A Question About That Guy and Those Tanks

[mrmitchell]

You're right. They say hindsight is 20/20.

But he's not any more a hero than WWII veterans, Eastern Europe anti-commie leaders, whatever. We shouldn't forget others who have made sacrifices for freedom.

[Lancer]

Sure, but this thread is about that guy.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by mrmitchell
I hate to say it, but I don't think what the man did was hugely special. Lots of people make stands for freedom. He just did it in a very visible place.

Think about it...if you were a 1989 China man would you not do the same thing he did?

He himself is only as much a hero as the rest of us that cherish freedom, and a symbolic statue would be a great honor, but we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves.

Actually there's a lot of people who like to talk like they would do something like that. There are plenty of ways to put your life at risk these days to make a point, but not many people do.

[mindseye]

Last year I read a credible article somewhere (Snopes?) that claimed that no one really knows who the "Tank Man" was or whatever happened to him.

Originally posted by mrmitchell
I hate to say it, but I don't think what the man did was hugely special. Lots of people make stands for freedom. He just did it in a very visible place.

Think about it...if you were a 1989 China man would you not do the same thing he did?

I strongly disagree with you. People were run over by tanks and military vehicles that day. The threat to his life was very real. When the lead tank tried to crawl around him, he moved again and again to block it.

If you knew how Chinese drivers treat pedestrians, you would realize that doing that even to a public bus would be highly dangerous.

The "Tank Man" was an extraordinarily brave person, and we were incredibly lucky that his stand was captured on film. I'm sure that photo will remain an enduring symbol of determination against tyranny for as long as people care about freedom.

Tank Man!

[Space05us]

If you knew how Chinese drivers treat pedestrians

So true.

[curtsibling]

His protest was meaningless.

He died for his hubris and the dictatorship still lives on.

The amusing part is that the commies in China are not even
commies anyway, also, none of their evil leaders will ever
be made to answer for their crimes, and you all know this...

.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by mindseye
The "Tank Man" was an extraordinarily brave person, and we were incredibly lucky that his stand was captured on film. I'm sure that photo will remain an enduring symbol of determination against tyranny for as long as people care about freedom.

There's a lot of spin in that...

Of all Polytubbies I thought you would have a better grip of what happened.

"6.4 Event" (that's how we* call it, not some silly sensationalistic "Tiannanmen Massacre") was started as an anti-corruption movement, not blah freedom blah.

"Freedom" is completely debased nowadays that it means about as much as "synergy." However it still sounds good and is a nice stick to bash other people's heads.


* Everybody in Hong Kong.

[Japher]

Operation Iraqi Freedom has ended

and now for:

Operation Iraqi Synergy!!

just wait, you now ol' dubaya will name it... that's about all he's good for, and he does it so poorly.

[curtsibling]

When Iraqis have freedom, it will be about 4000AD.

[Japher]

On the chinese calendar?

[curtsibling]

And since when do the Chinese use 'Anno Domini?'

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger

"6.4 Event" (that's how we* call it, not some silly sensationalistic "Tiannanmen Massacre")
* Everybody in Hong Kong.

Event? Everybody?

Most people I know, local and expat, call it just by the date: June 4th. We refer to the date rather than the place because people were killed throughout China by the authorities, not just in Tiananmen Square.


Although, I suspect many people just refer to the date, because most people know what it means. It's shorthand.

You're the first one I've heard who says that calling it a massacre is "silly" and "sensationalistic." Would you say the same about the rape of Nanking? Would you call the rape of Nanking an incident.

In another thread, someone says that you deny the massacre happened. Do you believe that it did not occur?

[DRoseDARs]

Originally posted by Tingkai


Event? Everybody?

Most people I know, local and expat, call it just by the date: June 4th. We refer to the date rather than the place because people were killed throughout China by the authorities, not just in Tiananmen Square.


Although, I suspect many people just refer to the date, because most people know what it means. It's shorthand.

You're the first one I've heard who says that calling it a massacre is "silly" and "sensationalistic." Would you say the same about the rape of Nanking? Would you call the rape of Nanking an incident.

In another thread, someone says that you deny the massacre happened. Do you believe that it did not occur?

He'd call it an "involuntary orgy"

[Whoha]

Theres like 4 tanks, how come they didn't all split up so that he could only stop 1 or 2 at the most.

[DRoseDARs]

Strict military training probably dictated they maintain a single column as they were not engaged in combat, merely a show of force. They had to get from Point A to Point B and spreading out might've interfered...

...though, not as much as a single Chinese protestor.