How easy is it to compose a 140-character tweet, or to share a link on Facebook? How liberating is it to openly and freely share opinions in a university classroom? How empowering is it to pencil in a voter’s ballot and be heard?
What is it like to live without these social and political freedoms?
The threat is real for members of the pro-democracy ‘Umbrella Revolution’ in Hong Kong.
On August 31st, the People’s Republic of China proposed an electoral reform that would override a 2007 agreement promising universal suffrage in Hong Kong’s 2017 elections. Instead of chosen by the people, candidates would be nominated by a committee established by the Chinese government.
Before the end of September, the streets in front of government headquarters were filled with thousands of people. Joshua Wong, leader of the student group Scholarism, was one of many attacked and arrested by police. On October 1st, at the National Day flag raising ceremony, the national anthem rang out and Wong and other students turned their backs.
The weeks following have been a blur of violence and indecision. On October 15th, footage from Television Broadcasts Limited, a commercial television station in Hong Kong, followed protestor Ken Tsang as he was carried by police away from the crowds and beaten repeatedly and systematically.
Protestors and their supporters around the world were hopeful Tuesday when government representatives and students spoke in a televised debate. Promises of change soon dissipated, however, when government representatives said that the universal suffrage proposed by the student protestors was not sanctioned by the Basic Law established in 1997.
Freedom House, an organization that speaks out against threats to democracy around the world, declared China ‘not free’ in a 2013 report. On a scale of one to seven – seven being the worst rating – freedom in China was rated 6.5 and the status of political rights was rated seven. The United States was rated one in both categories.
What does it mean to be free in a modern world where so many are denied the right to speak out for what they believe in? How much integrity does our own social and political freedom have if we don’t raise our voices and an umbrella for the people of Hong Kong?
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