The tragic death of George Floyd has unleashed violent protests across the United States , laying bare public rage towards the deep-rooted racial inequality in American society. Ironically, the Trump administration’s lavish praise last year for the Hong Kong anti-government protesters, who disrupted social order in the name of freedom, has contrasted sharply with its labelling of domestic demonstrators as rioters. Also, while his administration has pointed fingers at brutal police tactics in Hong Kong, Trump has shrugged off criticism of American officers’ disproportionate use of force against civilians. Although the Trump administration seized the moral high ground last year by vowing to safeguard Hong Kong people’s civil liberties, it has turned a blind eye to the plight of African-American citizens whose basic human rights are undermined by their skin colour. The US government’s double standard is proof that it is a hypocrite who would only act in self-interest. To live up to its reputation as a democratic country, the US should lead by example at home, by creating a level playing field for people of colour on multiple fronts, including labour rights protection. Trump’s reluctance to directly address the underlying issues is a testament to his administration’s inability to deliver on its promises and self-proclaimed moral authority. As for the Hong Kong protesters who naively wave the American flag in defiance of Chinese sovereignty, they need to think deeply about whether the US is a steadfast ally on their journey to genuine democracy. In a dog-eat-dog world, there is no such thing as selfless devotion to a noble cause. When Hong Kong no longer serves as a bargaining chip between the US and China, there will come a day of reckoning for the pro-democracy campaigners. Gary Lam, Sheung Shui Make America great again with a national debate The George Floyd protests have been going on for almost two weeks now, and America has yet to find a peaceful way out. The proposal of a military crackdown, as put forward by some , including Donald Trump, is absolutely distressing and unthinkable. While the “Black Lives Matter” protests in the US and the “yellow vest” movement in France have nothing in common in terms of the cause, President Trump may still learn a lesson or two from his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron. Though the initial French police tactics against protesters attracted widespread criticism and fuelled more discontent, President Macron’s “ great national debate ” in early 2019 was a timely and apt move to address their grievances . More than 10,000 debates were held across the country over two months and an estimated 500,000 people took part. These gathered meaningful recommendations which culminated in a large package of reforms announced by Mr Macron in a televised national address. Most important of all, dialogue was promoted, allowing both sides to communicate and exchange their views, which assuaged the fury and distrust in society. Mr Trump could launch his own great national debate, or at least give an Oval Office address. It would be better than just tweeting without really responding to complaints. Au Yeung Kwong-fai, Tsuen Wan