Tiananmen Square - May 1989
By Gordonskene Wednesday May 27, 2009 6:00pm
(It seemed like a great idea at the time)
Twenty years ago this month, hot on the heels of Glasnost and Perestroika within the Soviet Union, Chinese students tried for the same thing - a reform of government, an idealogical shift from hardline Mao-styled Communism to a more democratic approach, a relaxing of rigid policies and a free exchange of ideas and enterprise.
It was a little like a movement in the former Czechoslovakia twenty years before that. Prague Spring in 1968 and the liberal experiment of Alexander Dubcek. The climate in the Soviet Union was different that time, and the movement was quickly extinguished.
But it was thought since the mood had changed so much in the Soviet Union in those twenty years, why couldn't the mood change in China as well?
Lofty expectation but sadly, no. Or not in 1989 anyway.
Here are some clips from May 13-15 1989. As the confrontation wears on into June, I will add those to give some sort of timeline sense to the events that took place.
Login or Register to post comments.
After this misguided attempt at freedom (because who the hell thinks anyone is coming to back the guy standing in front of the tank?), the America gov't (corporations) decides that China would be a swell trading partner. If only American corporations could squash the will of the American worker they wouldn't have to go to countries like China. We ship them the raw materials, they make the product with virtual slave labor. China ships it back to us, and fat, criminally stupid Americans go to Walmart and similar outlets to buy these dirt cheap products. It's a win-win, because in the process, we put our own people out of work, and the best part is, the American government looks the other way while human rights abuses in China go unchallenged. Economic engagement will free the Chinese people, and when that happens, American and global corporations will move on to the next country willing to exploit their people for cheap, virtual slave labor. You see, that's what America has been built upon: the exploitation of others unable to defend themselves physically or politically. Sort of makes one feel proud to own that gigantic flat screen TV made cheerfully by our working brethren over in China. Did they kill that brave soul that stood in front of the tank? Who cares! I've got mine!
Unfunny SNL wash up flunkie Dennis Miller who never amounted to anything after SNL makes racist joke about Sotomayor http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/200905270050while Falafel Boy feigns concern for Mller's off color display.
True talent means you can go from SNL and make something of yourself. Miller, like that other bleached blonde conservative not funny SNL flunky ditz with the high voice, are just a couple of mediocre talents at best. Like that Hollywood B actor former president conservatives want to canonize. All they have left is the conservative bowel movement because they don't have the talent to make it any further. .
Actually, it's worse now in many ways.
This historic incident is now not known by the students in China's Universities. I was watching a documentary that showed these students scratching their heads when they were asked to identify the picture of the man in front of the tank.
Pretty sad.
I thought the man in front of the tank was unidentified?
I don't know that the man in front of the tank was ever identified (to the rest of the world, anyway - I'm quite sure the Chinese government found out who he was), but STOP isn't referring to the man, he's referring to the picture itself.
A famous scene to the rest of the world, but now apparently unknown to young adults in China.
The US has used miltary force to oppose democratic movements in countries across Latin America and the Middle East to allow corporations like United Fruit and oil companies to have safe access to cheap sources for corporate gain.
Why was it any surprise to see the US stand idly by when human rights were violated in China? "Most favored nation trading status" was more important, wasn't it?
I wouldn't be surprised to see Washington do nothing if China invaded Japan, Korea and Taiwan while promising that trade and manufacturing would not be affected.
China is the sinecure of all eyes, internationally, because the regime is experimenting with a new sort of political economy, testing whether the people will accept 'prosperity' in exchange for 'liberty.'
The jury's still out, but the affirmative seems to be gaining.
Do you have anything to back up your assertion that they caught him? Everything I've read on the incident says even to this day no one knows who he was or whatever happened to him.
Here's a Flash video I created from photos and bits of audio collected during that hopeful, terrible time: http://www.choppedliverproductions.com/politi...
This historic incident is now not known by the students in China's Universities. Sad fact.
everquest platinum
Login or Register to post comments.