Students, your voices have been heard. Now show some wisdom and change strategy
Stephanie Cheung says now their voices have been heard, Occupy protesters need to show some wisdom and seek an alternative path, one which embodies all that is good about democracy
Youth of Hong Kong, your demands for real democracy have been heard. Not only in Hong Kong, but in other parts of the world. You have acted with admirable self-discipline, respect and reason. Your good manners, tidiness, patience, peace and goodwill, sleeping out and studying in the streets, have not gone unnoticed.
You have earned support from many Hong Kong citizens who are inspired by your pure motives and courage, and wish to see you all safe and well.
However, you cannot sleep on the streets forever, or disrupt the running of the city indefinitely.
Everyone is watching now to see how the “umbrella movement” will end – with a bang (forcible eviction by the police) or a whimper (fizzling out with waning enthusiasm by supporters)?
It is unrealistic to pin your hopes on successful talks with the government to give yourselves an honourable discharge. To do so means that the future of the movement will hinge upon how the government responds. You will place yourselves at the mercy of uncompromising authorities in whose interest it is to drag out the talks, until the whimper happens.
It does not, however, need to be a choice just between two options.