tiananmen - 15 years on
written: 7:25 p.m. on Friday, Jun. 04, 2004

I admit: I knew jack-shit about Tiananmen except that the government killed many university students before I read the Time article on Wang Dan and his cousin. I also admit that I was wondering why the shit Time magazine bothered running a cover story on two dudes whom I thought were two people they snatched from the streets before I was enlightened on the fact that Wang Dan was one of the most famous (infamous, whatever) student leaders of the Tiananmen protest.

And I admit, too, that I still don't have a complete and comprehensive understanding of what Tiananmen really stood for and what significance it continues to hold in modern-day China.

What I do know is this: Tiananmen's ideals of a democratised and free China is far from being realised. The Chinese economy is booming, but Wang Dan is still living in exile (but hey, dude, you're studying in Harvard). The paradox in the sentence 'Communist Party being the ruling party in a democratised China' is one that I cannot accept at all.

Why do I care, you ask? After all, I'm Singaporean, I've only been to China once my whole life and it's very unlikely that I'd live there within now and the next ten years.

These are all true, but the fact still remains that a metamorphosis is taking place inside of me, subverting my ang moh influences and turning me towards the land of the rising sun.

No, not Japan; China. The backdrop of an emerging China is one that puts a wide smile on my face. Call me a fascist if you must, though I really wouldn't give a shit, but I would much rather see my own people being at the top than a bunch of irritating, egotistical ang mohs.

("My own people" extends to my fellow Chinese firstly, then to all Asians.)

I mean, I like ang mohs. I have nothing against the average ang moh. What does disturb me, though, is the long-held conception of Asians as inferior to the Whites. Throughout history it has been true: the annexation of Southeast Asia by European powers was and is still a great evidence of the pretentious notion of the "white man's burden" (bloody bullshit, I say). In fact, the very act of typing this pro-Chinese/Asian entry in English by me is a great testament to that.

I like English. English rocks. But not at the expense of my own language, culture and heritage.

What has all these got to do with Tiananmen?

I believe that the Chinese can only be truly strong as a race if China bloody liberates itself and stop being such a communistic pain in the ass. I would strongly oppose a Chinese (re)unification (hence my pro-independence stance when it comes to Taiwan), but for once, I would like to see Asians ruling the world, like the Americans are now.

I'm aware that people are going to read this and go, "What the fuck is this moron on about? Who the fuck cares?"

You see, I don't care about that either. Today is the 15th anniversay of the Tiananmen incident - how many people still remember? How many teenagers have even heard of Tiananmen? How many people even give a shit?

I don't know about anyone else, but after reading more about Tiananmen and the futile aims of the movement, the failure of the university students become even more poignant today. Imagine what China could've become today.

I can't even begin to fathom the prospects.

(PS. Sorry to those I've offended. Just a viewpoint. And don't tell me we are all the same, because we are not.)

before sunrise // before sunset

Previously:
- - Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017
I'm moving. - Sunday, Jul. 11, 2010
In all honesty - Tuesday, Jul. 06, 2010
What I want for my birthday... - Sunday, Jul. 04, 2010
On Roger's behalf. - Friday, Jul. 02, 2010