as if even though the police could not protest with the students, at least they could keep them safe. There's a completely different attitude now though. Maybe it's due to orders from the government but I hope that the Hong Kong police officers try their best to refrain from hurting citizens.
Lastly, I just wanted to note that during dessert today, my friends from the mainland expressed that they are scared to attend the protests. They aren't scared of the police or guns, they're scared of the photographers. They're scared that if they get photographed and put in the news, the Chinese government might think they are traitors. They're scared that the government will find them and track them down and that's just the first two steps. To Nat and I, this seems like a bit of an exaggeration because to us, it would be ridiculous for the Chinese government to track down everyone at the protests and see if they are traitors from the mainland. I think its extremely unsettling though because there is such fear of government control, on a level that I've never thought to think about. I've only felt it in books like 1984 or conspiracy theories but it has become a very real fear for my friends who sit next to me. It's been a silent but great privilege to be able to grow up without this fear and I appreciate it especially so today.
LAST LAST NOTE: Chinese newspapers in the mainland have been downplaying the extremity of the protests in Hong Kong. According to my friends, the journalists are saying that there is only a small group of students protesting and that they have been brainwashed by political figures. They are saying that not a lot of people in Hong Kong agree with the protests and that it is not a big deal. My friends also commented that if they were in mainland China right now, they would not not know what was going on and the extremity. I wonder if the images from the news in Hong Kong will ever reach those in the mainland. The pictures and events from today's protests are wildly in opposition to the newspaper articles in mainland China so I wonder