Many of the others didn't make it out alive.
Ping!
Thanks for posting this. I'm trying to think of other famous folks whose whereabouts are unknown (outside of celebrities, hwo I don't care about).
I am sbsolutely delighted that he is alive. What he did took real courage, and he is an icon of liberty.
Better still, he's in a free country.
Regards, Ivan
The National Palace Museum is in southern Taiwan?
Hail the hero! Confusion to the Chi-Comms! Let freedom and democracy sweep across the globe.
one of you bones dudes.
I hope it is true. I want to see more confirmation.
i doubt he will working there tomorrow if that is really him.
I remember there was reports that the Tank crew was either executed or had long prison sentences. and the "tank man" was executed... but obviously at that time reports where sketchy at best.
Don't bring tanks to a flag fight.
Unforgettable memory.
That man is nothing less than a walking, talking Middle Finger in the face of the ChiComms! I love it!!!
May the world never forget what happened on this date in 1989 (Tiananmen Square). In Cantonese, the words luhk sei (06/04) sound like the words for "Mainland died." Part of Mainland China died that day.
If they never caught him, how do they know they rumor is false?
Someday the Wang Welins of China will unite to crush the chi-coms who most assuradly deserve to be crushed.
During the heady days of the democracy movement I know I was excited for the Chineese people. Only to have aspirations crushed and killed.
The Chineese deserve better then the communists. Hopefully a new boxer rebellion will someday break out and give the commies their come upance.
Carolyn
Many of the others didn't make it out alive.
Actually most people in the know never thought he was a college kid based on his appearance at the time. This was covered pretty well by the PBS Frontline on "Tank Man."
Quite a bit of mythology about what happened in those days....actually, not much of the massacre happened in Tienanmen Square, and most of the people killed were NOT college students - the students ended up surrendering.
The vast majority of the (probably in the thousands) killeds were by the Army trying to GET to Tienanmen Square - and most of the people killed were just average Joe Schmoe Middle-Age adults like Tank Man trying to block the Army from GETTING to Tienanmen Square and happened in the outer regions of the City.
It's the type of event that our children need to see and hear about every day. We live in a very unique situation, we are part of the American Experiment. Strong as we are, were still a young nation. Our enemies are many both around the world and here at home. Modern examples, of such supreme sacrifice are rare.
I honestly, hope this man is alive and living well, he deserves it he's done more than his part.
BTTT!
But then, maybe I do understand.
The MSM is embarrassed by such courage and wishes to see the man punished.
Awesome. I was wondering about him just the other day.
We never know when events will converge and place us in a position to change the world. He has become an anonymous icon.
I have to laugh at the mediots who applaud courage at denouncing our way of life, but that one image there is a testimony to real courage: facing death but still standing there.
Thanks much.
But he'd best leave Taiwan soonish. China's coming.
My oldest son was born on June 2, 1989. What a week. I don't think I will ever forget a minute of it.
I want that picture displayed prominently in the area of the State Department where those assigned to the "Asia desk" work.
FANTASTIC!
I pray Wang Weilin has a long and happy life.
ARMY TROOPS FIRE ON BEIJING CROWDS
by
Allan J. Favish
[This letter to the editor was first published in the Los Angeles Times on June 10, 1989, part II, at page 9. The letter was in response to the Tian An Men massacre by Communist Chinese troops.]
Dear Editor:
Seeing the televised excerpts of demonstrations at the various communist Chinese embassies and consulates throughout the United States, I noticed that the demonstrators appear to be almost exclusively people of Chinese descent. This disturbs me. Although the fight for freedom in communist China is primarily the responsibility of the Chinese people, it is a fight that should be actively supported by all people who cherish freedom.
Personally, I believe that if freedom-loving Chinese citizens are willing to take a bullet in the back at Tian An Men Square, the least I can do is demonstrate in support of their cause in front of the Chinese consulate on a safe street in Los Angeles.
On June 4th I was one of the relatively few Caucasians at the demonstration in front of the Chinese consulate in Los Angeles. A makeshift memorial was assembled consisting of candles, flowers and a makeshift coffin. As I stood near the coffin, a young man of Chinese descent, wearing a black shirt, approached the memorial. On the back of his shirt was the color photograph that appeared on the front page of the Los Angeles Times showing the Goddess of Democracy statue in Tian An Men Square with the large picture of Mao in the background. After leaving a flower near the candles, the young man placed a small American flag on the coffin and quietly walked away.
My eyes were filled with tears.
Regards,
Allan J. Favish
http://www.allanfavish.com
Archaeologists are more than just pretty faces!
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tankman/
Would tank man have gotten away alive without General Secretary Zhao Ziyang.
I would like to know more about the tank driver who refused to run the guy over. I think that took just as much courage as he may be in deep doo doo.
He's certainly got a set of brass ones...
I remember listening to Radio Beijing English service live when the announcers denounced the crackdown, then the next hour they were replaced with another announcer towing the Party line.
I wonder whatever happened to that brave announcer?
By my first trip to Beijing in 1996, all was cleared up. It was the first time I learned about "hot-bed" homes that essentially required those that lived in the house to be out of the house for 2/3rds of the day so others could sleep in the beds they had just been in. It was then I understood why such a large place like Tiananmen Square was always crowded no matter what time of the day I was there.
In 1996, the count-down clock for the hand over of Hong Kong was erected over one of the government buildings lining the square which made walking on the concrete slabs (many of which I learned had been replaced to remove evidence) a bit surreal.
I correspond with colleagues in China frequently. We discuss technology, not politics but life seems better for those I'm in contact with. Is it working out to our benefit though?
I was twelve when this happened. I remember not understanding why America wasn't helping these people who just wanted to live like we do. I'm 29 now, and I still don't understand.
God bless him.
The "tank man" deserves all credit for being an inspirational human being possessing both a backbone and a conscience, and willing to use both. Too bad the world doesn't know about another "tank man," Republic of Viet Nam Marine Sergeant Huynh Van Luom. During Hanoi's 1972 blitzkrieg offensive an NVA armor column was about to cross the Dong Ha bridge. Had it crossed the river (a la "Saving Private Ryan" final scene) Hue, Da Nang and all of Military Region I would have been in jeopardy. Sgt. Luom stood on the Dong Ha bridge, faced down the lead NVA tank which was not about to stop, and disabled it with M-72 LAW antitank missle. No reporters were there. Sgt. Luom's act was one of incredible defiant courage; he was at far more risk than the Tiananmen "tank man," yet he remains unknown to the poorly informed US public.
The injustice in all this is disgusting.
I happy to hear tank man well.
Impressed he archeologist.
He inspire. Brave man.
I always wondered what had happened to him. One of the great, largely usung heroes of the last 100 years. Proof that the "Little guy" can win in the end.
" There has been a rumor that Jiang Zemin who inherited power after the Tiananmen Uprising gave confidential order to track down Wang Weilin and executed him in secret, but it turned out to be false in the end."
given how brutally the chinese went after everyone they could find when this happen, does anyone really doubt that such an order might have been given?
I assume he did not know he was being filmed. So think about it - he did that thinking he was about to die anonymously. I wonder how long it was before he realized what a symbol he had become?
bump