Today as I looked at the English messages on clothing sold and worn at the Dongji Xintiandi Shopping Mall in Guangzhou, I rather unexpectedly saw a potential story being told. So instead of sharing
relevant links and tweets, what I
witnessed at a Hong Kong vigil, or how
much of what happens in China on this date is the same as any other day, this year I will reflect on the anniversary of the crackdown at Tiananmen Square through the messages on some of the clothing on display today in one shopping center in one city of China.
While this approach is certainly unusual, it captures some of the conflicting and almost surreal feelings one can experience considering today's history while walking down the streets of present day China. It also reflects how those who do speak out on this topic in China often have to resort to more indirect or creative expression to make it through heavy censorship even briefly.
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Twenty-nine years ago many students in China had a dream.
They had goals.
The students were peaceful, but the Chinese government was greatly concerned nonetheless.
Things didn't go the way the students had expected.
The government's response was not light.
And the streets of Beijing became like they they had never been before.
Without the witnesses, photos, and videos, some of it would now be hard to believe.
The government offered rationale for its actions.
And now the government even says that democracy is one of the twelve Core Socialist Values for the country.
Some outside of China would question whether the country really claims that.
Many people today don't spend much time thinking about what happened 29 years ago.
They may be focused on a variety of other things.
Some people don't want to talk about it even if they are aware.
Still, there are some in China who have their own dreams.
But they often see no effective way to proceed.
Some would say there simply isn't any chance in China for what the students sought 29 years ago.
Despite the challenges, some still hold out hope.
Some believe that even if they might not be able to achieve each and every goal they desire, that isn't reason things can't be better.
There are questions as to whether the change can occur over time by encouraging fundamental behaviors.
Or whether significant change would require much sacrifice for it to have even a slim chance of occurring.
Whatever the case, today in China it is difficult to discuss the facts of what occurred at Tiananmen Square. Even mentioning the date June 4 can lead to censorship. So people find ways to refer to the day in other ways.
And another May 35th goes by in China . . .
