Being brainwashed by the CCP propaganda since young, many mainland immigrants of my generation were used to singing slogan-like, emotive ‘red songs’ and watching the China state-owned and state controlled CCTV even after moving to Hong Kong. Though residing in Hong Kong for decades, they persisted with such brainwashing practices and this unquestioning allegiance—I would ascribe it to their lack of introspection. Yet for those who were born and brought up locally in Hong Kong, who were not brainwashed but still choose to be patriots blindly. It is just preposterous!

Many of these self-proclaimed ‘patriots’ are businessmen. Their greed oversteps their moral value. Some of them could go as far as to engage in shameless, unctuous flattery of the regime to win favor, while others played along. They enjoyed the privileges of Hong Kong, but at the same time they added insult to the injury of the city. Are they ever haunted by their own guilt?

For those who are highly educated, they became patriotic due to their pathetic delirium to be closer to the center of power. Once being recognized by the CCP, and receiving an invitation to be the guest at Tiananmen—emblematic of China’s power—and eulogizing over their ‘significant effort’ for the country, they shed tears of gratitude and stood on the CCP’s side to repay the favor as loyal servants.

Those old ladies or middle-aged homemakers who are impervious to objectivity and rationality usually could not resist the temptation to bread and circuses. So narrow-minded are these people that their understanding of the regime and the country as a whole normally would not transcend their little understanding of the regular operation of a market.

The fanatical nature of blind patriotism in these ‘blue ribbons’ led to their intolerance of criticism and ignorance to the truth. Their twisted pride and love have driven them to form a sense of attachment to the CCP. What they have failed to comprehend is that the country should belong to all 1.4 billion people; whereas the ruling political party CCP includes only 90 millions people. If one is to love the country genuinely, naturally one will see that the interests of one party shall not be above those of the entire nation; likewise, the interests of the 1.4 billion people shall come first in a party’s rule. It is a problematic political chimera to demand the people to submit to the autocratic style of government.

The Chinese Confucian philosopher Mencius once said, “The people are the most important element of a nation; the spirits of the land and grains are the next; the sovereign is the lightest.” Applying it to the present days, the Chinese people should be of highest importance; the country should be the next; the CCP should be the lightest. If you truly love the country, you should first love Chinese, then love China, and consider the CCP the last.

If you are a real patriot, instead of allowing the CCP to brainwash and change us, you should strive for reform in CCP as China is still far from being called a modern country. In fact, not all ‘blue ribbons’ are muddled. They know from their instincts Hong Kong is better than mainland China. But, if you ask them if they would like to see Hong Kong becoming China or China becoming Hong Kong, their built-in mechanism would fail to respond. Or they would just say, nobody wants to see Hong Kong become mainland China.

Still, in spite of their inherent reluctance to witness Hong Kong’s becoming like mainland China, but for some inexplicable reason, they would agree on CCP’s move to alter Hong Kong and they rejoiced when Hong Kong will be ruled directly by the CCP. It is very difficult to understand how they can be so contradictory.

The blind patriotism of these “blue ribbons” has the influence to put a country in peril. They just do not understand, if the country fails, the city will fall; if Hong Kong falls, they themselves and their next generations will suffer. They never understand. Ignorance can be cured, but stupidity is forever.

(Ngan Shun Kau is a veteran publisher and writer. His publications and works are award-winning.)

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