Hong Kong protesters torch Central MTR station entrance
Can acts of public vandalism be justified as the quest for freedom and democracy?
Can people who destroy their own homes be said to be fighting for their homes? At this rate, by the time they are done, will there still be a home left?
Are there no better ways to achieve their goals?
The protest at Tiananmen Square was significant, and highly threatening to the Chinese government because of the way it was carried out. It showed the contrast between stoic protestors standing up to a government which is willing to roll in the tanks to deal with them. On one side, a people just standing up (literally) for their ideals. The other side, in contrast, being willing to resort to violence to squash such ideals.
The moment protestors resort to violence, they lose that contrast. And it is that contrast which is threatening, which is the most fearsome.
In China, legitimacy, that moral high ground, is a very important thing. Legitimacy gives one that power to rule. Losing legitimacy condemns one to becoming a footnote in history.
Can acts of public vandalism be justified as the quest for freedom and democracy?
Can people who destroy their own homes be said to be fighting for their homes? At this rate, by the time they are done, will there still be a home left?
Are there no better ways to achieve their goals?
The protest at Tiananmen Square was significant, and highly threatening to the Chinese government because of the way it was carried out. It showed the contrast between stoic protestors standing up to a government which is willing to roll in the tanks to deal with them. On one side, a people just standing up (literally) for their ideals. The other side, in contrast, being willing to resort to violence to squash such ideals.
The moment protestors resort to violence, they lose that contrast. And it is that contrast which is threatening, which is the most fearsome.
In China, legitimacy, that moral high ground, is a very important thing. Legitimacy gives one that power to rule. Losing legitimacy condemns one to becoming a footnote in history.
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