Independence Day

David HK · July 5, 2017

I didn't realize the 4th of July game was a day game, so I missed it- sleeping, sad to say. It's one of those special occasions, as an American, and one doesn't even need to be a baseball fan to understand what it means- it's just an essential part of the fabric of the nation. You gather with friends and family, you have a picnic, you have a hot dog, you have a baseball game, you have fireworks.

That fabric gets frayed from time to time; albeit never to the degree we've seen lately. What's tragic is that it has been by design, not by circumstance. The search for common threads to bind together grows increasingly difficult; even the very means by which we seek information these days is used as yet another means of division . I wrote an earlier article expressing my appreciation for this site, and its oasis of calm and commonality, and how grateful I am for the opportunity to connect, and hold those threads together. http://twinsdaily.com/topic/26158-y2k-or-why-2k/

In the spirit, then, of finding common ground on which to take a stand as our forefathers (and mothers) did, I can't turn away from moments which present themselves, no matter how disparate or far off they may seem. I have been offshore for years, now- it's a long story- but teaching in mainland China for a couple of years, before moving to Hong Kong in 2013. I'm outside looking in. A couple of days ago, I took part, with thousands of others, in the annual march for Democracy through the streets here.

There are 2 major events that take place annually, which annoy the masters in Beijing to no small extent. One is a remembrance ceremony, that give or take, attracts hundreds of thousands, up to half a million at times- a commemoration of the June 4, 1989 massacre in and around Tiananmen Square. I won't go into detail about that episode in history, there are plenty of other sources. I will say, though, if you have never seen the documentary "The Tank Man," you must.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMuTjg69ono

The other is what occurred on July 1, the annual march for Democracy, on Handover Day, when the UK relinquished control of Hong Kong, ceding it back to China. 1997 was the year, making this the 20th anniversary. As such, and especially in light of the Occupy protests that took up months of 2014, it was an occasion for Beijing to flex its muscle for HK, the UK, and the rest of the world to see. Xi Jin Ping himself came here. They had an extensive military parade involving elements of the Peoples' Liberation Army stationed here. They bussed in people from over the border to increase the number of regime supporters at staged events, and blocked access to the annual gathering area for the Democracy march in Victoria Park.

For reference: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/29/chinese-president-xi-jinping-arrives-in-hong-kong-with-vow-to-bring-new-glory

(There are more links within the article for more background into the nefarious actions the regime has taken recently).

So, I chose to stand up again, as a proud American, as a proud citizen of the world, in solidarity for those fighting for the mere chance to exercise the rights we take for granted- and choose not to exercise when the opportunity comes along. Whenever I look at voting statistics from my country, I wonder if I still have molars left to grind, or whether the well of tears I shed has reached the bottom yet. I'm appalled, and ashamed. And as I walk, communicate, volunteer, or merely show up, I wonder if anyone will take my place when I no longer can. But until that time, I'm gonna stand, I'm gonna walk, I'm gonna speak.

You can view some photos of this year's journey in my gallery, HK Hometown. Oh, and check out the cap-- Go Twinkies!