March 13, 2007
![][1][Via emaw][2] we have [this site that lets you know if your blog has been blocked by Chinese authorities.][3]Emaw was banned (apparently for griping about a Chinese restaurant in Kansas City). I'm not. And that, frankly, is a disappointment.After all, here's my old [staff bio][4] at LJWorld.com:At what moment did you realize you wanted to become a journalist (videographer, meteorologist, sports reporter, etc.)? And if there wasn't a specific point in time, what was the motivating factor?I've always loved history. When I was in high school watching coverage of the Tiananmen Square protests in China during the summer of 1989, I knew I wanted a job that would help me touch history as it was being made.Luckily, I've been able to do that job.Unfortunately, I haven't aroused the ire of authoritarian governments.I wonder. Would a link to [Google's Tiananmen Square massacre links][5] do the trick?How about a [Wikipedia entry?][6]To be clear: I've got nothing against the Chinese. I've got nothing but props for a culture that gave us noodles, Jet Li and a host of other good stuff. I do have problems with speech-suppressing authoritarianism, however, wherever it pops up.So with any luck, I'll soon be banned in China. I'll report back. [1]: http://www.hongkongbrother.com/news/2004_06-07-June-July/tiananmen_tank_man.jpg [2]: http://3oclockam.blogspot.com/2007/03/chinese-checked.html [3]: http://greatfirewallofchina.org/test/ [4]: http://www2.ljworld.com/staff/joel_mathis/ [5]: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=china+tiananmen+massacre&spell=1 [6]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiananmen_Square_protests_of_1989
Comments
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lazz (anonymous) says…
from the link, i see that whitehouse.gov is blocked ... so perhaps it's not as much of an honor as it might otherwise be assumed to be ...
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lazz (anonymous) says…
Joel, Question about the Tianeman Square/Tanks/Citizen Protest photo:
The photograph you provide isn't quite as I remember the iconic image. I'm sure my rusty memory drive is out of kilter, but I remember the man was carrying a plastic grocery sack; this fellow looks to be holding a briefcase or satchel; it also looks like he's pausing, sort of surprised, and I recall the famous protester firmly squaring up, clearing having made a decision ... I also seem to remember him wearing light-colored pants, this guy has on dark slacks.
Am I remembering correctly? Was there more than one image of Comdrade Citizen vs. Comrade Tank Commander?
Just curious ...
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Joel (Joel Mathis) says…
This looks to be an earlier frame-grab from the video of the incident. If you'll recall, there was actually TV coverage of this particular event -- the tank tried to go around him and he kept stepping to the side to stay in its way.
One of the most powerful images of my lifetime.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzeGbh...
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lazz (anonymous) says…
It truly changed the world. Bravest man on the planet that day, no doubt. We aren't often treated to that sort of clarity.
Ever wonder what happened to him when he got home that night?
"Hi honey, how was your day?"
"I faced down a Communist tank in Tianament Square on live worldwide TV. And I got the carrots you asked me to pick up."
that kinda thing ... i'm not making light of it ... just how does one turn around and live a regular life again after that? I don't recall hearing that he was tracked down and arrested, does anybody else?
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OnShakedown (Chris Tackett) says…
lazz,
here's the wikipedia article for him: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tank_man
and what it says about the aftermath:
"There are several conflicting stories about what happened to him after the demonstration. In a speech to the President's Club in 1999, Bruce Herschensohn - former deputy special assistant to President of the United States Richard Nixon - reported that he was executed 14 days later; other sources say he was killed by firing squad a few months after the Tiananmen Square protests. In Red China Blues: My Long March from Mao to Now, Jan Wong writes that the man is still alive and is hiding in mainland China.
An eyewitness account of the event published in October 2005 by Charlie Cole, a contract photographer for Newsweek magazine at the time, states that the man was arrested on the spot by the Public Security Bureau."
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lazz (anonymous) says…
Great info, thanks Shakedown.
Here's a thought: In his honor and memory, June 5 should be an International holiday.
Fight for Freedom Day.
Stand Up Day.
Find Courage Day.
Joel, you have the bandwidth, let's get something going ...
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mitzibel (Misty Nuckolls) says…
Lazz, I am *totally* down for the observance of "Don't Be A Pussy Day."
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lazz (anonymous) says…
Maybe The Pig could be the world center for ... um ..... er ..... Fight For Freedom Day. (we have to keep in mind nuances of international translations, I'm afraid, Mitzi ...)
There could be a party at the Pig, June 5, and word will get out.
We could all bring pictures, images, words, etc. that represent freedom & courage ...
We could get the LJW to cover it, Joel and Mitzi could be our spokesfolks, and next year we'd get more coverage, and then with the power of the Internet, it would catch on everywhere, and we could be proud of actually having done something ...
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Joel (Joel Mathis) says…
Lazz: It's your idea. Run with it baby!
Misty: Must you always be crass? Yes, yes you must. ; )
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Feents (Caterina Benalcazar) says…
Joel, you're going to have to start cultivating a meaner, more opinionated on-line persona if you're gonna get banned in China. All this sage diplomacy will get you nowhere. Time to shed the Mennonite guilt and offend someone.
Look out Beijing, here comes Joel Mathis!
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thetomdotdot (anonymous) says…
You guys are on to something. I will say, however, that maximum effect will only be achieved with a solid foundation in thematic immersion. So when it comes to deciding between sissy diplomatic names and forthright rapier names for the special day, don't be a pussy.
Stand up for freedom my ass. Makes me want to slap something.
Just me.
..
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lazz (anonymous) says…
I sense you are right, thetom ... a wussy name for a festival for braveness is ... er ... sadly ironical ... kinda feels like a red-and-blue bumpersticker or something.
Don't Be A Pussy Day is much better. Thanks for showing me the wisdom of crassness, thetom and mitzi, and feents is right, we ain't gettin' banned in China anytime soon at the rate Joel and I are progressing.
Don't Be A Pussy Day it is. June 5. BTA.
or, of course, we could go with something like, The International Fuck Off and Fight Festival.
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Joel (Joel Mathis) says…
I'm just moderate enough in my language to blush at the thought of saying the name of the day out loud -- which, I suppose, makes me part of the problem -- but I admit to liking the ring of it.
June 5? Pig? Will there be streamers?
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altarego (anonymous) says…
Break on through to the other side, baby.
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lazz (anonymous) says…
no streamers. but, we can only hope, plenty of screamers. maybe some streakers, and perhaps a few heart-breakers.
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mitzibel (Misty Nuckolls) says…
Thank you, thetom, for illuminating my whole point. But get out of my head now.
Nope, no streamers, but I have been known to carry confetti around in my handbag for just such an occasion. . .
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leslie (Leslie vonHolten) says…
Um, hate to point this out, but that whole pussy thing is kind of ill-conceived. I mean, the two hellcats in our particular family are the ones with said genitalia, to be honest.
Perhaps you all should go for lazz's alternative title.
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thetomdotdot (anonymous) says…
Geez, Leslie, thanks for bringing THAT up. Now I feel penis guilt.
How about Tank Man Day? Nice edge without the crass (and misogyny), and evocotive of the moment without dripping anything.
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Joel (Joel Mathis) says…
Mmmm. Leslie raises a good point.
Plus, I wouldn't have to get red-faced about everything.
I like Fight for Freedom Day, myself. It has two benefits:
¢ It describes most clearly what is being celebrated; DBAP Day isn't necessarily clear on this front.
¢ It doesn't accidentally insult people who, under the thumb of oppression, are unable to fight for themselves.
I call the question. All those in favor say Aye.
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thetomdotdot (anonymous) says…
Misty: OK I'm out of your head, but Jesus, you got some shit laying around. I mean come on, forthright rapier? What the hell am I supposed to do with that? It's embarrasing. Thematic immersion? Next time how about leaving the dogs a bone with a little meat on it.
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quinno (Patrick Quinn) says…
This is phaps the best idea ever posted on lawrence.com.
I think we should work on the name. Sexist connotations aside, "Don't be a pussy" is the sort of thing one says to a friend scared of calling out a jerk employer, and we seem to be pointing at something a bit nobler than that.
Nothing illuminates the case better than the fact that we don't know the man's name, and phaps never will. (I'd love to believe he got out and is living a quiet life in rural China, but c'mon--no chance. He's dead as Dickens.)
"Tank Man Day"?
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lazz (anonymous) says…
I vote for tank man day
kinda gets to the point off what and who we are celebrating, but once that connection is made, then celebrants are free to calibrate their own values --- fighting for freedom, standing up to the man, acknowledging a pissy mood on your way home from the grocery store and screaming angrily at every tank driver you see, ...
and, it's not profane, so Joel can put the bumper sticker in his car.
I vote tank man day.
First of many annual celebrations, BP, June 5, 2007, BTA
Oh yeah, could somebody clear this with Ryan?
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Joel (Joel Mathis) says…
The Question is re-opened. And called again.
Voting commences immediately, and is cut off at 8 a.m. Thursday:
Question: What should be the name of our day commemorating the struggle of all peoples to be free?
¢ Fight for Freedom Day
¢ Tank Man Day
¢ (Write in candidate)
Vote in ye olde comments section.
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leslie (Leslie vonHolten) says…
Maybe New Hampshire already has this, but "Don't Tread on Me Day" would work, and your flags are already made (probably in China, no less)
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lazz (anonymous) says…
I check tank man day, does Quinn.
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godjilla (Jill Ensley) says…
I vote "Damn The Man, Save The Empire".
ahahaha!
Oh, and someone should recruit me to hang China photos. wine and dine.
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mitzibel (Misty Nuckolls) says…
You all are a bunch of pussies.
Whatever it's called, though, it's still an excuse to drink and get loud, so I'm in.
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thetomdotdot (anonymous) says…
An international Tank Man Day would keep the Chinese censors busier than all heck, dontcha know.
Although in my adolescent (and persistently unnoble) heart it will always be DBAP.
Tank man says it all. Put me down.
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thetomdotdot (anonymous) says…
According to my test of 2 minutes ago, this URL is now banned in China.
Congratulations.
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altheasus (Althea Schnacke) says…
Just this URL, the other ones still work. Come on Joel, see if you can knock out all of lawrence.com
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Joel (Joel Mathis) says…
Mmmm. I was about to celebrate, but I went and tested myself. It says I'm still available in China.
Given that the site warns about tech problems, I'm going to have to have 5 "you are blocked" messages in a row before I buy it.
I would've been impressed, though, at the ability of the censors to find me and take me down in a day or so.
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Joel (Joel Mathis) says…
... and I've just done three tests that say I'm available.
Gonna keep my powder dry.
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godjilla (Jill Ensley) says…
Joel, Joel, Joel...you're gonna have to copy and paste the "sensitive information" into this blog before you get banned.
You kids, any excuse to drink. Sheesh. ;)
p.s. "Fight For Freedom Day". Man, I'll drop by just to see if, in confusion, any die-hard pro-war Republicans show up.
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emawkc (anonymous) says…
And there's a theme song for International Tank Day. You remember the song "Tank" by The Seatbelts? It was used as the opening to the Cowboy Bebop anime cartoon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6zDfx...
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gccs14r (anonymous) says…
Jill makes a good point, that there's a better possibility of recruiting accidental supporters (at whom we can laugh and point) if the words Fight and Freedom appear near each other in the name.
June 5th is a Tuesday this year, so probably only die-hard celebrants will make a night of it. Pencil me in as a possible. Oh, and if it isn't obvious, FfFD gets my vote.
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morganalefay (anonymous) says…
I have always had great reverance for the Tank Man, so I vote for Tank Man Day. It is about him after all.
Or, if it's really about going to the Bourgeois Pig on a Tuesday, shouldn't it just be called Pig Day? It kind of has an ambiguous edge to it. It could be about anti-establishment, anti-authoritarian "pigs" or it could just be about getting a drink at the Pig on a Tuesday.
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Joel (Joel Mathis) says…
Tank Man Day it is.
Lazz, you want to chair the committee?
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godjilla (Jill Ensley) says…
My damned neighbors need no other excuse to bang walls than it's the Thursday before Spring Break.
# U#(*)U(#@))@*#!!!!!!!!!!!
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