and on June 5 1989, it got one.
His name is reputed to be Wang Weilin but the world knew him simply as Tankman.
We can only guess what happened after the event to this remarkable young student.
A hunger strike by three thousand students in Beijing grew to more than a million as the injustices imposed on the Chinese nation became just too much to bear.
And when this young man, captured by AP photographer Jeff Widener refused to move, standing with his meager bags before a line of tanks, a hero was born.
Then too, a second hero emerged as the tank driver refused to crush the man.
What happened to him we may well wonder too.
And the world doesn't give up hope that a mainstream politician will be hailed a hero for standing up for his people's hopes and aspirations. One day.
Unfortunately this dream of reform ended and blood filled Tianamen Square, but not before a billion Chinese had been shown there was hope.
That was twenty five years ago today.
Has anything really changed...
If you wanted an illustration in your dictionary for the word "courage," you could not do better than that photo.
ReplyDeleteAll the people who stood for real change are dead or those who want real change are silenced with bullits or bullies.
ReplyDeleteGood post. Much like the atrocities committed by Germany in the 2nd World War, the younger generations are not taught of this past. They need to know.
ReplyDeleteRegards, Keith.
One man who had enough and wasn't going to take it any more.
ReplyDeleteNever doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. ~ Margaret Mead
ReplyDeleteCelebrate the human spirit! We may be capable of the very worst but also the very best. How wonderful that those two people - the student and the driver- having grown up in the communist China of that time- could still exercise enough free will for those acts of courage for humanity and against the system.
ReplyDelete