My 30th Birthday Wish: Democracy in China

Awaiting a Democratic China

Simplified Chinese Version Traditional Chinese Version

Today is my 30th birthday, and for intent and purposes I must make a wish. People were already asking but I didn’t have one.

‘What would it be?’ I thought.

‘Happiness and Health for me and my Loved Ones?’ ‘Finishing and Finding Some Level of Success for my Projects and Creativity?’ ‘Food, Clean Water and Education for all?’ ‘A Democratic Hong Kong with Full Autonomy Outside of the PRC?’

But those are my wishes every day. Those are the things I pray to the universe for when I remember to. For something as big as turning 30 I needed a reaching wish, something that means more.

And I decided what I wish for my thirtieth birthday is a

DEMOCRATIC CHINA

And for this to happen within my lifetime, before I die, preferable before I am old but I am willing to wait a while.

I wish to be able to see and walk and breathe a FREE and OPEN motherland.

I wish the country of my roots, blood and ancestry to cease being ruled by an oligarchy. I want my country to respect rule of law and human rights. For her to allow free speech and dissent so me and my fellow Chinese Citizens can experience the true feelings of freedom, away from persecution for saying what we think, to never be afraid to demand -for what might happen, and women to have full reproductive rights.

Instead of forcing people to comply, I want for my government to learn to listen.

And I never want to see our government driving tanks into those who ask. To watch my rulers shooting, crushing, and killing the best and brightest destroying not our only call for change but our flesh and future.

That is what I wish for the next 30 years of my life.

My grandmother Yiu Siu Hing at 18 went back to China during the Sino-Japanese War to fight for a free China. To help with the efforts not to let our country be ruled by Japanese invaders. It is only right for her granddaughter to follow in her footsteps to work towards not only a China ruled by Chinese people, but a China ruled by ALL Chinese people.

Glutter wishes for Universal Suffrage and the day when she can cast a ballot in an open election for the government of the modern Middle Kingdom.

For those who read, log and watch those of us who speak it. For those who ban and shut down the voices that say this. Do not worry, for we do not need to “incite” to “overthrow” the “Communist Government” for this to happen. You could change on your own.

Sum Yan
Feb 18th 2004
Hong Kong