Tiananmen Square

Tiananmen Square is a large public square in the capital of China, Beijing. Tiananmen, which also means Gate of Heavenly Peace, contains the monument of the heroes of the revolution, the Great Hall of the People, the museum of history and revolution, and the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall, giving glimpse in the history, politics and other aspects of China. 

Tiananmen Square reflects the protests in 1989, commonly known as the June Fourth Incident (六四事件). This incident involves thousands of students marching through the capital to Tiananmen Square, calling for a more democratic government. In the weeks that follow, thousands of people from the community, joined the students in the square to protest against China's Communist rule. The protests were aimed to end Communist Party rule in favor of democracy, since many protesters called on China's leaders to do a better job of living up to their own professed ideals.  After several weeks of demonstrations, Chinese troops saw that the protesters had not leave, thus entering Tiananmen Square on June 4 and fired on them. The Chinese government believes that only by using force, that the protesters would stop their act. 

As a result, deaths was estimated to range from several hundred to thousands, and as many as 10,000 people were arrested during and after the protests. Several dozen people have also been executed for their parts in the demonstrations. There were little information to this incident as The Communist Party of China (CPC) forbids discussion of the Tiananmen Square protests, and has taken measures to block or censor information. Officials have also banned controversial films and books, and shut down a large number of newspapers. Even textbooks have only little or no information related to this incident. The Tiananmen contains no exhibits mentioning the events of June 1989. 

CPC believed that it is the influence from the West that caused the Chinese students think of democracy in China and to protest against the CPC for a democratic China. Thus, after the June Fourth Incident, CPC implemented the Censorship in the People's Republic of China (PRC). It is largely seen as a measure to maintain the rule of the Communist Party of China. Censorship helps prevent unapproved reformist, separatist, "counter-revolutionary", or religious ideas, peaceful or otherwise, from organizing themselves and spreading. Additionally, censorship prevents Chinese citizens from discovering or learning more about past and current failures of the Communist Party that could create or inflame anti-government sentiment. Measures such as the blocking of foreign governments' websites may also be intended to prevent citizens from learning about alternative systems of governance and demanding similar systems. 

To me, while the Chinese public is having a hard time convincing China's government, the government just want to govern China in their own way, and always think that they are right. 

To China, the Chinese public wanted a more well-governed China, a democratic China.  They hoped that through the protests, the China government would be convinced to abolish communism to make China a more equal country to live in, socially, economically, and in other areas. However, China's government strongly believe in communism to rule China properly and is not willing to change their way of rule. 

Through this entire event, I think we should learn that violence is not the solution to problems. In contrast, it makes matters worst. For example in the June Fourth Incident, not only precious lives were lost, but there are also imprisonments and prosecutions, and it is not worth it. In my opinion, sending a representative to sit down and have a talk calmly would be a better choice. 

~Kitty