Student movement
evoked freedom,
revealed corruption
By Jillana Enteen
■ Crimson White
U. of Alabama
Last year, 1 taught English in the
People's Republic of China My students
were an elite group, and I doubted they
would join in the strike.
Before the violence began, I received a
letter from my favorite student, a 16
year-old freshman. What follows are his
words, abridged but without corrections.
My notes and explanations are in paren
theses.
Dear Jillana
It seems a pity that you have not been
staying in China for these days The stu
dent’s demonstration and hunger strike
have been so vigorous in China, especial
ly in Beijing. Almost all ranges of people
rose up to support students.
I’ve taken a part in this movement
First, I joined the parade in Tianjin with
my classmates. We went to Beijing, and
just caught the one-million people
parade in Changan Avenue on 17 May
After the parade, we settle down on
Tiananmen Square and began our sit-in
demonstration.
At that night, the Square was full of
people. When I pushed my way to the
monument and looked down, I was
dizzied to see so many “black heads." And
I also saw some fastens In a short while,
there were four students fainted and be
carried out in front of my eyes! Their ded
icating spirit were really moving.
Now the demonstration inclines to lie
subsided. 1 think the main reason is the
ideology of freedom and democracy were
still rather meager in the Chinese mind
The populace pursuit could Ik- color TV
set, electric refrigerator, more money,
etc . but as to freedom, democracy, these
are just, dispensable to them
bo when they rose up, then' motive
werejust to show sympathy for students,
to express their resentment to the gov
ernment, but few pursue the supreme
destination — freedom and democracy
So the students couldn't gang with them
really and tightly.
So when they rose up, their motive
werejust to show sympathy forstudents,
to express their resentment to the gov
ernment, but few pursue the supreme
destination — freedom and democracy
After some time, when the government's
principle became firm, and when they
saw it would form a deterrent against
their promotion, bonus, going abroad
they hung back.
Without the support of these populace,
only students certainly couldn't main
tain any longer to oppose the powerful
government.
However, 1 think this movement was
successful. In some degree, it evoked the
populace’s consciousness of freedom and
democracy. It revealed and denounced
the government’s corruption.
After this movement, the conservative
power will be enlarged. By its protection,
the previous corruption, autocracy will
continue. And the coming check in gov
ernment and all religional mechanism
will put an ominous atmosphere on
everybody’s political life. Chinese will
experience a long, dull, silent period.So
1 feel disappointed to the government 1
think, going abroad, making my career,
and returning with honour may be the
optimal way for me.
Your genuine friend (Name withheld)
wwl don’t want
a lot of hype.
I just want
something I
can count on.^*
Greg Riley-l Jniversity of North Carolina- Class of 1989
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