(NaturalNews) Do citizens of Hong Kong
have a better understanding of what it means to be free than millions of
Americans do these days? Given many of the changes to our society - and
what more and more of us seem to be willing to put up with - the answer
is yes.
Here's a case in point.
Recently, officials in
Hong Kong backed off plans to force students there to take Chinese
patriotism classes after a week of protests in the one-time British
colony that were ignited over fears of pro-Beijing "brainwashing," the Associated Press reported.
The
leader of the semi-autonomous city, Leung Chun-ying, said it will be up
to schools to decide for themselves whether they want to hold the
classes, which were on pace to become a mandatory part of curriculum in
2015 after a three-year voluntary period.
Anger and resentment over the classes have been mounting for months, the Post reported,
stoked by fears that the classes were part of a plan by authorities in
Beijing to indoctrinate the city's younger residents into unflinchingly
supporting China's Communist Party, though Leung and other senior
officials denied that.
'The China Model
China, you
may recall, regained control of Hong Kong from Britain in 1997 after
more than 100 years of colonial rule. As part of the agreement, Hong
Kong was allowed to retain a large amount of autonomy, a separate legal
system and civil liberties not enjoyed in the rest of China, like
freedom of speech.
Leung's change of heart came after a week of
protests by thousands of people who massed in front of government
headquarters to coincide with the beginning of a new school year.
Organizers say as many as 120,000 people showed up to protest, but police put the number closer to 36,000, according to local news reports.
The
decision came just a day before city legislature elections, in which
voters were allowed for the first time to choose more than half the
seats. Mounting opposition to the indoctrination plan was being seen as
potentially undermining support for pro-Beijing candidates.
Protesters said they were concerned that the new subject matter was a thinly veiled attempt by the Chinese government
to inculcate young people with nationalist education courses like those
used in schools all over China to build support for the Asian giant's
communist government.
Such fears only increased after a
pro-Beijing education group published material earlier this year
championing the virtues of one-party rule. Government officials stressed
that the pamphlet, titled, "The China Model," was not a part of the
mandated teaching materials.
The course curriculum guidelines
called for instructing students about the accomplishments of Chinese
political leaders, along with the contributions they've made to society
and the difficulties and challenges they continue to face. Students
would also learn how to "speak cautiously," practice self-discipline and
to get along well with others in a responsible, rational and respective
manner.
Good ole' American democracy - In Hong Kong?
The
controversy is just the latest sign of growing discomfort with mainland
China's attempts at exerting more influence over the city. Residents of
Hong Kong have also been miffed about stymied democratic development
and a rise in the number of wealthy mainland residents gobbling up
property and driving up prices.
Contrast this growing democracy movement with what is happening in the United States.
Increasingly,
Americans seem more willing to embrace the Communist China ideals of
government owning and running industry (GM, large banks),
criminalization of public protests (if your point of view differs from
the powers that be), the proliferation of police checkpoints,
nullification of the Bill of Rights, efforts to disarm citizens or make
it harder to protect yourself, and in the case of one man in Oregon,
criminalizing ownership of rainwater.
Hong Kong residents are right to distrust the motives of China's one-party rulers. If only more Americans were as scrutinizing.
Sources:
http://www.washingtonpost.com
http://www.seattlepi.com
http://www.nytimes.com
http://www.naturalnews.com/037196_Hong_Kong_government_brainwashing_public_education.html
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