Yesterday however, on the 20th anniversary of the massacre in Tiananmen square, I made an exception and wrote a post to salute the bravery of the unknown man
who stood in front of the army tanks. His courageous act inspired me
then, and it continues to inspire me today, two decades later.
Two decades after the military crackdown on pro-democracy
student protests in Beijing, the Chinese government has proven itself
to be just as oppressive toward peaceful free speech today as it was
back then.
Police officers filled the square yesterday to prevent any show of
commemoration for the tragedy, silent or spoken. The government even
went so far as to shut down internet services like Twitter and
university message boards where people could share sympathies or
express dissent.
Foreign correspondents reporting on the scene were forcibly turned away and their views were blocked.
Al Jazeerah ran this report:
I visited Tiananmen Square in May 2004 on a Gulf for Good adventure challenge to The Great Wall of China.
While in the Square, I felt deeply moved as I walked in the same place
where the voices of hundreds of protesters were silenced in a bloody
massacre. When I stopped to contemplate, I wondered if someone had died
on the spot on which I stood. I felt deeply humbled by the experience
of being there.
In her BUST post, Hannah suggests a way for people to "handle the glaring silence: with sympathy and commentary."
I agree. So I am again adding my voice to others around the world, to
commemorate those who were silenced 20 years ago, and to honour those
who continue to be silenced today.
Answer The Silence With Sympathy & Commentary
on Friday, 05 June 2009.
(Not because I'm anti men! But because this website is dedicated to celebrating women and their achievements.)
Yesterday however, on the 20th anniversary of the massacre in Tiananmen square, I made an exception and wrote a post to salute the bravery of the unknown man who stood in front of the army tanks. His courageous act inspired me then, and it continues to inspire me today, two decades later.
In yesterday's post, I asked a number of questions, including "How is he (the unknown man who stood in front of the tanks), remembered in China today? As a hero? As a villain? Or both?"
Today, through the BUST magazine website, I found the answer. Here's what Hannah said in a post entitled A Hush Over Tiananmen Square:
Al Jazeerah ran this report:
I visited Tiananmen Square in May 2004 on a Gulf for Good adventure challenge to The Great Wall of China.
While in the Square, I felt deeply moved as I walked in the same place where the voices of hundreds of protesters were silenced in a bloody massacre. When I stopped to contemplate, I wondered if someone had died on the spot on which I stood. I felt deeply humbled by the experience of being there.
In her BUST post, Hannah suggests a way for people to "handle the glaring silence: with sympathy and commentary."
I agree. So I am again adding my voice to others around the world, to commemorate those who were silenced 20 years ago, and to honour those who continue to be silenced today.
Related links:
Hong Kong Pays Tribute To Tiananmen Protesters, While Beijing Stays Silent