Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Vitality and creativity

Putting aside the right-ness (or wrong-ness) of the protest movement in the past two months for the moment, there is a strong sense of vitality and creativity that is quite refreshing.  


It can be seen from the huge numbers of people who come out to march, again and again.

It can be seen from the wide range of activities organised, in terms of geographical spread (essentially all over Hong Kong instead of just the north of the island), types of activities (marches, prayer meetings, Lenon Walls, withdrawing money, strikes, …), 


sectors involved (teachers, lawyers, health workers, public servants, …), …., 


much of which have never happened before. 


It is also evident from the vast quantity and quality of the promotional materials that has been generated.  There is so much colour, shapes, humour, forms, wit, use of words, expressions, …  


It can be seen by the fluidity of the movement, by their ability to self-reflect and adjust the tactics, 


to apologise and change, …  


In contrast, the establishment seems to have only one mode: condemnation, denial, and stonewalling - all negative and suffocating.  Their gatherings seem so static.  Their slogans and posters seem so formulaic.  Except for one recent newspaper campaign making use of an old saying referencing the cruelty of repeated pickings of the squash plant - which stimulated much speculation. 


In terms of creativity and vitality, there is no question who holds better hope for the future.  




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