19 years ago today, after millions of students and citizens converged at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, in peaceful demonstration to pursue an end of government corruption and freedom of expression, a government-enforced martial law and slayings of unarmed civilians of all ages followed starting on the night of the 4th of June in 1989.
The next morning on the 5th, after several attempts by the protesters to continue their demonstration against the Chinese government, all of which were violently quashed by the military leaving scores dead and wounded, a lone man walked before the lead tank among a moving line of over a dozen others; and he stunned onlookers with this scene:
After 19 years, this lone man's identity remains unknown.
His act of defiance then, staring down the overwhelming hardware of a system that employed tyrannical rule, public execution, and the slaying of unarmed protesters, remains a core image to all of those whom wish to see a freer world for themselves and others.
This historical event deserves a virtuous moment of rumination by all who value and wish for a democratic society that embraces free expression and self-governance. The New York Times ran a small piece in yesterday's area which focuses on the run-up to the Beijing Olympics.
My hope that we can take a little time to honor the memory of this day by considering something bigger than just our domestic politics.
This isn't call for action regarding the upcoming Olympics.
This is no call to openly protest for Tibetan sovereignty.
This is not intended as a platitude-driven rant, attempting to pass judgment on a specific government, people or policy.
What I write for today is to ask for a moment's pause. For readers to think about what this day must have been like 19 years ago in Beijing.
Try to image what scene to behold as students start to come in to Beijing in droves late in the month of May. Then the crowds grow by the thousands and hundreds of thousands as more students and local neighbors and workers join in on the demonstration. Then the assembly swells into the millions when the middle-class and peasants came to speak out as well.
Imagine. Tens of millions of people gathering in one place, and demanding a change to the way they are governed.
Watch the 11 April 2006 Frontline Story online for a great documentary piece about this event. This is just the sort of thing that can remind ourselves just how valuable and remarkable our open discourse truly is.
Remember Tiananmen Square and the Tank Man.