The proposed National Security Law that sparked all of the protest in Hong Kong will go into effect on July 1. These people in this picture above lost. The protests failed. All of their efforts, all of their love, struggle, patience, hope, and dreams have come to nothing. Their worst fears have been realized. The very thing that they hoped they would accomplish has eluded them.
This not only disappoints and devastates them, but it saddens most of the Honk Kong community that lives elsewhere around the world, both those from Hong Kong who have immigrated, and those, like myself, who love Hong Kong for whatever reason and wanted something different for it and it’s people.
In short, this is a very very sad day. There is a huge amount of heartbreak in the world for Hong Kong. It is truly an abject human tragedy on the scale of the outbreak of war, an enormous natural disaster, or a complete collapse of a society that was hoped would persist forever.
I am heartbroken. I wanted something different for Hong Kong. I wanted to visit there some day. I never will. While the physical location will still be there, and tourism will still be a major attraction, the Hong Kong I wanted to see and get to know won’t be there. The future I had imagined for Hong Kong and I is no more.
I am heartbroken.
Lest you think I am blinded with grief, let me assure you that I know there is good and bad in every human event and in every human heart. The Mainland Chinese government is not a monolith of evil, and I expect to see some surprises as we move forward, things unimagined will turn out to be good. I know this.
If those who love Hong Kong don’t accept what has happened, and feel this heartbreak, they will never get to the other side of this where the good can be seen. If they hang on to resentment and anger they will blind themselves to the good, both anticipated and unanticipated, that will arise from the imposition of the National Security Law.
So, be patient with us. We hurt. There’s a process to go through and parts of it won’t be pretty to watch, but the same strength and unity of purpose that united the people of Hong Kong with the lovers of Hong Kong around the world will persist. That won’t be lost, but it will look very different than all of us wanted.
There is some difficult ground that must be crossed first.
Speaking of which…
The first protest that I will be an active participant in since last summer will be a short march of collective grief from Times Square to the Chinese consulate on Wednesday July 1. I feel safe doing this because I know my HK-loving brothers and sisters will all be wearing masks, they will all be social distancing, I can rely on them for the mutual protection of our beloved community.
The people of the city of Hong Kong effectively stamped down Covid by wearing masks and doing the other things that people in this country have been convinced are the hallmarks of political surrender and submission to being hoodwinked by the media. They knew they had to act together to protect one another. It is the same thing that got them out in the streets in the first place. They have a beloved community, they care for one another as a collective.
This is why I love them so, and this is also why I know, despite how it feels right now, all is not lost. There is some kind of hope, I just don’t know what it is or what it will look like.
If you know me, and you’re surprised that I feel this deeply about Hong Kong, know that I am personally heartbroken at the same time. The very same time my heart breaks for Hong Kong I came to know that an important personal relationship of mine is also over.
Like Hong Kong, it is not going to be what I hoped and dreamed it would be. Like Hong Kong, even though I have lost something that was very important, there will still be something there in the future, all is not lost. Like Hong Kong, I know that someday soon thinking of them will no longer bring a tear to my eye. and will leave me only with a smile on my lips.
But, for now, heartbreak is heartbreak. When I march on Wednesday, it will also be for me.
Solidarity.
Impossible to shake how upsetting it is to know how good we have it in this country versus the rest of the world. HK citizens literally lose all their rights overnight, and the Uighur are being scientifically snuffed out while we bitch about wearing masks because of "mah freedom!" Fuck us.