“What can we do to help?” the woman asked after seeing the Acton Institute’s new documentary, “The Hong Konger.” The film tells the life of billionaire Jimmy Lai, the owner of Apple Daily, the pro-democracy newspaper shut down by the Beijing-controlled Hong Kong government.
Lai went from rags to riches in the city’s free enterprise system, but presently sits in a jail cell already convicted of a ridiculous fraud charge (for which he was sentenced to a whopping 69 months) and awaits trial for violating the totalitarian national security law that criminalizes anti-government speech.
This week, that trial was postponed until next September. A conviction could keep him in jail for the rest of his life.
What can we do?
Well, for Lai and the others: precious little, beyond prayers.
We should focus, instead, on what these freedom-fighters have done for us. Their agitation — culminating in the 2019 protests that brought millions (close to one of every three HK residents) into the streets to demand basic democracy and human rights — woke up the world to the threat posed by the Chinese regime.
Lai could have taken his wealth and left to sip Mai Tais on a sunny beach on the far side of the globe. The student leaders of the protests — the best and the brightest — likewise knew how long their odds were, how dangerous their stand.
Yet, Lai and the protesters stood up to the Chinazis anyway. Why? Because good people must stand up to evil . . . or evil wins.
We must also honor their sacrifice by preparing to protect ourselves, our freedom and all that we hold dear against this tyranny.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
DALL-E2
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2 replies on “Hong Kong Help”
Coming to a country (very) near you.
That is what I’m trying to tell people. Thanks for being there.