bitinn, 16 days ago

Speaking as a history observer, I can tell you this “outside influence” theory cuts both ways:

• Tankies say HK protestors are CIA funded, professional rioters because of police crashes; while in reality a million citizens came out peacefully, what happened was situation deteriorated over months due to hardline government responses.

bitinn, 16 days ago

• Neocons/Trumpists say US college encampments are socialists, antisemitists, professional outside agitators because of a few counter protest crashes; while in reality students are expressing global solidarity, knowing that Israel is going into Rafah without consequences, and they must hold this government accountable.

bitinn, 16 days ago

• It certainly doesn’t help that there are famous examples of foreign agent conspiracies in modern history.

• But to lean on this narrative is the classic authoritarian move.

• Whatever political spectrum you are on: Don’t be that guy.

BartWronski, 15 days ago

@bitinn I agree 100% and remember (from parents and lessons, I was born in 87 :P ) how the Solidarity movement was called by Polish communists.

Would some foreign entities benefit from unrest somewhere else? Of course! Would they "amplify" them or even donate to some groups? Of course!

...and so what? CIA was helping Solidarity. Stasi/HVA were funding anti-Apartheid movements or West student protests for women/gay rights.
But this does not make those causes any less worthy, history agrees.