Unity and uniformity can often be mistaken as synonyms or words that can be used interchangeably. However, there is a distinct difference in their meanings. Unity is defined as the state of being together or as a whole while uniformity is defined as the state of consistency. “Unity comes from diversity. Uniformity is conformity.” This idea is reflected very clearly in the current events in Hong Kong.
What used to be labelled as “peaceful protests” are now being called “riots” as Hong Kong goes into its sixth month of conflict and chaos. The clashes between protesters (now referred to as rioters or radicals) and the police force in several areas in Hong Kong, including Tsim Sha Tsui, Mong Kok, and Hung Hom, have left the city in despair and ruins. The movement began with the introduction of the extradition law but has now become a series of demonstrations against the police violence and the government’s poor approach to the situation. People, mostly teenagers and young adults, have come together to show their anger and dissatisfaction towards the government and the police force. These people are unified by a common cause – a shared belief that they are unheard and being treated with excessive violence. Although this group of people largely consists of local secondary and university students, there is diversity in their skills as well as their dreams before the movement. But even with these differences and their lives going on different paths to the future, they are drawn together by the belief that Hong Kong can be better if someone is willing to speak up. They are unified by their bravery to protect the rights of Hong Kong people.
As the conflict escalates with the protesters and the police force using increasingly violent methods, the lives of those who are not so involved are affected. People can’t get to work or school due to the disruptions in transportation. People can’t go out due to their safety concerns. People can’t carry on with their usual lives and routines due to the unrest. The uniformity in their lives have been disrupted by the events happening in their city. “Uniformity is conformity.” These people (some who are blaming and pointing fingers at the protestors) have conformed and complied to the laws, rules, and standards of our society. They don’t dare to speak up or stand up for their beliefs because they’ve molded themselves into what is normal. Their frustrations towards the conflict is rooted from the disruption of the uniformity in their lives – they have lost the consistency in their day to day lives.
Being ourselves is important. The protesters who trust in themselves and are rooted in their beliefs have not conformed to society, which is why they are willing to take action. They are being themselves. We should be ourselves to the extent that we know who we are as individuals and what our beliefs are. Sometimes when we conform to the standards and rules placed before us, we can subconsciously lose ourselves – our identities. We need to be ourselves to allow ourselves to be heard and to voice our opinions. However, there is a limit. Our opinions and beliefs should not become pressuring or suppressing to those around us. Being ourselves should not bring harm to others or to those who may be against us. Conformity is compliance to rules and standards. We should conform when the rules are reasonable and fair. There is no clear line that distinguishes when we should stop being ourselves and conform. In Hong Kong, the protestors are being themselves because they refuse to conform to the unjust rules but some of their actions are impacting the rest of society in a negative way. So in this situation, where do we draw the line?
Unity and uniformity may sound similar but are actually complete opposites. Unity is active. It comes from diversity because through our differences, we find something that brings us together. Uniformity is conformity because constancy in life comes from compliance – a numbness to the ever-changing world around us.
Reflection:
This piece was written during the week when school was suspended due to the current events in Hong Kong. The ideas came naturally because my mind was already filled with what was happening in Hong Kong. It was challenging to complete the essay in the limited amount of time because I struggled to put my ideas into words. Based on the scores that I received, the areas that I need to improve on are conventions, voice, and organisation. The areas that I did well on are ideas, word choice, and sentence fluency.
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