Let us not forget Tiananmen
On June 3rd, 1989 the Chinese government used the might of their army to violently crush a student led, but popularly backed, uprising. Centered in Tiananmen, the call for reform had spread throughout the country.
Since that time the government of China has mixed economic reform with hardline political oppression...a combination that has seemed to make the west forget the violence they brought upon their own citizens.
Is capitalism, even under political oppression, really the path to eventual freedom in China? I don't have the answers but I urge you to take some time and watch "The Tank Man", a Frontline program available online and remeber those, if only for a short time, had their goddess of democracy and hope that they, through non-violent means, could help their country to achieve a more open and free society.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tankman/
Since that time the government of China has mixed economic reform with hardline political oppression...a combination that has seemed to make the west forget the violence they brought upon their own citizens.
Is capitalism, even under political oppression, really the path to eventual freedom in China? I don't have the answers but I urge you to take some time and watch "The Tank Man", a Frontline program available online and remeber those, if only for a short time, had their goddess of democracy and hope that they, through non-violent means, could help their country to achieve a more open and free society.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tankman/
posted by Little_Jewford at 2:57 PM
4 Comments:
i don't have a comment on this post,
just wanted to say HI!
give stacey , chemo, & the kitties a hug for me:-)
oh and we used the treats chemo gave sienna to teach her to roll over, you should see my 80 pound puppy trying to roll over, cracks us up every time!
yes, the story (thought not the "tank man piece") has too often focused on the square itself and the students. Because Tiananmen is familiar to most I used it in the title of my piece. Basically, no matter how many died, no matter what their social role was, the fact remains that the Chinese government at that moment showed its true oppressive nature.
yes, the story (thought not the "tank man piece") has too often focused on the square itself and the students. Because Tiananmen is familiar to most I used it in the title of my piece. Basically, no matter how many died, no matter what their social role was, the fact remains that the Chinese government at that moment showed its true oppressive nature.
Oh, and from the CJR article you site:
"but it has allowed the bloody-minded regime responsible for the June 4 murders to divert attention from what happened. There was a massacre that morning."
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