AS, how do the pro-OC people feel about disrupting businesses, especially mom & pop shops, and preventing wage earners from plying their trade? Do they understand many of the people they're harming are their own parents or relatives? Do they have realistic exit strategies? They do realize at some point the protests would either fizzle out, or the authorities would disperse them, with much support from the local people, right? Do they even think about that?
I'm glad you asked this. I know you guys all know I haven't said much about this, and even I know too. In fact, a friend is accusing me of being bias for not mentioning it(which I admit I do, because first of all I know there's no way I ain't taking a side in this situation), but I told her the reason is because the thinking for anti-OC is very straightfoward.
Anyways, to answer your question. First of all, there's no way no pro-OC people don't know this disrupt business. We all know. Whoever doesn't should not even be marching, that's what I think. It's like, the most primary common sense and argument, which is also why I never even bothered visiting this argument because it's very self-explanatory. The pro-OC people feel really bad about it, but I'm sure they all understand it's inevitable because the purpose of OC is civil disobedience and to disrupt the economy in order to get the government's attention. This is also the reason the first few days the protestors are very peaceful, orderly, restraining for most part, and cleaning up after themselves. Some business owners liked them. However, I feel the strangest movement is going to MK, which is quite unnecessary.
I really doubt the students don't know what they're doing, otherwise they should be gone as soon as the pepper sprays showed up and tear gas. Maybe you can say it's conformity, but they aren't forced, and there are students who leave and return on their own as well as non-students, so I do public grievances towards HKSAR and dissatisfaction with the electoral system was the primary fuel for all this. And even then, the anti-OC people aren't actually endorsing CY neither. They still call him 689 no joke.
I'm not exactly sure if they're harming their parents, but all this started last week when parents, pro or against OC, permitted their students to walk out(because the parental teaching here is, if the kids have a strong feeling about sth and feel it's their right and important to step out and make a stand, then they should be granted this chance. so they're teaching citizenship somewhat). the escalation came when the pepper spray happened, which led people of both OC and against OC to show up because they are angry with police's use of unnecessary force against students who put up their hands) Since then you have people of all ages, and I don't think I need to cover base again.
I think the original strategy from the student leaders was probably to negotiate and end things. These are my speculations though, but I do have grounds in believing that. The very fact dialogue began was a very good step, and it was heading in the right direction and probably would've worked things out, if the violence initiated by the thugs(I'm referring to the thugs and not the anti-OC) didn't break out, which of course led to the destruction of the negotiation.
I'm just hearing my dad mentioning outside now, that the student leaders might be opening dialogue again, and clarified this isn't a revolution. Honestly whoever thinks this is a real revolution is dumb. Unless HK is its own sovereignty state(which it isn't), this ain't no revolution. So yea, whoever used this word is making it sound fancy somewhat, but also misleading. I won't be surprised there are misled people out there, which is why I try my best to explain things to those people. Essentially I have talked about this for so many times and so much, I'm getting sick and tired of it. I really just want the students to go home and be safe.
