4th JUNE 1989

Beginning in April and continuing on various dates throughout May, riots and protests were held in Tiananmen Square in the very heart of Beijing by Chinese students and just general members of the Chinese public who felt that it was time for greater democratic rights to be allowed to the people of China and for the corruption of the Chinese government to end.

Nearly everyday some riot or protest occurred in May and I could have written about any one of them. I mean the movement lasted seven weeks.

However, on this day in 1989, I felt that the most horrific incident to occur in relation to the protests so far played out. On this day, Chinese troops with tanks and armoured cars stormed the streets of Beijing, killing hundred of protestors of the People's Liberation Army, firing into the crowd indiscriminately and arresting thousands of pro-democracy supporters, many of whom are still, to this day, being held in prison cells.

Sometimes I think that we take our freedom for granted. I mean life is so hard what with having running water, food, clothes and shelter, not to mention access to education, technology and health care. We really do have it tough when our iPhone breaks now don't we?

But one other thing that I think we take for granted is our right to political opinions. Our whole political system is based in voting, that it is the people's opinion which elects leaders and their rules. It's therefore hard to think about other countries not having that same freedom, that same right to an opinion.

In relation to the riots, using words can't effectively explain how much the Chinese people wanted that same freedom that wasn't instantly given to them on the occasion of their being born, as it was for many of us. Instead, I'm going to show you this video. Of a man, who was standing up for what he believed in, defiant of the authorities, because it was his opinion that enough was enough.

The man had the courage to do what he believed would better his country. And it just so happened that it involved putting himself at risk. 

If the time ever comes in Australia when democracy ceases to exist, or when those in higher power bully the lesser people, I hope that I have the same amount of courage and believe in my own opinions to stand up like this man and thousands of others did. 

Video available: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9-nXT8lSnPQ

Image available: http://cryptome.org/cn/tk/tiananmen-kill.htm