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I’ve been thinking about this man all night. He, alone among his peers, took an action with foreseeable and negative personal consequences. Whether spontaneous
by bkohlmann 7y ago
I’ve been thinking about this man all night. He, alone among his peers, took an action with foreseeable and negative personal consequences. Whether spontaneous or planned, he made a choice that may well define the rest of his life, for good or ill.
I took the time to reflect on my own weekend, celebrating America’s independence against different totalitarian rule. I spent it with family, safe, free, and relaxed. I couldn’t help but wonder if i would have the fortitude of this man, even basking in the freedoms I now, blithely, take for granted. Base rates for humans show that amidst totalitarian regimes, most choose silence and going with the flow. While i like to imagine otherwise, I am a product of my culture - and self-protective.
Yet, this man, on one evening, said “here I am. And this is who I am.”
Knowing nothing else about him, he is a hero.
- betenoire 7y agoit's hard to know what you'd do until your back is against the wall
- TomMckenny 7y agoIt is a magnificent thing to see people defend their civil rights. And it is the rational ting too: given the implications of the extradition bill, a few days on the street will seem a tiny price to pay. And indeed, given ever growing intrusion into HK by the main land and ever increasing biometric surveillance technology, once on film, I doubt the surgical masks will provide anonymity for all the decades these folks will live.
- T-A 7y ago> a few days on the street will seem a tiny price to pay From the article: "He could face up to 10 years in prison, or even abduction and secret detention in China, as has happened to others in Hong Kong."
- djvu9 7y agoThere are reports that he has successfully fled HK. He was literally risking his life standing out and I wish him all the best.
- st1ck 7y agoI have some doubts that British colonial rule was anything comparable to Nazi Germany, USSR or even China nowadays.
- yangdehang 7y agoA hero or idiot? The protesters are manipulated by someone behind, powerful and evilly smart people. All the protester's actions will not alter the decisions that have been carefully thought by the China gov. I am glad he has not yet formed a family, otherwise more people will suffer by this meaningless movement.
- thinkingemote 7y agoCrikey. This comment is interesting as an example a comment that is "manipulated". Thank you for the great example! It's different from a troll comment as a troll comment will seek to appeal to identities and groups but this one is too harsh in its directness. A troll will sometimes be vague in their intentions. Perhaps this means it's an indication of truthful indoctrination or an indication of unsophisticated organised political marketing. Always nice to see on NH.