Dispatches from the State Ministry of Truth

[garbon]

A Japanese friend of mine has posted a photo of a demonstration in Tokyo in support of the Honk Kong protesters.

I get the feeling that's not gonna help...

They do sympathy demonstrations in New York like every day.

[DontSayBanana]

Lighten up Francis.

Alright, I apologize for asking for a ban.  Mono's still pissing me off, though, and I've been in no mood lately for anybody's crap.

[Ed Anger]

You almost got Sgt. Hulka staring at you.

[Jacob]

The daughter of CY Leung (the Chief Executive of Hong Kong) allegedly made public Facebook posts that "HK taxpayers are funding my pretty shoes and dresses".

http://hongkong.coconuts.co/2014/10/01/cy-leungs-daughter-hong-kong-taxpayers-fund-my-beautiful-shoes-and-dresses



Impeccable timing.

[jimmy olsen]

Oddly, Mono's perspective of the protesters is not widely shared. 

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/foreigners/2014/10/occupy_central_s_polite_protesters_the_hong_kong_demonstrators_are_disciplined.html

The World's Politest Protesters

The Occupy Central demonstrators are courteous. That's actually what makes them so dangerous.

The protest movement that has sprung to life in Hong Kong now represents the most serious challenge to Beijing's authority since the Tiananmen protests of 1989. Beijing is obviously worried: Earlier this week it banned the photo-sharing site Instagram and ramped up censorship on the popular Chinese social media site Sina Weibo to unprecedented levels.

But while the threat to Beijing's power is real, the danger isn't evident on Hong Kong streets: Rather than presenting scenes of smashed shops or violent confrontations with the police—the sort of images we have grown accustomed to in Cairo, Ukraine, and other sites of popular protests against oppressive regimes—the photos from central Hong Kong show smiling students sitting around doing their homework, passing out donations of food, and meticulously picking up litter—even sorting out the recyclables. What, then, is different about these Hong Kong demonstrators? And how might their almost exaggerated politeness help them against the notoriously severe Chinese Communist Party?

The answers to these questions can be found in the appropriately titled "Manual of Disobedience." Published online several days before the Occupy Central campaign was set to begin, the document (written in Chinese and English) is part how-to guide and part philosophical mission statement. It details the movement's tactics, the rules for nonviolent protest, the legal codes that may be violated, and the exact procedure to follow should someone be arrested. It also implores protesters to "avoid physical confrontation, but also to avoid developing hatred in [their] heart," and explains that the protests must be a model of the values that they are striving to see in their society, namely "equality, tolerance, love, and care." The protesters understand that these values will not only help win over sympathizers, but lay bare the illegitimacy of the regime if it moves against them with excessive force. These aren't youthful idealists; these are savvy political operators who understand the secrets of successful nonviolent resistance.
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The proof of this fact is playing out in the streets of Hong Kong right now. After the protesters' first attempt to block the financial district was met with volleys of teargas from riot police, the people in the street did not fight back, leaving society shocked and emboldened by the authorities' outrageous use of force. The next day, thousands more people turned up with signs supporting the students, condemning police tactics, and calling for the resignation of Hong Kong leader C.Y. Leung. Although it may seem obvious that a protest movement must win popular support to combat oppression, it is no easy feat, and something we have seen movements in dozens of countries fail to accomplish. The staunch adherence to nonviolence Occupy Central has demonstrated takes preparation, training, and discipline—a combination that's very rare for many movements.

Most of the time, organizers aren't prepared to handle the crowds that surge into the streets, and with no way to maintain calm and cohesion, too many movements have been derailed by a few thrown rocks or smashed storefronts. Governments seize on the smallest acts of disorder or violence as excuses to crack down. However, Occupy Central's organizers seem to have come prepared. By issuing the manual and attempting to train their activists, they have maintained a united front and warded off the pitfalls that plague too many social movements.

[Valmy]

If people were protesting in front of your home and work you wouldn't like them any more than mono. It's not like the occupy walstreet or g8 protestors got much love

They did from me

Well ok I generally am not a fan of the G8 guys.

[Admiral Yi]

Would not hit.

Her English is quite good though.

[Valmy]

I, for one, support welcoming into the U.S. any HK residents who are dissatisfied with their future prospects.

The UK would if it had any decency at all.  Never too late to do the right thing British Empire, even post-mortem.

[Monoriu]

Her English is quite good though.

This is HK.  Everybody's English is supposed to be good. 

[Jacob]

Her English is quite good though.

This is HK.  Everybody's English is supposed to be good.

And since she's the daughter of a rich, well-connected businessman she probably went to university, and quite possibly high school too, in an English speaking country.

[Ed Anger]

More gooder.

[Monoriu]

Lighten up Francis.

Alright, I apologize for asking for a ban.  Mono's still pissing me off, though, and I've been in no mood lately for anybody's crap.

[Monoriu]

EWH is an ETF that tracks the Hang Seng in the US market. In case anyone cares. 

The Hang Seng is closed right now due to two consecutive mid-week holidays.  The markets will reopen tomorrow.  I plan to buy 

[Monoriu]

Her English is quite good though.

This is HK.  Everybody's English is supposed to be good.

And since she's the daughter of a rich, well-connected businessman she probably went to university, and quite possibly high school too, in an English speaking country.

Yes.  But even those who don't attend school in an English speaking country have good English skills.  It all depends on what school they attend.  The elite schools are very good at providing English training. 

[Monoriu]

More gooder.

Tip: she loves her father but hates her mother.