June 3, 2025 - Good Morning! It’s Tuesday, June 3.
On June 3,1989, a young man in China stood up for what he believed, at the risk of his life. We take a moment to remember him. A million people had gathered that day in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, as part of a pro-democracy movement that had begun in April. The Chinese military violently dispersed the crowd, killing and wounding hundreds of protestors. As the conflict was ending, a line of tanks was exiting the area. Photographers were able to capture an amazing moment in time, as a slender young man, dressed in a white shirt and black pants, moved to stand in front of the tanks, blocking their way. Life magazine declared it one of the most powerful images in history. Time magazine put the anonymous protestor (nicknamed “Tank Man”) on its list of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century.
Nothing certain is known about Tank Man. Some reports were that he escaped, perhaps to Taiwan. Others reported that he was arrested and jailed. Some said that he had been executed.We may never know the truth. The democracy movement faded under the relentless pressure from the Chinese government. Young people there today know little or nothing about the Tiananmen Square demonstrations or Tank Man. He, and his story, have been officially erased from all records and media. But, 36 years later, we’re still talking about him.
The Bible is full of characters who stood up for what they believed, at the risk of their lives. John the Baptist enraged King Herod when he condemned him for his sin, and was executed. James the Apostle angered another King Herod, with the same result. Peter and Paul challenged the Emperor Nero and were martyred for their faith. Others like Elijah, Daniel, David, Esther, Isaiah, and Stephen stood up and were counted, and the list goes on and on. Each of these could have gone with the crowd, blended in, stayed silent. That would have been the easy thing to do. But they did the hard thing and, thousands of years later, we’re still talking about them.
I close with the famous quote by the British philosopher Edmund Burke - “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
