Tiananmen: 20 years on

June 2009
Maxim Institute Newsletter

Twenty years have now passed since Tiananmen Square—an event that grieved the watching world. It is important for us to observe this anniversary, and remember what it tells us about how crucial and precious our freedom is.

Discovering exactly what happened on June 4 1989, in Tiananmen Square Beijing, is difficult—reports varied both at the time and in the years that have followed. It is known that it was the culmination of a protest that started almost two months earlier, as a public mourning over the death of Hu Yaobang, a former Secretary General in the Communist Party. He had been pushed to resign two years previous because of his open criticisms of the Party.

The mourning of Hu Yaobang became a rallying point for Beijing students to protest for democracy and against corruption, with growing numbers joining marches around the city and occupying Tiananmen Square in a giant sit-in. The government controlled media published front page criticisms of the marches, and people from cities throughout China travelled to join the protest. By the beginning of June the numbers in the square were reportedly up to one million. On the night of June 3rd, the People's Liberation Army of China moved in to disperse the crowds, and journalists reported seeing soldiers "repeatedly firing their machine guns at civilians, even those who were fleeing." Chaos ensued as protestors fled the square, many gunned down. Famous footage of a single student standing in front of a tank was beamed to television screens around the world.

In the last 20 years, there have been ongoing reports of the Chinese government closing down this part of their history. The Economist recently described China's memory of Tiananmen Square as a "muddled and half- forgotten tale." The actual number of deaths from the crackdown will likely never be known, with figures differing wildly, from several hundred civilian casualties, to over three thousand. Even without being certain of all the details, this landmark day remains significant and the fact that a government so violently shut down the voices of its own people, must be remembered.

In our open and democratic society, it is easy to take for granted the freedom to speak, to gather in a public place and to demonstrate for a cause we believe in. We enjoy equality before the law and representation from elected Members of Parliament. This freedom is not inevitable, it is something to be treasured. Remembering Tiananmen Square ought to urge us to appreciate and safe-guard our freedom. To make the most of our ability to speak, to gather, to live without fear of a totalitarian government. By being informed and active members of our own nation, we uphold the memory of those who stood for such rights, 20 years ago.

Jeremy Reynalds is a freelance writer and the founder and director of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter, http://www.joyjunction.org or http://www.christianity.com/joyjunction. He has a master's degree in communication from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in Los Angeles. His newest book is "Homeless in the City: A Call to Service." Additional details about "Homeless" are available at http://www.HomelessBook.com He lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information contact: Jeremy Reynalds at jeremyreynalds@comcast.net. Tel: (505) 877-6967 or (505) 400-7145. Note: A higher resolution JPEG picture of Jeremy Reynalds is available on request from Dan Wooding at danjuma1@aol.com.