Awaiting a democratic Hong Kong
I came across a thread in a discussion group where comments included, “I wonder what will happen in 50 years?” “Why did we not get our promised 50 years of unchange.” “I hope that the Central Government will allow us to have a real self-governing system.” And the very true, “That any leader under the current system is still bound by the Central Government’s Control.”
So I made a reply. And as I wrote it. I realized more than anything. What we need is an alternative leader to back. Someone who we can demand for, push forth, using grassroots effort in order to put pressure on the Central government to put into power. That is the only way we can get around the whole system of not having the vote. We put enough pressure and have enough ground swell to support a pro-democratic leader into the post of Chief Executive. I am off to think about it, but here is the reply I made:
We just need to be democratic. Life is about change. Everything is always influx. No one can guarantee a good ruler or government. There is no point speculating.
The only way to prevent problems is to have a changeable government that is elected by the people. Why? Because then every one of the citizens is responsible for their own destiny. Because only when every day people perceive their ability to make changes will people even start to want to participate. We can’t "hope," the Central Government will allow us to have a directly related government. We have to work towards it.
The question is then. What are we doing, and how are we going to pave the way towards universal suffrage?
There is no point with Tung resigning. We still have no power in choosing who comes next.
And we can’t even "ask" or "want" or "push" or "demand” someone we would like right this moment. We don’t even have a possible alternative candidate to back.
That’s what we need. We can’t equate getting rid of Tung as even a "step," because it isn’t allowing us more power. Be very careful not to confuse his resignation with a step towards democracy. It’s not.
We swap a figurehead with figurehead. Self-Determination eludes us still and will continue if we lose sight of the bigger picture and distribution of power in the current structure. Does that mean China keeps swapping one leader we don’t like for another and we shall be placated?
Right now we need sophisticated thoughts about system change rather than feel any satisfaction for losing a rather lack luster leader. Gloating gets us nowhere. Wishing gets us nowhere and waiting surely gets us nowhere.
Yan
Yan Sham-Shackleton Online 
Yeah, the idea of an alternative candidate is what some in the pan-democratic camp has started to float around. But I am not sure how much that would help though.
Did you realize in all the news on the leadership change, there has been no reports on what the people think?
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Why do you not think it would help? Can you not see what it can achieve. A Pan-Democratic Candidate that the majority of people will back is the ONLY way we can have any kind of chance of putting someone who believe in the same policies and ideals as “we” do into power. We have to work on a grass roots level that is outside the current structure of power.
At this point we must find an alternative to subvert the system to get what you want. We already know the system is bunk. I don’t know why you think that won’t help. Everything will help. Work will help. One has to experiment and try. Even if it doesn’t work the way it was thought to be, but there are lessons to be learned and unforeseen outcomes that is generated by creating something untried. That is a little bit cyncial and problematic. I am suprized that’s from you. I would be curious to know what your suggestion or alternative would be. The truth is unless this problem is tackled in a myriad of ways nothing will move forward.
As for the reports. I have no idea. I try to get the facts and go, not bothering with anything extraciricular. My theory is I am not here to argue with the media. All these media commentators. It’s like. Why don’t people just work towards something instead? Make something. Do something. At the end of the day if one wants the press to say something else. One has to give them something to say. They want a story. So manufacture something that they could turn into a story to push your cause. Be proactive.
Media watching is still very passive, its montoring the behavior of others instead of being a source of what’s being talked about. The upside is that it doesn’t take a lot of effort or reasearch. Which is why we have more media pundits (or wanna be) media pundits then the press, and more press then there are people who actually do the work. It’s extremely hard to make news and be able to do it in a concise way that makes a point and captures the imagination.
I think this might be a change of attitiude for me. Or at least, it’s the cumilation of a long thought process. There are things to be done and thoughts to be made, and plans to be had. That’s where it really counts. Not to discount the efforts of anyone else as everyone has what time they can spare, and a level of involvement that they are comfortable with.
Lately I have been working a lot. In all these different aspects, one small part is about an attempt to manufactor a story and change pespectives in this society regarding our situation in China. Glutter was already hard, and time consuming but then moving it out into the interaction of the other people, and trying to make it happen though a chain of others as well as being motivated on your own, putting it together makes one realize how simple and and relatively stress free sitting on my butt typing is.
Going out in the “real” world takes a level of confidence that is suprizingly neccessary but hard to come by and a dedication that is over and beyond what is imagined. A good idea is hard enough to come by. Realizing it is, is another. Then putting it into place and finally creating it and making it happen, and hope it gets picked up. Practically mind bendingly difficult. There are systems that work against everything, both purposefully and by accident. One has to obtain new knowledge all the time, and one is faced with a lot of detractors and people who are not ready for new ideas. Now i am just musing on the concept of “being an culture jammer,” vs “being a commentator.” Which is what I am going through every day. Moving up a knotch on my artistic/creative/poltical endevors. All three are tied in my mind.
Anyway…Aren’t you in HK? Thougth you were going to call.
yan
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