My visit to Tiananmen Square.
This is a story about Chinese repression of the Tiananmen massacre, even many years after the event.
About 15 years ago, I had the opportunity to visit China for two weeks. I was part of an American group and we were assigned minders and tour guides as we visited many parts of China. (I had visited China in 1999 so was prepared for some of what I experienced.)
The second trip was spectacular in many ways, however, a harsh reminder in terms of government
repression and control.
The group tour started in Beijing, we had a very nice Chinese tour guide; we liked her very much.
We had had a lovely time, we were in high spirits and enjoying the trip.
We left the hotel to visit Tiananmen Square, where there are important museums, halls and monuments.
But things took a dark turn on the bus from the hotel to Tiananmen Square.
The tour guide stepped up to the front of the bus with her microphone.
She said: We are going to Tiananmen Square and I must talk with you about something very important.
The tour guide went on to say: There was an event which occurred quite some time ago in Tiananmen
Square. I have to warn you that I am not permitted to answer any questions about that event.
There will be some serious consequences to me and to my family in the event you even ask me those questions.
I am respectfully requesting that none of you bring up this topic and not one word be spoken about it. I should warn you that there will be officials at Tiananmen Square in plain clothes who will be monitoring all of our conversations when we are there.
At that point we were all shocked but not surprised; we were familiar with the Chinese government.
We got off the bus and were walking around Tiananmen Square and in fact two or three middle-age men in suits, ties and raincoats quietly joined our group and just did their listening. We Americans either remained silent or asked benign questions about building architecture, etc.
It was indeed a sobering experience. I often think about that experience and the MAGA fake courage, sunshine patriot stance. They talk big, carry guns to intimidate people and anonymously threaten people.
Would any of them have the courage to stand up to a fascist regime like the Chinese student so many years ago standing up to a military tank coming at him. Or even the courage of a regular Chinese citizen earning a living by conducting tours in TS knowing any day things could become dangerous for her.
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