Who am I?
Christian. Skeptic. Ponderer. Sold on Western Civilization. Background in engineering and software. Rational, but not rationalist.
I'm a Hugh-inspired, long-tail blogger.
I Value
Informs my values.
News
Blog Search
Posts On This Page:
Archives
- October 2004
- November 2004
- December 2004
- January 2005
- February 2005
- March 2005
- April 2005
- May 2005
- June 2005
- July 2005
- August 2005
- September 2005
- October 2005
- November 2005
- December 2005
- January 2006
- February 2006
- March 2006
- April 2006
- May 2006
- June 2006
- July 2006
- August 2006
- September 2006
- October 2006
- November 2006
- December 2006
- January 2007
- February 2007
- March 2007
- April 2007
- May 2007
- June 2007
- July 2007
- August 2007
- September 2007
- October 2007
- November 2007
- January 2008
- February 2008
- March 2008
- April 2008
- July 2008
- August 2008
- September 2008
- October 2008
- November 2008
- December 2008
- February 2009
- June 2009
- July 2009
- October 2009
- December 2009
- January 2010
- February 2010
- April 2010
- May 2010
- July 2010
- February 2011
- April 2011
- May 2011
- February 2013
Look closer. Think harder. Choose the sound argument over the clever one.
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Remembering Tiananmen
Today marks the 17th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre, in which several hundred civilians were killed by the Chinese military. Perhaps as many as 2,000 people were killed. The BBC's summary:
Tanks rumbled through the capital's streets late on 3 June as the army moved into the square from several directions, randomly firing on unarmed protesters. ...
Demonstrators, mainly students, had occupied the square for seven weeks, refusing to move until their demands for democratic reform were met. ...
Early [the next] morning at least 30 more were killed in two volleys of gunfire, which came without warning. Terrified crowds fled, leaving bodies in the road.
Meanwhile reports have emerged of troops searching the main Peking university campus for ringleaders, beating and killing those they suspect of co-ordinating the protests. ...
Troops were used to clear the square despite repeated assurances from Chinese politicians that there would be no violence. ...
Hundreds, and possibly thousands, of people were killed in the massacre, although it is unlikely a precise number will ever be known.
I recall many naively believing that the Chinese government (or military) wouldn't kill civilians. Here are a few New York Times headlines from that time.
- SHERYL WUDUNN, May 21, 1989: Facing the People, the Soldiers Fall Back
- RICHARD BERNSTEIN, May 21, 1989: People's Army, Faced by the People, May Be Opening a New Chapter
- NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF, May 21, 1989: BIGGEST BEIJING CROWDS SO FAR KEEP TROOPS FROM CITY CENTER; PARTY REPORTED IN BITTER FIGHT
- NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF, May 22, 1989: BEIJING THRONGS AGAIN THWART ADVANCES BY TROOPS AMID SIGNS MILITARY BALKS AT CRACKDOWN
- NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF, May 23, 1989: STANDOFF PERSISTS IN BEIJING; 7 TOP EX-COMMANDERS WARN ARMY 'MUST NOT ENTER CITY'
- SHERYL WUDUNN, May 25, 1989: Unnerving Day of Reckoning Looms for Students: Exams
- NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF, May 26, 1989: Wishful Thinkers?
- NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF, May 24, 1989: CHANGES AT TOP ARE HINTED AS LEADERS MEET IN BEIJING; SOME TROOPS BEGIN TO LEAVE
Note WILLIAM SAFIRE, May 22, 1989: The Counter-Revolution: "The Chinese people, led by young idealists, have amazed themselves and thrilled the world by crying out for freedom in a great non-violent chorus; now Communist tyranny will try to demonstrate who is in charge."
Update, 6/5: A video memorial, "Not Settled," but not for the feint of heart. (HT: Instapundit.)
Comments:
(Please keep in mind that each commenter's opinions are only his/her own.)
If you're not on the Chinese payroll, you're getting ripped off.
Gregory Clark's article is blatantly factually wrong.
In the other article you cited: "what took place was the slaughter not of students but of ordinary workers and residents — precisely the target that the Chinese government had intended."; [The Chinese government is] "the bloody-minded regime responsible for the June 4 murders..."; "There was a massacre that morning."
Though it was a deliberate massacre stemming directly from the Tianenmen Square protests, the murders didn't take place in the square. You're trying to use that technicality to cover for Chinese mass-murder is sick.
Post a Comment
<< Home
