She's young. She's beautiful. She's smart. Christina Chan is emerging as the new face of Hong Kong's increasingly disaffected. For Hong Kong's scandal-driven media, 22-year-old Chan offers a prism through which to view the increasingly angry "post-80s generation." Yet it's a shoe that doesn't quite fit, says Chan. The graduate student in philosophy agrees that dissatisfaction in the former British colony is on the rise. But she insists the backlash on the streets is not just coming from young people. "This is not a generational war," she says. Frustrations are brewing among a large swath of Hong Kong society including rural dwellers, middle-aged workers and teens who want their voices to be heard, says Chan. "People are getting angrier and angrier," she says. According to Chan, citizens' rage is fueled by the government's failure to deliver on its promise of democracy and its growing heavy-handedness in dealing with protests.
America is a land of opportunities, a place where people can express themselves freely and proudly. Tibetans feel that this is a perfect place to raise their kids in hope for their bright futures. One thing Tibetan parents seem to urge consistently is the importance of keeping their culture alive. Parents ask us next generation to not forget our native tongue and to not get swept off our feet by the American lifestyle; this seems reasonable. Parents work hard for their kids, and as much as their lectures bore us, it is all for the best. In the end, the results would be fantastic; however, in between the lectures and hard work, there are many little things that are missing. As you can say, our parents do not exactly practice what they preach. They might not know it, but it is true.
July 6 is a universal term among Tibetans; it is the birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. When people celebrate his birthday, not only are we rejoicing, but we are also praying for his long life. Now, it’s quite obvious that in order to have a full celebration, we should acknowledge the birthday on the actual date. More importantly, the Exile Government has requested that on the Dalai Lama’s 75th birthday, every Tibetan should have an extravagant celebration to honor His Holiness. Many people across the world did that well enough, such as India. This past July 6, Tibetans gathered in Dharamsala, India and all day long they celebrated. It was held outside as people danced, sang, and prayed. Although it was pouring rain, people still arrived with umbrellas and in their traditional Tibetan clothes. There were no chairs, but even in the rain people willingly stood up. Dedication like this presents the joy and pride the Tibetans have. Even in Tibet, where it is forbidden to celebrate His Holiness’s birthday, Tibetans still lurk off quietly on the edge of peril to honor His Holiness in some special way.
