Recalling the spirit of Tiananmen

Mike Licht — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 22:25:03 GMT

Tank Man lives. Updates of this iconic image are all over the Web today. Here, for example:

http://notionscapital.wordpress.com/2009/06/03/20th-anniversary-of-tiananmen-square/

Recalling the spirit of Tiananmen

Josh Salt Lake City, Utah — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:18:57 GMT

Obama is not a dummy. This kind of comments was long over due. Majority of the world with the exception of some arrogant and ignorant American agrees that Palestinians are being persecuted by Israel. It is wistful to see the genocide is being committed against the Palestinians and no one have the courage to admits that Israel is at fault. Job well done by the president. Thank you.

Recalling the spirit of Tiananmen

mo, Blaine,Wash. — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 05:04:35 GMT

"eager to use their English, would stop me and discuss at great length how much they admired the U.S. Constitution; its reliance on the rule of law, its separation of government powers and the freedoms contained in the Bill of Rights. And they would say they wanted the same thing for China."
Sad how the opposing faction chose instead to emulate American business values and pathetically justify the rejection of these aspirations in the interest of "prosperity" as if the two cannot co-exist. Why one may ask is it that only in China freedom AND properity are regarded as opposites ?

Recalling the spirit of Tiananmen

Peter, Irvine, CA — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 06:56:34 GMT

My comment seems to be too long, i will post it in parts:

Part 1

Many of the things that you have mentioned are true:
protesting for democracy isn't part of a student's "to do" list (an average american student couldn't possibly comprehend the extreme competitive environment in Chinese schools and universities; the students really have no TIME to fight for such an abstract ideal);
there are still many corrupt officials in the vast government structure (but then again, which government DOESN'T? Can you truly say that the American government does not display ANY kind of favoritism? I'm sure if the U.S. government tried to govern 1.3 billion people, you would see much more corruption; greed is a trait in ALL human beings);
it is true that many websites containing sensitive materials are blocked by the Chinese government, but please consider this decision from their side. China is known to be the target for much criticism, some are deserved, but some are NOT! Many information outlets, including major western news networks, express biased reports or focus on the negative side of China. Many of these authors have never even set foot on Chinese soil (this does not include you, of course). Also please consider the fact that China is composed of 56 ethnic groups, each with its own culture and values. If such diverse (somewhat biased) criticisms about China is made available to such a diverse of a population, I promise you that China will soon to be the new "Middle East" with constant civil wars and different leaders trying to take power. Mind you, one of the main reasons China is so conservative when it comes to international relations is the fact that China was taken advantaged once by westerners in its history (e.g. Opium Wars). The Chinese people does not want a repeat of such history. As you can see, the reason behind the great firewall is COMPLEX and not as simple as most people take it to be!

Recalling the spirit of Tiananmen

Amarendra, Bangaluru, Karnataka, India — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 06:57:02 GMT

Thank God! i am in INDIA. The tallest in all the world, which valued only search of truth and found it in love for the tiniest insect.

Recalling the spirit of Tiananmen

Peter, Irvine, CA — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 06:57:25 GMT

Part 2

The above points that you have made are valid, but as you can see, they are not without reason! Most people believe that these problems in China are because of the totalitarian nature of the Chinese government. But that is entirely true. It may sound horrible saying that the Chinese government do not want to lose control, but if you reflect upon it, isn't that what EVERY leader of EVERY country tries to do (just look at the Middle East)? How do you govern a country when no one is even listening to you? How does a country prosper if the focus of the country is on how to contain riots?
I must say that I truly resent some other key points that you have mentioned above.
You said that many students admired the U.S. Constitution and talked to you in length about it, but according to my parents, who was part of the Tiananmen Sqaure INCIDENT (not massacre), most students didn't even KNOW what a constitution IS! This is 20 years ago, where there is no fast communication through the internet and most people did not have international/foreign TV channels like today. While it is true that by 1989, many of the elite students studying law, politics, or other areas involving international policies in some of the best universities in China had access to the U.S. Constitution, MOST, i mean 90% - 95% of the students, have never read IN PERSON anything about the U.S. Constitution. Many may have heard of it from others, but definitely not enough for a in depth analysis! How can they form a informed decision on whether democracy was right for China when they are ill-informed? But you may say, if they knew what democracy was, they would have chosen it. That may be true, but think back to the 1989, China was already in a unstable state (many western countries still rejected any relations and trades with China, and the government itself is formed for only a few decades); it would have been devastating for China to suddenly convert to democracy. (The democratic U.S. didn't even gain its democracy / independence without a fight, how do you think such a war torn country like China in the 1989 would react to this new ideal called democracy?)
One thing you seems to have omitted is that the protest was NOT unified. Even Wikipedia explains: "The protests lacked a unified cause or leadership; participants included disillusioned Communist Party members and Trotskyists as well as free market reformers". Hell, not all of the students there even know what it was really for. What kind of students would stay in their classrooms when such a exciting and historical (even if they don't know for what reason it is historical) event is going on. This was the mind-set of many of my parents' peers. This type of thinking is what the Chinese government is most afraid of. I've mentioned before, China has a GINORMOUS population, if a major riot starts, it is very difficult to contain because like falling dominoes, people would join in even if they don't completely agree with or understand the cause. If people think about this more, they would know the results if such riot is not contained; it would lead to sheer CHAOS. Now which country wants its young people in chaos and not in the classrooms studying!?

Recalling the spirit of Tiananmen

Peter, Irvine, CA — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 06:57:56 GMT

Part 3

Another resentment I have with not just yours, but many others' historical accounts of the incident is the focus on the tanks! Was sending in the army such a overreaction? Take CAREFUL note that the Chinese police is VERY different from American police. American police is equip with guns, bullet proof vests, specially-made shields and helmets (and maybe high pressure water pumps). Do you really think the Chinese police is that well-equiped? How do you expect policemen in cloth uniform and only batons as weapons to contain 1 MILLION people (as told on Wikipedia) who are not the most peaceful type? If the Chinese government only deployed the police force, I believe there would be a REAL massacre of policemen. Only soldiers of the army would have been equiped with guns, thus it was necessary for the army to be deployed. That is not to say that I believe everything the Chinese government did in response of the protests were entirely corrected or moral; I cannot agree more that the army should not have opened fire on innocent students, even if their presence is necessary; but what I do NOT agree is tone westerners uses when they speak of it! It's as if all the hopes and dreams of the Chinese people was destroyed. The Chinese government reacted so harshly, not only towards the protesters, but also foreign press, is because of all you westerners! The government was afraid of nosy democratic who will not pass any opportunities to point fingers and blame everything on any society that is not democratic (remember the red scare? It's not so apparent these days; the westerner governments can't afford to offend the Chinese government anymore even if China is still communist). One opinion I've long held is that many of China's problems did not solely originate from within China, but rather, many problems originate in the difference in culture, history, and mind-set of people between China and the western society. Again I must say that I do not completely agree with the actions of the Chinese government in response to the tiananmen protest, but I resent the way outsiders speak of the incident as immoral, unjustified, and inhumane. Those that speaks of the incident that way are PART OF THE CAUSE!
And yes, most people don't speak of the incident anymore because the Chinese people understand that it was a time of turmoil and what was done, by both the government and the students, was not correct. It is not that the Chinese people are ignorant, it's just they do not want to dwell on dark times, just like people do not dwell on past mistakes like the Kent State "Massacre".
You may think that I'm a extreme Chinese patriot who's anti-democracy, but I tell you, I've lived in Canada and U.S. ever since I was 10. I grew up in a democratic world for my entire adolescence life, which is the time people form their political views. I appreciate democracy and the power it gives to the people, but I also can understand that maybe democracy isn't such a great idea for China, for if 1.3 billion people had too much power, I fear the China with thousands of years of history would cease to exist as one united country. Isn't this what the founding fathers of the United States feared as well?
And to conclude my rather long response, I would like to plead to the world: Do judge us like you judge yourselves, for we are different and not like you; before making any attacking against our society, you should at least understand where we come from and how we think, for we too, have a mind of our own!

I know this comment might be posted, but if this is really a democratic country with freedom of speech, I should see this comment posted for I have tried my best to give a serious, non-offensive, and focused comment in response to the article.

Recalling the spirit of Tiananmen

Darrel Armstrong, Missoula, Montana — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 09:18:03 GMT

Students of '89, THE WHOLE WORLD WAS WATCHING.
We will not forget the heros who gave so much to the world wide struggle for rule by and for the People. A corrupt dynasty can not hold forever onto power...not in the PRC anymore than the USA.
Celebrate the Goddess of Democracy!

Recalling the spirit of Tiananmen

David — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 02:20:30 GMT

Peter, Irvine, CA --- very good comments
i couldn't be more agree with you.
i am living in cancada too, i read the news every day.lot of peoples said canada is most none corrupted government in the world. look at the recent news about the canada prime minister...do i need to said more. every government are corrupt.
but only China is doing worst to hide it. if China needs to learn something from others, china should learn how western country hide their corruption.

lets say if the students took down the government...what will happen then?

will all you beleive they will gain control of the country. will you listen to a bunch 17-24years student?.

if the governemtn were down, it will be another DARK CHAPTER of China's history...(riots, civil wars..)
and THEN China is turly finish.

I am very sorry for the family who lost their child in the protest.
by the way where is those student leader?, weren't they as guilty as the governemnt who start the protest. none of them said a single word about they sorry cost so many deaths (((i guess they don't care anymore, all $$$$$$$$ now))) and the government was even worst, shot the students.