Tuesday, November 12, 2019

A sign of things to come

We see the protests in the streets of Hong Kong. We see the protests in Catalonia. We see protests in other parts of the world. As people take to the streets to protest against their government, we see how technology is being used to bring people together to show their commitment toward a common purpose.

But we also see increasing violence in the protests in Hong Kong, and that is a worrying sign. Because violent protests will only push law enforcement toward taking even more drastic measures. It is a vicious cycle of violence that will eventually end badly for everyone.

At the same time, the United States need to keep a close watch on this. Because with the impeachment inquiry, and likely subsequently the impeachment itself, underway in the U.S. now, I cannot help but wonder: will the impeachment, with the U.S. already so divided along partisan lines, push Trump supporters and those against Trump into taking to the streets in a violent manner similar to those protesters in Hong Kong? If so, how will law enforcement in the U.S., never known for exercising restraint, act?

Is this a sign of the chaos that may engulf the streets of cities all over the U.S. should the impeachment drive an even more stark divide?

What will people in the U.S. and other Western countries say about violent protests when it happens in their own countries? Will their protesters be champions of democracy and free speech, or treated as criminals breaking the law? 

No comments: