Please ignore Hong Kong ...

[Baruch]

Why I'm not surprised...

You can insult me, but don't insult my grandparents (Shriner/Eastern Star).  They are twice the man/woman you will ever be.  Atheists don't use secret handshakes.  They use the universal gesture of the "middle finger".

[Cavebear]

And of course the people who actually lived in Hong Kong in those days had no say at all in the matter.

They actually didn't.  They went from being a colony of one empire to a new owner, as sad as that is.  I don't think TROTW can actually do much about it except yell support from the sidelines. Hong Kong is effectively part of China now and subject to its dictatorial rule.  Worse, that was understood at the beginning...

[josephpalazzo]

You can insult me, but don't insult my grandparents (Shriner/Eastern Star).  They are twice the man/woman you will ever be.  Atheists don't use secret handshakes.  They use the universal gesture of the "middle finger".

Freemasonry is like any religion - about power and superstition.

[Shiranu]

The UK didn't "give" it back. The UK lease expired. Seriously, they leased Hong Kong for 99 years and the lease was up.

True, but it wouldn't have been the first time the British Empire lied about a deal. For once, they might have actually been in the right to lie about it.

[Shiranu]

Freemasonry is like any religion - about power and superstition.

In society, everything is about power and superstition. That which isn't, is useless.

[aileron]

True, but it wouldn't have been the first time the British Empire lied about a deal. For once, they might have actually been in the right to lie about it.

Supposedly "The Iron Lady" Thatcher, feeling cocky after winning the Falklands War proposed to China the idea of the UK keeping Hong Kong in some capacity. The Chinese government responded, "We're not Argentina."

[Baruch]

In society, everything is about power and superstition. That which isn't, is useless.

You must have read Nietzsche in school.  Clever for a mad man.

[josephpalazzo]

You must have read Nietzsche in school.  Clever for a mad man.

Nietzsche spent most of his time in bed, with frequent bouts of high fever, diarrhea and dizziness. Ended up in a mental institute. Your typical Greek tragedy, but he was anything but typical. Overcoming became his trade mark...

[Cavebear]

Supposedly "The Iron Lady" Thatcher, feeling cocky after winning the Falklands War proposed to China the idea of the UK keeping Hong Kong in some capacity. The Chinese government responded, "We're not Argentina."

And indeed they are not.  The slow travel of national power may well have travelled from China to Indie to Persia, to Europe to The US and back again. 

On the other hand, since WWII, many nations have been predicted to surpass the US and failed.  The next couple of decades will be interesting.  When the Orange Menace is off the world stage, the US may get back on sound footing.

;)

[Baruch]

And indeed they are not.  The slow travel of national power may well have travelled from China to Indie to Persia, to Europe to The US and back again. 

On the other hand, since WWII, many nations have been predicted to surpass the US and failed.  The next couple of decades will be interesting.  When the Orange Menace is off the world stage, the US may get back on sound footing.

;)

China believes it to be the final empire.  This is a unique cultural POV.  But when not challenged, it is passive-aggressive.  So don't provoke it, and it will feed on itself.  The current "dynasty" will pass like all the others, given the one and only basis of its political economy is how to feed so many people.