The protesters in Hong Kong, risking arrest and imprisonment in China, have kept up their resistance to a Chinese takeover of Hong Kong. Their presence in the Hong Kong airport for days resulted in its shut-down and cancellation of thousands of flights. When the government moved to restrict airport access to ticketed passengers, a few protesters remained, but did so for the purposes of issuing apologies. At the airport, protesters held up handwritten signs that read:
“Dear Tourists,
We’re deeply sorry about what happened yesterday. We were desperate and We made imperfect decisions. Please accept our apologies.”
“We apologize for our behavior but we are just too scared. Our police shot us, government betrayed us, social institutions failed us. Please help us.”
“Please accept our sincere apology to all travelers, press reporters, paramedics. We will learn from our mistakes. Please give us a second chance to prove
ourselves that we can be better.”
As these freedom seekers plead for forgiveness, they are balancing limited options, limited time, and the risk of losing public support for their efforts. Our hearts are touched and we cannot help but be helplessly sympathetic. We sit, thousands of miles away in our freedom, watching the struggle of others, without the means to step in and settle it all. Yet, in their quest, they are still able to express concern for others and regret for violence that erupted. There are lessons in dignity and responsibility here on the part of those who are risking their lives and freedom to preserve the liberties they have always known but which are now threatened. This is history in the making. This is courage. This is a moment for gratitude for the liberty we enjoy.