Hong Kong Protests

Many years ago my wife and I visited Hong Kong. We found it to be a exciting and vibrant city. It was under British rule that back then. 

Since the Chinese government took over the British protectorate things have become tense and have recently boiled over in the form of demonstrations. I fear for the safety of those people living in Hong Kong!  The Chinese have demonstrated in Tienanmen Square that they are ruthless in suppressing any opposition to the official government. I fear thousands could be killed or seriously hurt if the Chinese army invades Hong Kong!

Canada vs. China!

First they arrest a couple of Canadians on business in China, then they re-sentence another from a jail term to death!  Then the outlaw imports of some Canadian crops.  Now they claim our pork and beef is bad and not allowed into their markets. 

All of this because we arrested some Chinese national on the request of American authorities because we had no choice under extradition laws signed by Canada and the USA!  Am I fairly accurate so far?  

China will not back down!  I suggest that the Canadian Government financially help all those affected by this ridiculous squabble then help them go out and find other markets!  Maybe the Americans should help us here since it was their idea to arrest this Chinese national in the first place.

Hong Kong's Fight for Democracy

I'm very worried for the young people carrying on peaceful demonstrations in the streets of Hong Kong over the last while.  I had the privilege of visiting Hong Kong many years ago.  It was a beautiful oriental city, with a dash of Britain everywhere.  I loved the city.

I always wondered what would happen when the city would be turned over to the Communist Chinese.  I understand this current round of problems started when the Beijing government told the folks in Hong Kong that were allowed to have elections, but Beijing would select the candidates!

That was totally unacceptable to the young people.  They wanted more democratic freedoms, not less!

In my opinion, the Beijing government has three choices;

• Move in and destroy the students' protests (and kill a large number of them).  Then set up "re-education camps" to show the survivors the errors of their ways. Remember Tienanmen Square.
• Move in and substantially limit the power of Hong Kong by destroying much of its infrastructure, then recreating the city in their own image.  Remember Saigon.
• Give Hong Kong what they want and set them on a path to becoming their own nation, like Singapore.

I'm hoping for some form of Choice Number 3.

There was talk of creating a lapel pin in the shape of an umbrella, the symbol of the fight for democracy in Hong Kong.  Where can I buy one?

Historical June

Today, June 4, marks the beginning of three of the most important anniversary dates in the history of the twentieth century.

June 4, is the 25th anniversary of the battle for democracy in China, focused on Tienanmen Square in that nation's capital.  Students from across China gathered in the square to ask the government for more rights and freedoms, and democratic elections.  The protest/demonstration went on for days.  Finally the police and army moved in with tanks and guns to remove, arrest or shoot the demonstrators.  I believe hundreds if not thousands were killed, although no official accurate body count was ever announced!

According to official Chinese records the incident never even happened.  All Chinese history books do not mention the atrocities of Tienanmen Square twenty five years ago.  Many of us interested in world democracy watched the happenings in that square.  We saw the film of the "Tank Man" actually stopping an army tank by standing in front of it!  We saw the film showing truckloads of dead and wounded students being hauled away after the carnage.  We know it happened and we will remember!

June 5 & 6 marks the anniversaries of two Second World War battles which turned the tide of war in favour of the Allies. 

The Battle of Midway took place on June 5th, 1942.  It put an end to the aircraft carrier domination by Japan in the Pacific.  The Americans ambushed the Japanese fleet as it prepared to invade the tiny island of Midway in the Pacific. 

The Americans sunk all four of the Japanese carriers and started turning the war around in their favour.

D-Day took place on June 6, 1944.  Allied armies stormed the beaches of Normandy in France.  It was the largest invasion force ever assembled.  It was the beginning of the end for Hitler and his Nazi domination of Europe. 

Canadians landed on a beach named Juno while Canadian aircraft provided air cover overhead.  Thousands of Canadians were killed or wounded on those first few days.