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In Hong Kong, one protester pulls off his mask and defines a movement

latimes.com

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Re: In Hong Kong, one protester pulls off his mask and defines a movement

#11

Post by fma »

ntdb wrote: post #6

Googling this man's name (Brian Leung Kai-ping) reveals a number of articles suggesting that he fled to the United States immediately after this event. However, I can't tell whether any of the web sites reporting this news are trustworthy. When I first read these reports I immediately dismissed him and his comments to the LA Times but now I wonder if the story of his flight is propaganda intended to negate his courag…

The most notable article I guess is from South China Morning Post (https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3017530...) and they cite 'a source'.

Also in their article, there are clearly many others in the photographs without masks. So I think his impromptu speech is more important than taking off his mask, but lots of articles cite removal of his mask..

Since this organization has no leader, it would benefit the opposition to paint a leader out of thin air and show faults in him.

Re: In Hong Kong, one protester pulls off his mask and defines a movement

#13

Post by djvu9 »

bkohlmann wrote: post #3

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 co…

There are reports that he has successfully fled HK. He was literally risking his life standing out and I wish him all the best.

Re: In Hong Kong, one protester pulls off his mask and defines a movement

#14

Post by Mikeb85 »

Hong Kong reminds me a lot of Ukraine. They both want to be 'modern', 'western' and 'special', rejecting the 'backwards' ways of their imperial leaders. Unfortunately, their economic success was/is wholly dependant on said leaders, and they're shooting themselves in the foot by trying to break away.

No one in the west truly gives a shit about HK or Ukraine. We give them lip-service, but no one will go to war over it. We egg them on to stick it to China/Russia, and they get fucked.

The fact is, Hong Kong's entire success is due to the fact it was an entry point to doing business with China. Protesters have jeopardized that arrangement, Hong Kong will never see the same level of economic success (relative to China) again. Much like Ukraine which, without Russia as a partner, is now one of the poorest countries in Europe with a GDP per capita half that of Belarus', and a quarter of Russia's.

Hong Kongers want to be special, but they're killing the only thing which allowed them to be successful. After these protests simmer down, the west will forget about them again, having never done anything for them in the first place, and they'll be worse off.

Re: In Hong Kong, one protester pulls off his mask and defines a movement

#16

Post by spectramax »

What praise do I give to this oppression (China's influence over HK) where people, even a single person out of many thousands, are terrified of revealing their identity in a protest?

It seems unpopular on HN, but there is something that westerners are missing that makes the phrase "Boycott China" sound racist, ignorant and preposterous. Why is it so "wrong" to properly, sternly and unapologetically criticizing China? Even saying things like "I don't support buying Chinese goods" sound insane on HN. WHY!? Why should people praise Chinese economic progress, lifting middle class and giving a middle finger to IP, Shenzhen philosophy of quick business, etc. at the cost of loss of liberty and freedom, and democracy?

Re: In Hong Kong, one protester pulls off his mask and defines a movement

#17

Post by T-A »

TomMckenny wrote: post #10
bkohlmann wrote: post #3

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 co…

It 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…

> 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."

Re: In Hong Kong, one protester pulls off his mask and defines a movement

#18

Post by valesco »

Mikeb85 wrote: post #14

Hong Kong reminds me a lot of Ukraine. They both want to be 'modern', 'western' and 'special', rejecting the 'backwards' ways of their imperial leaders. Unfortunately, their economic success was/is wholly dependant on said leaders, and they're shooting themselves in the foot by trying to break away. No one in the west truly gives a shit about HK or Ukraine. We give them lip-service, but no one will go to war over it.…

There are certainly people who prefer living in a high GDP country in which they can be 'disappeared' one night along with their family, but I didn't expect to see them on HN.

Re: In Hong Kong, one protester pulls off his mask and defines a movement

#19

Post by thinkingemote »

spectramax wrote: post #16

What praise do I give to this oppression (China's influence over HK) where people, even a single person out of many thousands, are terrified of revealing their identity in a protest? It seems unpopular on HN, but there is something that westerners are missing that makes the phrase "Boycott China" sound racist, ignorant and preposterous. Why is it so "wrong" to properly, sternly and unapologetically criticizing China?…

It's similar to our love hate relationship with advertising. Almost all employed readers work for companies who are at varying degrees dependant on advertising and almost all have adblock enabled. We are compromised and conflicted.

Re: In Hong Kong, one protester pulls off his mask and defines a movement

#20

Post by powerapple »

Mikeb85 wrote: post #14

Hong Kong reminds me a lot of Ukraine. They both want to be 'modern', 'western' and 'special', rejecting the 'backwards' ways of their imperial leaders. Unfortunately, their economic success was/is wholly dependant on said leaders, and they're shooting themselves in the foot by trying to break away. No one in the west truly gives a shit about HK or Ukraine. We give them lip-service, but no one will go to war over it.…

Look at how press covers the story, how can you say no one is giving shit about Hong Kong. No one is giving shit about all other bad things around the world, but Hong Kong is not. It is something to do with China at least. It is a card can be played against China and it will always be people's interests.
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