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Politics and Activism

With All That's Going On, You Need To Start Caring About Hong Kong

Hong Kong is the biggest revolution of our generation.

Karina Teichert

Nov 20, 2019

Alpharetta, Georgia

With All That's Going On, You Need To Start Caring About Hong Kong

Wikimedia Commons

To many modern Americans, the fight for political freedom is one long forgotten. Liberty is taken for granted, so the idea that there are still power struggles over free speech and free expression is almost as foreign as the countries they occur in. There is no better example of this than Hong Kong, "revolution of our times".

The Hong Kong protests began on March 31st, 2019, and have been slowly escalating since then. Ever since Great Britain turned control of Hong Kong over to China in the 90's, China has been slowly exerting more and more control over Hong Kong's government, suffocating their independence and autonomy. It's immediately evident that China wishes to do away with the "One China, Two Systems" policy, instead preferring to quietly become more and more dominant over Hong Kong. If they succeed, Hong Kong's previously enjoyed rights will be revoked, and Hong Kong will blend back into the totalitarian fabric of China.

There are 5 main demands that the protestors hope to accomplish. The first is full withdrawal of the extradition bill, which would allow prisoners to be sent to China for a (unfair) trial if passed. The second and third demands are somewhat related: a full investigation into police brutality and revoke the term "rioters" that was previously applied to protestors. The fourth demand is amnesty for protestors, and the final demand is universal suffrage in order to participate in Hong Kong's government.

Now for the heartbreaking part: the Hong Kong police are not making it easy for the protestors to accomplish their goals. They've beaten men, women, and children, shot tear gas at point blank range, prevented paramedics from treated injured civilians, and even allegedly killed several of the protestors. The injuries are growing by the day, with seemingly no end in sight. The police force, who is ordinarily sworn to protect its citizens, has instead turned against them. Brutal attacks give the protestors no choice but to fight back.

So how can you help? Spread the word. Contact your local lawmakers to tell them to take action. Join a protest in your city or start one. Below are links that provide more information.

Do not let Hong Kong die.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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With All That's Going On, You Need To Start Caring About Hong Kong

Hong Kong is the biggest revolution of our generation.

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No one best represents the struggle like our favorite 90s squad.

1. When course schedules are released and you have a conflict between two required classes.

2. When there is only one section of a popular course.

3. Receiving the 18,000 emails reminding you to register ASAP.

4. When you need to see an advisor, but they are too busy/unresponsive.

5. Trying not to dress like a bum for your appointments with your advisors/department heads.

6. When you have a perfectly planned out schedule, and one class ruins it.

7. Carefully moving things around to accommodate a different class/section.

8. Waking up at 6:00 a.m. for your enrollment time.

9. Concocting a new schedule at your enrollment time after your original plan gets changed.

10. Getting into a class and filling the last available seat.

11. When all of your classes finally go through.

12. Realizing that you forgot a class that was a pre-requisite for everything else.

When your capability of "adulting" is put to the test

Nobody deserves to be living in poverty.

"Nobody living in one of the most influential nations in the world should be worried about making ends meet."

What is the current minimum wage at the federal level?

What are the benefits of raising the minimum wage?

What are the states that have set a $15/hour minimum wage?

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Because who understands your bitterness better than April?

1. When you have to provide an "interesting fact" for your first day ice-breaker.

2. When your professor is babbling on and on in his lecture.

3. When you edit your friend's paper and they get an A.

4. When it's 2 AM and you remember you have a test tomorrow.

5. When you finish taking the test and you're pretty sure you failed...

6. ...but then you get the test back and somehow passed.

7. When you've been up for 12 hours straight writing a paper.

8. And then you manage to stay awake in class the next day.

9. When you have to butter up your professor for an extra credit opportunity.

10. When you're assigned a group project.

11. And your group-mates are trying to chat about life instead of the assignment.

12. When it's your last class of the day and you're about to go home.

13. But then you remember rent is due tonight and the anger comes back.

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