[supertiger]

>I can’t help but think that this is about the ego of Chinese leadership

It is and isn't. I grew up in China and I think the Chinese government is overacting to this NBA statement. If the Chinese fans decide to boycott NBA that's their choice and rights, but the government should not ban NBA in China.

At the same time, I am frustrated to see so much misconception and lack of empathy in the discussions here. The territorial integrity of China has a very important place in the minds of many Chinese citizens if not all given the recent 100 years of Chinese history. HK is globally recognized as part of China but yet we have seen all western media's efforts to spread anti-HK police sentiment and turn a blind eye on the violent activities carried out by so-called protestors.

I've lived in the US for over a decade. Before coming here, I had no idea how sensitive racial comments are. Over time I learned about the history and never made a racial joke in public or private occasions. It's not the best analogy, but I want to point out that Morey's HK tweet is out of line and doesn't deserve NBA's endorsement.

[PavlovsCat]

Simply not reporting on it as solution for police brutality, delegitimizing the protestors, right after complaining about lack of empathy.

We'll be probably seeing more of that rather than less: http://arnogruen.net/the_need_to_punish_--_article_by_arno_g...

[supertiger]

I am definitely not saying there absolutely is no police brutality, especially when there are so many violent protestors. If HK police have the same protocol as US police, many extreme violent protestors would have already faced a much more serious consequence.

And I am certain there ARE lots of efforts to delegitimize the protestors. However, it's also true that the vast majority of US media choose to not report on the unimaginable violence activities carried out by many protestors on daily basis.

A few friends of mine in HK (not trying to generalize it but a valid argument) feel frustrated that they are the ones to suffer all the short and long term consequences while the "friends of HK" western media would be more than ok to watch HK burn in the fight for the true democracy that's so important and HK never had under both UK or China's governence.

[PavlovsCat]

> especially when there are so many violent protestors

You're just doubling down on it. The protests were completely peaceful for months, and even then police already were displaying wanton brutality. To blame this on the victims is expected as it is invalid.

> If HK police have the same protocol as US police, many extreme violent protestors would have already faced a much more serious consequence.

For what, for singing?

https://www.reddit.com/r/HongKong/comments/ddmk54/police_cap...

https://www.reddit.com/r/HongKong/comments/d1b4kg/hong_kong_...

https://www.reddit.com/r/HongKong/comments/dccy0s/hong_kong_...

https://www.reddit.com/r/HongKong/comments/ddllcl/statement_...

Just a bunch, there's hundreds more. And yes, I'm also are of violent excesses of protesters, these do not ever justify what the cops are doing. And even with all the issues US police has, this isn't even remotely in the same ball park.

> while the "friends of HK" western media would be more than ok to watch HK burn

You're right now excusing police brutality, you don't get to point fingers like that. Nobody wants to see HK burn, I want to government to react with something OTHER than violence to what are perfectly reasonable demands, and I want the supporters of said violence to stop with the sophistry, while pretending they're the ones against violence*, against HK being a depraved place where the elderly and children get brutalized just because other people have no backbone.

[cbnotfromthere]

"I want to point out that Morey's HK tweet is out of line"

Which part of freedom of speech is still unclear even after supposedly you've "lived in the US for over a decade"???

"and doesn't deserve NBA's endorsement."

The NBA did not endorse nor reject Morey's words.

[supertiger]

The tweet "Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong" is the exact slogan violent protestors in HK uses every day. It's not "freedom of speech" but an implication of HK independence. You cannot take the words literally. I will give you another analogy -- no people in China understands why "All lives matter" offends the black community in the US, because why on earth would anyone object to all lives matter, right? Do Chinese NBA fans have legit rights to be offended by his tweet, I personally think so. Does this legitimize Chinese government's NBA ban, absolutely not.