Source:
https://scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3030676/hong-kong-should-not-follow-us-tolerating-disrespect-national
Comment/ Letters

Hong Kong should not follow the US in tolerating disrespect to the national anthem

Chanting, singing and holding up images of the Chinese flag, a pro-Beijing flash mob appears at Pacific Place in Admiralty, Hong Kong. Photo: AFP

Every so often, we witness bewildering behaviour before a national flag or during the playing of a national anthem. In the United States not long ago, National Football League players were seen reacting to their national anthem in different ways: some took a knee in protest against police treatment of minorities and others sat or raised their fists. Their behaviour was criticised by US President Donald Trump as disrespectful to their anthem and nation.

Earlier this year, a sixth-grader at a school in Florida had a dust-up with a substitute teacher: the student refused to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and said both the flag and anthem were racist.

In the US, no laws are broken when students refuse to recite the pledge. But the student in Florida was later arrested and charged with disrupting a class and resisting an officer because he repeatedly refused to leave the classroom and the teacher had to call the school office.

In Hong Kong, in the lead-up to the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, there has been talk of some schools cancelling National Day flag-raising ceremonies at a time of unrest, violence and political polarisation.

This is no easy matter because the controversial bill proposed at the start of the year to criminalise abuse of the national anthem and flag and impose penalties, including a possible fine of HK$50,000 and three years in prison, is still up in the air.

But as the Education Bureau points out, cancelling the flag-raising ceremony sends the wrong message and deepens some students’ misconceptions about national identity. It is the responsibility of educators to foster among students the spirit of respecting the nation and each other.

We should be enjoying a celebratory moment today. Schools should think hard about how they can manage those who do not respect the national flag, the national anthem and the nation. Mr Trump would agree.

Randy Lee, Ma On Shan