Today is the Independence Day of the United States of America. The quintessential founding spirit of the USA is summarized in the First and Second Amendments of the United States Constitution. Amendment I guarantees the freedom of speech, which is the most remarkable characteristic of all civilized countries, and the lack of which is the most noticeable mark of all uncivilized countries, e.g., the Red Dragon, Iran and Eritrea. Before the handover to Communist China, Hong Kong had enjoyed a high degree of freedom of speech, which has been readily diminished after 1997. On July 2, a Hong Kong primary school teacher Miss Leung was arrested for her anti-Extradition-Law Facebook posts.
Amendment II, which guarantees "the right of the people to keep and bear arms", is unique to the United States. The right to bear arms will enable American citizens not only to defend themselves in everyday life but also to overthrow the government if it becomes dictatorial. No other countries would empower their nationals in such an effectual way. It reflects American valiance and righteousness developed from the courageous revolution against the British colonial power and from the dangerous exploration of the American West. If only the Hong Kong people could legally carry arms, the HK authorities would not dare to bully them so much, as on June 12 this year when the HK police indiscriminately shot protesters against the Extradition Law.