In the spring of 1989, Chinese students at Beijing University led in an uprising for democratic freedom. Their protest was over hardship, corruption, and 40 years of repression. The conflict became so intense, the Chinese government ordered over 300,000 troops to use tanks and semi-automatic weapons to crush the protest. By early June, the Chinese army had succeeded in backing off the protestors.
That is, until June 5. Perhaps you will remember the image being broadcast around the world of a lone, unnamed student who stood in Tiananmen Square to block a line of tanks. In this extraordinary confrontation, he was crushed beneath the tank and became an icon for the struggle for freedom.
That was early 1989. From that time, the Chinese government vowed to erase this image from Chinese memory. Have they succeeded? Last year, veteran journalist Anthony Thomas showed the pictures to undergraduates at Beijing University and none of the students recognized it or even knew why the young man was willing to die!
Wow! How easy it is for one generation to forget the sacrifices of previous generations, especially those who were willing to lay down their lives that freedom might be obtained and ensured.
This Memorial Day, may we be faithful to remember those who sacrificed for our freedom here in America, especially those who gave what Abraham Lincoln termed “the last full measure of devotion”.
PICTURE SOURCE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tianasquare.jpg.
SEE ALSO: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tank_Man.