Tiananmen Square: 20 Years Later
May 31st 2009 07:29
It's one of the saddest and at the same time one of the most moving images in history. A lone Chinese student, seemingly blocking the entire Chinese army from entering Tiananmen Square in 1989. Twenty years later, we still don't know anymore about that brave man. The entire event is promoted by the government as heroic soldiers from the PLA putting down a counter revolution.
Did the students die in vain. Is China more open to civil rights today?
The sad answer is no. The Chinese people may be a little better off financially, but with a quarter of a million cameras and thousands of PLA soldiers in Bejing alone, most know not to speak of the harsh reality that is Communism.
Many protesters, including family members of the fallen are banned from entering the Square on the anniversary dates and foreign journalists are warned to not interview witnesses to the 1989 massacre.
Maybe the date and the images of what happened that week will put more pressure on the Chinese government to respect civil liberties. As far as revolution, that can only come when the people stand together and cry out in unison Enough! I look forward to the day when Chinese citizens can write as freely as I can about the wrongs of their country.
Did the students die in vain. Is China more open to civil rights today?
The sad answer is no. The Chinese people may be a little better off financially, but with a quarter of a million cameras and thousands of PLA soldiers in Bejing alone, most know not to speak of the harsh reality that is Communism.
Many protesters, including family members of the fallen are banned from entering the Square on the anniversary dates and foreign journalists are warned to not interview witnesses to the 1989 massacre.
Maybe the date and the images of what happened that week will put more pressure on the Chinese government to respect civil liberties. As far as revolution, that can only come when the people stand together and cry out in unison Enough! I look forward to the day when Chinese citizens can write as freely as I can about the wrongs of their country.
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