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Hong Kong protests: Authorities to announce face mask ban

bbc.co.uk

61–70 of 134 posts

Re: Hong Kong protests: Authorities to announce face mask ban

#61

Will this have any practical effect on the protests? Haven't the authorities already declared that protesters are engaged in illegal activity, so what's one more act of civil disobedience? Also, aren't the "masks" worn by many of the protesters the kind of thing that's often worn in Asia for hygiene and pollution reasons, so this would ban even innocent behavior?

They've started wearing Guy Fawkes masks, which I presume is the reason for the diktat.

Re: Hong Kong protests: Authorities to announce face mask ban

#62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just wait a short while. USA was not tried yet by any internal strife since 60s, and even then that was mild.

How about Waco? Or the Bundy Stand off (2014 armed civilians illegally using federal lands for commercial purposes took up arms and the Federal government backed down)? Although not armed movements, how about they Occupy Movements?

The Occupy protesters, although peaceful, were treated with police brutality and tear gas.

Re: Hong Kong protests: Authorities to announce face mask ban

#63
post #50
post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And what did marching through tear gas give us? More interventionism in South America and... Ronald Reagan?

De facto voting rights for African Americans, desegregation, and women's rights to control their own bodies.

They have de jure voting; de facto kinda not really.

Re: Hong Kong protests: Authorities to announce face mask ban

#64

During the American revolutionary war, France was a tremendous ally and instrumental to the colonies’ secession from Britain. The Marquis de Lafayette came over to fight for us, without pay, in his early 20s, forgoing his family’s desires and aristocratic opportunities. His family was so opposed to him going to the colonies, that local governments were involved in finding and preventing him from boarding ships. He ev…

> Recently, I’ve been thinking about the HK scenario and wondering what I can do, but I can’t shake a nagging feeling that I could simply go over there and fight alongside the protestors. I often deflect with observations like “I don’t speak the language,” or “I don’t know what I would do to help,” and yet the thought keeps coming back. I'd say do it, if you feel this way. This guy did it: https://idlewords.com/2019/…

This makes me wonder, how does the CIA decide which governments to target?

We know of their involvements in Central and South America, along with the Middle East. Wouldn’t this be a great opportunity for them to get involved?

Re: Hong Kong protests: Authorities to announce face mask ban

#65
post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While I have full respect for you to preach what you believe in, I'd like to urge the consideration for a detachment of promotion for democracy with regards to morality. Whichever mode of governance is simple a practice of value proposition that a particular regime sees as fit for their particular regional control/political reign. While democracy has its ostensible upsides, is such a protest at length really what's o…

I think people of HK have tried other more peaceful approaches in the past and have received nothing in return from Beijing. Do you have any propositions of what citizens of HK, or China, can do to get more freedoms like freedom of speech or from random arrests on trumped up charges which is how the current situation started? I don't think anyone in HK want to be in this situation but for many they see it as a last c…

Join the government and change it from within.

Re: Hong Kong protests: Authorities to announce face mask ban

#66

During the American revolutionary war, France was a tremendous ally and instrumental to the colonies’ secession from Britain. The Marquis de Lafayette came over to fight for us, without pay, in his early 20s, forgoing his family’s desires and aristocratic opportunities. His family was so opposed to him going to the colonies, that local governments were involved in finding and preventing him from boarding ships. He ev…

Interesting idea. I would def donate a lot of money to a non-profit fund that financed independent armies with pro-democratic aims. To me, democracy and individual rights have been essential to my livelihood and happiness. I want everyone to have what I have.

Re: Hong Kong protests: Authorities to announce face mask ban

#67
post #53

I think it odd that we have to look at another country losing its rights to understand the feeling of loss. Much of what they have been doing in Hong Kong would never have been allowed here in America.

Can you come with some concrete examples of what would have not been allowed? The US is still a very free country with robust freedom of speech and mostly fair and open court cases.

I remember when Black Lives Matter protesters were blocking highways, and they were all arrested. I can’t imagine what would happen if they tried to riot at an airport or destroy subway stations.

Re: Hong Kong protests: Authorities to announce face mask ban

#68
post #56

It has long been illegal to wear face masks at protests in Germany, as well as wearing things like bike helmets or other protection against police force. They call it "protection weapon" or "passive weapon". German police usually films every attendee of a protest. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-mask_law

Same in France. They make it illegal to bring respiratory masks or saline solution to protests, then they flood them with tear gas; they launch military-grade grenades (GLI-F4) into crowds, harming and maiming indiscriminately, and prosecute those who kick them back. And when people stop going to protests they can claim that they won the battle of ideas.

Liberté, égalité, fraternité, indeed.

Re: Hong Kong protests: Authorities to announce face mask ban

#69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Recently, I’ve been thinking about the HK scenario and wondering what I can do, but I can’t shake a nagging feeling that I could simply go over there and fight alongside the protestors. I often deflect with observations like “I don’t speak the language,” or “I don’t know what I would do to help,” and yet the thought keeps coming back. I'd say do it, if you feel this way. This guy did it: https://idlewords.com/2019/…

This makes me wonder, how does the CIA decide which governments to target? We know of their involvements in Central and South America, along with the Middle East. Wouldn’t this be a great opportunity for them to get involved?

Presumably part of their calculation is "can we interfere without consequences" which I don't think we would say is the case with the PRC. That said, the US and PRC do seem to be doing a fair amount of cyberwarfare against one another, so maybe it isn't a foregone conclusion.

Re: Hong Kong protests: Authorities to announce face mask ban

#70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just wait a short while. USA was not tried yet by any internal strife since 60s, and even then that was mild.

How about Waco? Or the Bundy Stand off (2014 armed civilians illegally using federal lands for commercial purposes took up arms and the Federal government backed down)? Although not armed movements, how about they Occupy Movements?

There was also the 1985 bombing of a neighborhood by Philadelphia police. Their target was MOVE protestors. Six adults and five kids died.
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