Daily commentary about China by TIME correspondents.

A New Perspective on Tank Man

The New York Times' Lens blog has a fascinating photo from the 1989 crackdown in Beijing that hasn't been published until now. It is of "tank man," the anonymous pedestrian who blocked a row of tanks, producing one of the iconic images of that event. But unlike the more famous photos and footage taken from up in the Beijing Hotel, this image from AP staffer Terril Jones was shot at street level. It shows two men running from the tanks and another fleeing by bicycle, heightening the sense of peril. The tanks are still a few hundred feet away, and a man with a jacket and shopping bag awaits their arrival.

360_tankman_0608

Terril Jones / AP

Jones wrote:

I've always regretted not staying in place longer 20 years ago, despite the gunshots, and taken more photos, so that I might have realized what was unfolding before my eyes. But while I missed the timeliest opportunity to share this photo in 1989, today is an appropriate time to pull it out finally from its decades-old wraps.

Also check out this audio slideshow from Magnum photographer Stuart Franklin, who describes working during the crackdown, and his experience shooting images of "tank man" for TIME.

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  • 1

    Now that the mission to remind people of the anniversary is accomplished, Twitter is now available, for now, in China. Can someone check whether there will be a birthday or something in the coming week ?

  • 2

    Why Did June Fourth Movement Fail? 鹿死谁手? 六四运动失败的原因?

    By: Jordan C. Fan, 范楚漳, Prophet of Environment.

    China has the longest continuous history of all ancient civilizations in this world. Among all Chinese treasures, none was more precious than our history books. Historians have always held the highest status in our society and honor by all people even more so than kings and emperors. We were, in fact, much revered by all those emperors and leaders of China.

    As the world foremost Prophet, historian, and theologian who is also clairvoyant, I will attempt to write this very controversial yet sensitive historical event. At the same time, I will also try to convey the messages from those involved, either Supernatural, living or deceased. May their spirits rest in peace!

    鹿死谁手? 的答案是 "鹿死神手"!是天意, or intentions of Heaven.

    Quite obviously, the "Deer's Death" 64 鹿死 was caused by Environmental changes as they have always been since the beginning of our Universe. Democracy or Capitalism which are the major forces in the destruction of the Environment were the goals of the June Fourth Movement. These political ideologies allow human to uncontrollably consume all our natural resources and freely destroy the Environment unchecked with blessing from such governments as the United States of America. When the Environment and wilderness deteriorate, its wildlife will die or "Deer Death" will occur. In this case, the people so "Dear" to us must also die because of their misinterpretation of "freedom." It is the law of nature which no one can change. Death must be mourned but it doesn't necessary mean the Movement was correct.

    六四运动 64 "June Fourth Movement" as its name implied was a "copy cat" or "copy deer" of the much more successful 五四运动 54 "May Fourth Movement." From its appearance, the May Fourth Movement or New Cultural Movement seem to favor the acceptance of Western or foreign ideas especially those in making changes to our traditional Chinese culture, literature, sciences and technology but in reality its purpose was to free China from the control of the foreign powers and their unfair treaties with China at that time. Therefore, the June Fourth Movement has ironically threaten to undo the May Fourth Movement and must be stopped. Millions of soldiers were dead or wounded while defending China and Korea from the American aggression during the Korean War. Who will answer to them if the June Fourth Movement was successful. That June Fourth Movement was against their efforts making their death and suffering in vain.

    The idea June Fourth Movement was also derived from the democratic movement in the Soviet Union (CCCP) which seem to have given more freedom to the Soviet people. In fact, history has later proven that such movements in the CCCP have caused the disintegration of the Soviet Union, economic downturn and immense suffering of their people. It might even have resulted in the invasion of Russia by its enemy the United States, World War III, dangerous nuclear confrontation and destruction of all mankind.

    The most important lesson to be learned from this historical episode was the same lesson which all our Chinese ancestors had taught us - PATIENCE or the lack of it. 忍耐. Chinese should wait for the outcome of the Soviet Movement then initiate any changes in China.

    One of the major byproduct of conversion from communism to democracy is the emergence of the "Russian Mafia." In other words, the control of a nation by the mobs, gangs and organized crime elements which will create great damage to their people, physically and morally. Basically most countries nowadays must always have to choose from being controlled by very strong centralized governments or criminal organized crime gangs to provide true stability and at the same time freedom from foreign control. Democracy could only work in those rare occasions in highly educated, organized and well established small countries with little population.

    In the case of the United States of America, democracy has never given stability to its people. The U. S. survives basically on constant expansion westward to destroy the Environment, aggression by starting wars and instability aboard, depletion of world's natural resources to stimulate industry, and lost of freedom & also suffering of people of other nations. Democracy American style is basically an attempt for a small minority group to dictate the whole population. Similar to what is happening today in the Black controlled United States.

    I can easily present many dozens more reasons why the June Fourth Movement had failed. That discussion will be the topics of subsequent posts and replies which will follow this original thread. The most important cause of their failure was that they have chosen unwisely the wrong and unlucky date June Fourth for their continuing 天安门 Tiananmen Square demonstration. While May Fourth means 无死, 無死 "No Death" in Chinese, June Fourth means 鹿死 or 禄死 means " Political Suicide"!

    A strong centralized government is necessary for China to remain united. Nothing is more important to this planet than an united China.

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