09-06-2005 23:25									#1
	A Question About That Guy and Those Tanks Inflate your Upload Space

Did he get crushed by the tanks? I was too young to even be aware of what happend in Tianamen square when it happend, and to be honest Ive never done much reading into it.

	09-06-2005 23:26									#2
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No, but they got him later and he disappeared iirc.

	09-06-2005 23:30									#3
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He kicks ass whoever he is/was. Its gotta take some massive cojones to put yourself in that situation.

	09-06-2005 23:30									#4
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He was not crushed. Someone rushed out and pulled him from in front of the tanks. My understanding is he was later caught and executed (a few years down the line).

The interesting thing about this is that the tanks refused to crush him, and kept trying to go around him. He kept moving in their way, but they would not kill him or physically restrain him so they could get past.

Local elements of the People's Liberation Army had sympathy for the Tiannamen protestors, and it wasn't until elements from the West of China were pulled in that the CCP could order a crack down. This is what made the situation so dangerous for the government, they were losing control of the army.

It is without a doubt, one of the most inspiring acts of humanity.

	09-06-2005 23:32									#5
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the gun who drives the tank probably has to clean the tracks as well

	09-06-2005 23:37									#6
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I didn't hear about the execution, but otherwise, my recollection is the same a che's.

One local army unit was ordered in to break up the demonstration, but when the people of Beijing begged it not to, the unit refused. They were ordered out and another outside division was brought into do the dirty work.

Someday, I hope to see a statute of the guy. Single handedly facing down those tanks shows how much people desire liberty.

	09-06-2005 23:39									#7
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That dude had a spear in his pocket, and that's why the tanks were scared - FACT!

	09-06-2005 23:41									#9
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Japher!

"Someday, I hope to see a statute of the guy. Single handedly facing down those tanks shows how much people desire liberty."

I honor that guy, a truly great man.

	10-06-2005 00:02									#10
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quote: Originally posted by Japher That dude had a spear in his pocket, and that's why the tanks were scared - FACT!

	10-06-2005 00:19									#11
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I hate to say it, but I don't think what the man did was hugely special. Lots of people make stands for freedom. He just did it in a very visible place.

Think about it...if you were a 1989 China man would you not do the same thing he did?

He himself is only as much a hero as the rest of us that cherish freedom, and a symbolic statue would be a great honor, but we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves.

	10-06-2005 00:22									#12
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Alot of guys didn't go stand in front of tanks that day. You'll notice there isn't a crowd with him.

	10-06-2005 00:27									#13
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He became the butt of a nasty but cynically funny joke some years later.

"Did you know that someone finally identified that guy who stood in front of the column of tanks just before Tiananmen square"

"What was his name?"

"Wan Dum Fuk"

	10-06-2005 00:28									#14
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I've heard a number of different accounts of what happened to him. The offical line is, apparently, that he nothing was done against him, lives as a private citizen somewhere, but refuses to see the media.

It's also been said that the regime never found out who he was, and that no-one knows what's happened to him.

	10-06-2005 00:29									#15
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He blended into the crowd... because all asians look a like

	10-06-2005 00:30									#16
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You're right. They say hindsight is 20/20.

But he's not any more a hero than WWII veterans, Eastern Europe anti-commie leaders, whatever. We shouldn't forget others who have made sacrifices for freedom.

	10-06-2005 00:35									#17
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Sure, but this thread is about that guy.

	10-06-2005 00:41									#18
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quote: Originally posted by mrmitchell I hate to say it, but I don't think what the man did was hugely special. Lots of people make stands for freedom. He just did it in a very visible place. Think about it...if you were a 1989 China man would you not do the same thing he did? He himself is only as much a hero as the rest of us that cherish freedom, and a symbolic statue would be a great honor, but we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves.

Actually there's a lot of people who like to talk like they would do something like that. There are plenty of ways to put your life at risk these days to make a point, but not many people do.

	10-06-2005 21:00									#19
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Last year I read a credible article somewhere (Snopes?) that claimed that no one really knows who the "Tank Man" was or whatever happened to him.

quote: Originally posted by mrmitchell I hate to say it, but I don't think what the man did was hugely special. Lots of people make stands for freedom. He just did it in a very visible place. Think about it...if you were a 1989 China man would you not do the same thing he did?

I strongly disagree with you. People were run over by tanks and military vehicles that day. The threat to his life was very real. When the lead tank tried to crawl around him, he moved again and again to block it.

If you knew how Chinese drivers treat pedestrians, you would realize that doing that even to a public bus would be highly dangerous.

The "Tank Man" was an extraordinarily brave person, and we were incredibly lucky that his stand was captured on film. I'm sure that photo will remain an enduring symbol of determination against tyranny for as long as people care about freedom.

Tank Man!

	10-06-2005 21:05									#20
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quote: If you knew how Chinese drivers treat pedestrians

So true.

	10-06-2005 21:08									#21
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His protest was meaningless.

He died for his hubris and the dictatorship still lives on.

The amusing part is that the commies in China are not even
commies anyway, also, none of their evil leaders will ever
be made to answer for their crimes, and you all know this...

.

	10-06-2005 21:16									#22
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quote: Originally posted by mindseye The "Tank Man" was an extraordinarily brave person, and we were incredibly lucky that his stand was captured on film. I'm sure that photo will remain an enduring symbol of determination against tyranny for as long as people care about freedom.

There's a lot of spin in that...

Of all Polytubbies I thought you would have a better grip of what happened.

"6.4 Event" (that's how we* call it, not some silly sensationalistic "Tiannanmen Massacre") was started as an anti-corruption movement, not blah freedom blah.

"Freedom" is completely debased nowadays that it means about as much as "synergy." However it still sounds good and is a nice stick to bash other people's heads.


* Everybody in Hong Kong.

	10-06-2005 21:18									#23
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Operation Iraqi Freedom has ended

and now for:

Operation Iraqi Synergy!!

just wait, you now ol' dubaya will name it... that's about all he's good for, and he does it so poorly.

	10-06-2005 21:19									#24
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When Iraqis have freedom, it will be about 4000AD.

	10-06-2005 21:21									#25
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On the chinese calendar?

	10-06-2005 21:28									#26
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And since when do the Chinese use 'Anno Domini?'

	10-06-2005 21:50									#27
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quote: Originally posted by Urban Ranger "6.4 Event" (that's how we* call it, not some silly sensationalistic "Tiannanmen Massacre") * Everybody in Hong Kong.

Event? Everybody?

Most people I know, local and expat, call it just by the date: June 4th. We refer to the date rather than the place because people were killed throughout China by the authorities, not just in Tiananmen Square.


Although, I suspect many people just refer to the date, because most people know what it means. It's shorthand.

You're the first one I've heard who says that calling it a massacre is "silly" and "sensationalistic." Would you say the same about the rape of Nanking? Would you call the rape of Nanking an incident.

In another thread, someone says that you deny the massacre happened. Do you believe that it did not occur?

	11-06-2005 01:22									#28
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quote: Originally posted by Tingkai Event? Everybody? Most people I know, local and expat, call it just by the date: June 4th. We refer to the date rather than the place because people were killed throughout China by the authorities, not just in Tiananmen Square. Although, I suspect many people just refer to the date, because most people know what it means. It's shorthand. You're the first one I've heard who says that calling it a massacre is "silly" and "sensationalistic." Would you say the same about the rape of Nanking? Would you call the rape of Nanking an incident. In another thread, someone says that you deny the massacre happened. Do you believe that it did not occur?

He'd call it an "involuntary orgy"

	11-06-2005 01:30									#29
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Theres like 4 tanks, how come they didn't all split up so that he could only stop 1 or 2 at the most.

	11-06-2005 01:34									#30
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Strict military training probably dictated they maintain a single column as they were not engaged in combat, merely a show of force. They had to get from Point A to Point B and spreading out might've interfered...

...though, not as much as a single Chinese protestor.