The ironies of democracy and freedom

Protest supporters: People attending a flash mob rally to show support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong. Some Hong Kong youths have come out violently for the cause of democracy and freedom. — AFP

There are two great ironies coming out of the current protests in Hong Kong.

First, youths in other parts of the world are coming out in protest against government inaction on climate change, some of the Hong Kong youths have come out violently for the cause of democracy and freedom. Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg, in her passionate

“How Dare You” speech, shamed the elderly leaders at the United Nations for failing to act decisively to deal with the global climate change damage to what the next generation will inherit. She was concerned about global common concerns. Right on!

Second, even as the Hong Kong youths wave the Union Jack and Stars and Stripes, these Western democracies are experiencing political crises bordering on chaos, with US impeachment and Brexit economic risks.