Today, June 4th, is the 19th Anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Protests in China.
Let's compare and contrast.
You see, most of us live in the united states, where we are allowed to have free speech and the ability to protest. In China, they do not.
Here in the united states, we have one protest after another against our government. There is a daily anti-military vigil outside the Marine's recruiting depot in Berkekely CA, lead by CodePINK. There are regular protests over how evil we are for not enabling illegal behavior by granting amnesty to those who enter this country illegally. There are regular protests about how evil we are for having a war in which we're working to free the Iraqi people from the radical islamic terrorist forces.
People who disagree with the military, the war, etc.... they have access to speak out where they are, and even make posts on blogs like this one where they rant about President Bush.
These people may be laughed at, or arrested if they cause problems or become physical, but for speaking, there is freedom.
Now, let's look at Communist China. China is a communist country. In such countries, all power is kept in the government and the daily lives of people is heavily regulated. Generally this is coupled with a massive army and many companies are owned in some part by the government. China is no different.
So, in early June of 1989, youths and pro-democracy folk started a protest against the Chinese Communist Party. These protests largely took place in Tiananmen Square in Beijing (but happened elsewhere as well). The response was far from 'bein laughed at'
The Chinese army marched on the square. The Communists hurt and killed a few thousand folks. Now, the Chinese government said it was only a couple hundred people (Never providing a list of the dead), a sentiment also pushed by the New York Times (but the New York Times has never been shy when it comes to supporting Communists and even occassionally tries to continue to defend A. Hiss and condemn Chambers), but the Red Cross and free journalists said the number was well over 2,000 dead. (Even Amnesty International said that at least 1,000 people died) Nato says over 7,000.
In fact, the Chinese government today says that there were no deaths of protesters, but that it was soldiers that were killed by protesters (Despite video showing otherwise)
Following the mass killings at these protests, to keep things as quiet as possible, the Communists arrested massive numbers of people, including anyone (and everyone) they could find protesting, even if they were being peaceful.
Even within their on ranks, they arrested people who were Party Members who were upset at this protester purge.
Let us remember, always, the deaths of these protesters, protesting in support of democracy, against communism.
Let us, in remembering, be thankful for the vast number of freedoms we have.
Let us, in remembering, question those who support Communism, or its sister Socialism, as to how they support a mode of government that has such a long history of such death and destruction in the name of silencing 'dissenters'
