One-man-one-vote is the only way to go

23. July 1, 2003. 500, 000. These are the numbers I can never take out of my head. They are the numbers that first make me feel truly connected to where I am now. Two years after the July 1 protest against the legislation of Article 23, I took part in the protest last Sunday. Just like the speculation before the march, less than 500, 000 people were in the protest this time. The number concerns me not. True- that I was awestruck by the number 500, 000. True- that I was proud of myself as well as the rest of the 499, 999 people. I still am! But after two years, I think this particular time is when the determination and desire of Hong Kong people for a society with full democracy is genuinely tested. Unlike last time, the purpose of the protest is a display of how much we really want a universal suffrage in the next chief executive election. It’s more than just letting the steam out, which may apply to the protest two years ago. Rather, it’s about how much we want to be part of it and thereby initiate a movement for a long-term progress in the election system of our government in years beyond. Therefore, my taking to the street was by no means an anti-government action. I was there out of my conscience—the obligation I feel I have as a person who live here and the sense of responsibility I have for my grandson, my grand-grandson, my grand-grand-grandson.

In the immortal words of John F. Kennedy: “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.” Get your brain juices flowing, look at the world beyond the perspective that you read on the computer screen, get out there, and have your voice heard. Be part of it. If you don’t, you get what you deserve. It’s that simple.

More about the Dec 4 protest:

BBC- "Thousands march for HK democracy" http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4496556.stm

CNN- "Thousands march in HK" http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/12/04/hk.march.ap/index.html

新加坡聯合早報- "香港市民大游行争取普选" http://www.zaobao.com/gj/zg051205_502.html

Le Monde. fr- "Des dizaines de milliers de Hongkongais dans la rue pour la démocratie" http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3216,36-717336@51-715568,0.html

march on Dec 4,2005

march on Dec 4,2005