Well, it looks like it didn't work (a bug in the works somewhere), but I suppose readers will get the drift re. my thoughts on BLAZE ORANGE.  Cheers !!!

Today, July 2, 2008, I have decided to re-post my comments from June 11, seeing how (at least on my acquaintance's computer) it has appeared lopped off on the right.  It was weird even writing that in this space, because even the botttom edge below had a shortened scroll bottom (but not now...so it's safe).  Hopefully, if this comes out OK, the webmaster (?) will remove the faulty copy.  So here goes:

Having stayed in HK numerous times in the past, I can vouch for it being one vibrant city, not unlike the feeling one might find wearing the colour orange.  Though I met people who were friendly (in a detached sort of way), I often met those who seemed suspicious of me (and I could never quite make out what their projections were), and some who were downright curt and rude -- all an indication possibly of the split-personality HK seemed to have, and characteristics quite in contrast to the sincere warmth of those I encountered in Taiwan.  My own very personal connections with people, places and things 'Chinese,'generally, however, have been very positive, and I can certainly confirm how interesting and nice the people are, all very capable and alive to each of their own great abilities, especially those who are part of my extended family.

On the matter of ORANGE CONSCIOUSNESS, I find this to be a very interesting development with respect to the efforts of those in HK (whom I'm almost tempted to call 'Freedomites') protesting the sore lack in freedoms (in this case: HUMAN RIGHTS) in PRC.  I've introduced a term that, while not quite appropriate for HK pro-democracy groups, is reminiscent of a period in western Canada history that may provide some inspiration for those struggling against the autocratic regime in Beijing.

Why 'Freedomites' is not a term that could be transposed to pro-democracy groups in HK is that in Canadian history, it refers to 'The Sons of Freedom' who were a split-off faction of the more orthodox Doukhobors, the latter being a freedom-loving Christian sect that had migrated to Canada in the late 1800s to escape religious persecution in Russia, their homeland.  The Sons of Freedom were much in the Canadian news in the first half of the 20th century, as they resorted to shocking and violent tactics (parading in the nude and using arson) to make their protests, which, as I understand it, were directed toward both the Canadian authorities and to the original core group of Doukhobors with which they had internal differences.

Although the protested-against group were described as 'orthodox,' they were themselves anarchists from the Russian govt viewpoint, and thus anything but orthodox Christian.  There are 3 rather  interesting points / references, from my view, that I can make with respect to the mention of the Doukhobors in this post.  The 1st is that there is a writeup on them appearing in the June 2008 issue of The Walrus Magazine, coincident  with the HK protests mentioned above [ called "Taking the Cure: How a group of British Columbian anarchists inspired democracy in Russia" and available online at  <<<  http://www.walrusmagazine.com/articles/2008.06-taking-the-cure-doukhobor-canada-christopher-shulgan/  >>> ].  The 2nd is that the article writer states:  "If the West is searching for ways to steer an increasingly autocratic Russia (currently under Putin / Medvedev) back toward functioning democracy, then Yakovlev's story (of the Canadian Doukhobors) is a useful case study."  And the writer relates "why this exiled but proudly Russian sect of socialist anarchists had the influence on Yakovlev that it did.  The Doukhobors were a living rebuttal to the theory that Russia requires a strongman.  Yakovlev must have seen them as an example of the way Russians might have lived, had they not been stifled by the corruption and inefficiency of the Communist Party.  In a series of mountain valleys in the BC interior, the future architect of perestroika (Yakovlev) encountered a community of proudly Russian people who convinced him that his countrymen could thrive in an atmosphere of freedom and democracy.  Indeed, in his memoirs, Yakovlev had written: 'They are amazing people -- hard-working, open, courteous...They believe with complete sincerity that only moral principles will save mankind from moral collapse...These stubborn people, though at times naive in their misconceptions, have sustained through all their ordeals an uncompromising attitude toward deception, hypocrisy, and violence, along with an unbending rejection of militarism.'"  [ The Doukhobors are pacifist and vegetarians. ]  The 3rd point is that I, as a native-born Canadian child (of mixed Asian descent) during WW II lived in one of our illustrious prime minister Mackenzie King's concentration camps built in Doukhobor country in the BC Kootenays.  The Doukhobors donated to us their homegrown vegetables as a demonstration of empathy for our struggles during those trying times.  They understood fully what it meant to have freedom, our natural human birthright, taken away from one.

Now, getting back to the colour ORANGE.  At first I wondered: Why this particular colour?  But of course, right away the associations appear.  Most immediate are those ORANGE JUMPSUITs of the Guantanamo detainees (some of whom are likely innocent of the charges of terrorism), held without recourse to the ordinary instruments of US democratic justice.  The detainers, the US military authorities, have for awhile now been accused of using torture tactics such as those laid out by US Deputy Assistant Attorney-General (South-Korean-born) John Yoo in his 81-page now-famous Memorandum which spelled out how President Bush's war powers allowed him to circumvent the normal laws curtailing the use of torture during interrogation of criminals whether under civilian or military imprisonment.  ORANGE JUMPSUITS, I suppose, then reminds us of TORTURE.

More precisely, the colour is often named BLAZE ORANGE.  Certainly the incarceration of those under a corrupted justice system is a BURNING ISSUE.  Blaze orange signifies a situation of potential danger.  Hunters wear this readily visible hue in order to avoid being accidentally shot.  Those wearing blaze orange vests during traffic control work or construction work, and so forth, bring viewers' attention immediately to the issue of danger to the forefront of their awareness.  

Blaze orange is symbolic of FIRE, and Doukhobor protesters used fire to bring the attention of authorities to the seriousness of their cause, and as the signal to all at a distance that they were in a situation needing help -- fire as representing the  energy of something you passionately believe in...or as pointing to a pathological state that eats out the heart and soul (recall: Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter, in "THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS") of life when silenced by oppression.  Orange is AGENT ORANGE, the denuder of all that gives cover to the enemies of freedom, or the agent that returns to haunt aggressors in miscalculated self-righteous campaigns against arbitrarily determined wrong-doers.  Orange as the interface between caution yellow and too-late danger red.    Blaze Orange born of MONK SAFFRON, the colour of self-immolation in South Vietnam...or the heat of protest  in Burma.  Blaze Orange, the colour of FIRE STOLEN FROM THE GODS in Greek Mythology, representing HUBRIS (of all tyrants and other unnatural,  willful over-achievers).  Blaze Orange for emergency relief crews coming to the aid of those caught up in accidents, fires, quakes -- to the aid of those quaking from the release of critical-mass energy of a nation's accumulated geophysical conditions over extended space-time dimensions, sychronistically in unison with current  history of the country and the world.

These, then are some of the associations relating to ORANGE that come to this comment poster, who only just  a number of minutes ago read of the protest in HK.  I am amazed, as I am reminded that 2009 will, if I've calculated correctly, be the 20th anniversary year of the incident at Tiananmen Square.  An astrologer acquaintance tells me that 20 years represents a generation, the end of which time also represents maturity, a time ripe from here on for the flowering of potential.  And that 2009 will also be 60 years since Mao Zedong established himself in Beijing..  And 50 years since the Tibetan Uprising and the forced exile of the Dalai Lama and his community.  My acquaintance says, in Western astrology, 50 years represents the Return Cycle of the Wounding / Healing significator Chiron, a planetoid in the solar system...A TIME FOR HEALING A LONG-TIME-AGO WOUND, while 60 years represents the last quarter of the cycle of Uranus, a significant time when powerful changes, often disruptive, are brought about to change the direction of the life / lives affected.  Meanwhile, in the run-up to the Olympics, just before August, HU JINTAO, in his horoscope has a life-altering event facing him (and likely the nation) when the Fate significator, the ex-planet PLUTO makes direct contact with his natal Sun, a happening that will occur for that position only once every 245 years or so.  Say it isn't so, but that's how it's apparently been all set up from awhile back...all these time-and-energy bound together in one big heap.   Hu Jintao has a chance to make even greater history than he so far has, if he choose to take the power provided him at this time to affect positive changes for  the People's Republic of China.  Either that or suffer great losses, as the significance of Pluto is that it is tranformer of all that is outmoded or rotten.  Transform or lose is its imperative.

Perhaps, if all those who feel these changes are necessary, and wish to help convince Hu Jintao, him seeing all those BLAZING ORANGE vestments (T-shirts, caps, dresses, trousers, ornaments and innovative paraphernalia worn by concerned citizens and worldwide visitors) might make him think more deeply than he ever has on the issues involved (and likewise impact his cohorts, as well).  If you are banned from entering the stadium dressed in Orange, how can you ever eat Chinese mandarin oranges again.   So ORANGE POWER...being an AGENT for ORANGE POWER...might mean a better way than a boycott, because both conditions are satisfied...the PRC and the peoples of China have their beautiful Olympics, and all who wish for conditions in the country to truly reflect the ideals of the Olympics can have their very silent, very loud say in this most pressing affair (for the whole world).  You don't have to be an attendee...because, wherever you are, you can LIGHT A BONFIRE OF THE HEART by wearing BLAZE ORANGE during the Olympics.  [ Am sure the exporters of orange Chinese textiles, at least, will feel momentarily compensated. ]

Having stayed in HK numerous times in the past, I can vouch for it being one vibrant city, not unlike the feeling one might find wearing the colour orange.  Though I met people who were friendly (in a detached sort of way), I often met those who seemed suspicious of me (and I could never quite make out what their projections were), and some who were downright curt and rude -- all an indication possibly of the split-personality HK seemed to have, and characteristics quite in contrast to the sincere warmth of those I encountered in Taiwan.  My own very personal connections with people, places and things 'Chinese,'generally, however, have been very positive, and I can certainly confirm how interesting and nice the people are, all very capable and alive to each of their own great abilities, especially those who are part of my extended family.

On the matter of ORANGE CONSCIOUSNESS, I find this to be a very interesting development with respect to the efforts of those in HK (whom I'm almost tempted to call 'Freedomites') protesting the sore lack in freedoms (in this case: HUMAN RIGHTS) in PRC.  I've introduced a term that, while not quite appropriate for HK pro-democracy groups, is reminiscent of a period in western Canada history that may provide some inspiration for those struggling against the autocratic regime in Beijing.

Why 'Freedomites' is not a term that could be transposed to pro-democracy groups in HK is that in Canadian history, it refers to 'The Sons of Freedom' who were a split-off faction of the more orthodox Doukhobors, the latter being a freedom-loving Christian sect that had migrated to Canada in the late 1800s to escape religious persecution in Russia, their homeland.  The Sons of Freedom were much in the Canadian news in the first half of the 20th century, as they resorted to shocking and violent tactics (parading in the nude and using arson) to make their protests, which, as I understand it, were directed toward both the Canadian authorities and to the original core group of Doukhobors with which they had internal differences.

Although the protested-against group were described as 'orthodox,' they were themselves anarchists from the Russian govt viewpoint, and thus anything but orthodox Christian.  There are 3 rather  interesting points / references, from my view, that I can make with respect to the mention of the Doukhobors in this post.  The 1st is that there is a writeup on them appearing in the June 2008 issue of The Walrus Magazine, coincident  with the HK protests mentioned above [ called "Taking the Cure: How a group of British Columbian anarchists inspired democracy in Russia" and available online at  <<<  http://www.walrusmagazine.com/articles/2008.06-taking-the-cure-doukhobor-canada-christopher-shulgan/  >>> ].  The 2nd is that the article writer states:  "If the West is searching for ways to steer an increasingly autocratic Russia (currently under Putin / Medvedev) back toward functioning democracy, then Yakovlev's story (of the Canadian Doukhobors) is a useful case study."  And the writer relates "why this exiled but proudly Russian sect of socialist anarchists had the influence on Yakovlev that it did.  The Doukhobors were a living rebuttal to the theory that Russia requires a strongman.  Yakovlev must have seen them as an example of the way Russians might have lived, had they not been stifled by the corruption and inefficiency of the Communist Party.  In a series of mountain valleys in the BC interior, the future architect of perestroika (Yakovlev) encountered a community of proudly Russian people who convinced him that his countrymen could thrive in an atmosphere of freedom and democracy.  Indeed, in his memoirs, Yakovlev had written: 'They are amazing people -- hard-working, open, courteous...They believe with complete sincerity that only moral principles will save mankind from moral collapse...These stubborn people, though at times naive in their misconceptions, have sustained through all their ordeals an uncompromising attitude toward deception, hypocrisy, and violence, along with an unbending rejection of militarism.'"  [ The Doukhobors are pacifist and vegetarians. ]  The 3rd point is that I, as a native-born Canadian child (of mixed Asian descent) during WW II lived in one of our illustrious prime minister Mackenzie King's concentration camps built in Doukhobor country in the BC Kootenays.  The Doukhobors donated to us their homegrown vegetables as a demonstration of empathy for our struggles during those trying times.  They understood fully what it meant to have freedom, our natural human birthright, taken away from one.

Now, getting back to the colour ORANGE.  At first I wondered: Why this particular colour?  But of course, right away the associations appear.  Most immediate are those ORANGE JUMPSUITs of the Guantanamo detainees (some of whom are likely innocent of the charges of terrorism), held without recourse to the ordinary instruments of US democratic justice.  The detainers, the US military authorities, have for awhile now been accused of using torture tactics such as those laid out by US Deputy Assistant Attorney-General (South-Korean-born) John Yoo in his 81-page now-famous Memorandum which spelled out how President Bush's war powers allowed him to circumvent the normal laws curtailing the use of torture during interrogation of criminals whether under civilian or military imprisonment.  ORANGE JUMPSUITS, I suppose, then reminds us of TORTURE.

More precisely, the colour is often named BLAZE ORANGE.  Certainly the incarceration of those under a corrupted justice system is a BURNING ISSUE.  Blaze orange signifies a situation of potential danger.  Hunters wear this readily visible hue in order to avoid being accidentally shot.  Those wearing blaze orange vests during traffic control work or construction work, and so forth, bring viewers' attention immediately to the issue of danger to the forefront of their awareness.  

Blaze orange is symbolic of FIRE, and Doukhobor protesters used fire to bring the attention of authorities to the seriousness of their cause, and as the signal to all at a distance that they were in a situation needing help -- fire as representing the  energy of something you passionately believe in...or as pointing to a pathological state that eats out the heart and soul (recall: Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter, in "THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS") of life when silenced by oppression.  Orange is AGENT ORANGE, the denuder of all that gives cover to the enemies of freedom, or the agent that returns to haunt aggressors in miscalculated self-righteous campaigns against arbitrarily determined wrong-doers.  Orange as the interface between caution yellow and too-late danger red.    Blaze Orange born of MONK SAFFRON, the colour of self-immolation in South Vietnam...or the heat of protest  in Burma.  Blaze Orange, the colour of FIRE STOLEN FROM THE GODS in Greek Mythology, representing HUBRIS (of all tyrants and other unnatural,  willful over-achievers).  Blaze Orange for emergency relief crews coming to the aid of those caught up in accidents, fires, quakes -- to the aid of those quaking from the release of critical-mass energy of a nation's accumulated geophysical conditions over extended space-time dimensions, sychronistically in unison with current  history of the country and the world.

These, then are some of the associations relating to ORANGE that come to this comment poster, who only just  a number of minutes ago read of the protest in HK.  I am amazed, as I am reminded that 2009 will, if I've calculated correctly, be the 20th anniversary year of the incident at Tiananmen Square.  An astrologer acquaintance tells me that 20 years represents a generation, the end of which time also represents maturity, a time ripe from here on for the flowering of potential.  And that 2009 will also be 60 years since Mao Zedong established himself in Beijing..  And 50 years since the Tibetan Uprising and the forced exile of the Dalai Lama and his community.  My acquaintance says, in Western astrology, 50 years represents the Return Cycle of the Wounding / Healing significator Chiron, a planetoid in the solar system...A TIME FOR HEALING A LONG-TIME-AGO WOUND, while 60 years represents the last quarter of the cycle of Uranus, a significant time when powerful changes, often disruptive, are brought about to change the direction of the life / lives affected.  Meanwhile, in the run-up to the Olympics, just before August, HU JINTAO, in his horoscope has a life-altering event facing him (and likely the nation) when the Fate significator, the ex-planet PLUTO makes direct contact with his natal Sun, a happening that will occur for that position only once every 245 years or so.  Say it isn't so, but that's how it's apparently been all set up from awhile back...all these time-and-energy bound together in one big heap.   Hu Jintao has a chance to make even greater history than he so far has, if he choose to take the power provided him at this time to affect positive changes for  the People's Republic of China.  Either that or suffer great losses, as the significance of Pluto is that it is tranformer of all that is outmoded or rotten.  Transform or lose is its imperative.

Perhaps, if all those who feel these changes are necessary, and wish to help convince Hu Jintao, him seeing all those BLAZING ORANGE vestments (T-shirts, caps, dresses, trousers, ornaments and innovative paraphernalia worn by concerned citizens and worldwide visitors) might make him think more deeply than he ever has on the issues involved (and likewise impact his cohorts, as well).  If you are banned from entering the stadium dressed in Orange, how can you ever eat Chinese mandarin oranges again.   So ORANGE POWER...being an AGENT for ORANGE POWER...might mean a better way than a boycott, because both conditions are satisfied...the PRC and the peoples of China have their beautiful Olympics, and all who wish for conditions in the country to truly reflect the ideals of the Olympics can have their very silent, very loud say in this most pressing affair (for the whole world).  You don't have to be an attendee...because, wherever you are, you can LIGHT A BONFIRE OF THE HEART by wearing BLAZE ORANGE during the Olympics.  [ Am sure the exporters of orange Chinese textiles, at least, will feel momentarily compensated. ]