I remember where I was 25 years ago today on June 4th. Driving from Chicago to a business meeting in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, I heard the news on the radio. I even remember the bend in the road where I pulled off to call home. My immigrant father from China answered, and tearfully described what was happening in a square in Beijing. There were so many rumors on that day before 24/7 news: Scores killed, relatives looking for loved ones in hospitals, some soldiers firing on students, and others sympathizing and putting aside weapons. Although the details were unclear, I knew that something big was happening.
There are many occasions when leaders emerge around a cause. Causes come in different forms and degrees of intensity; they can be around a change in policy, a need to find a cure, or a hope for cleaner drinking water. On June 4th, the cause that resonated around the world was the one around freedom -- perhaps the greatest cause in history -- and a cause for which many are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice.
In our nation’s Declaration of Independence, the opening of the second paragraph contains the words, “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” These words, that we often take for granted in America, are not “givens” around the world. There are countless numbers of human beings for whom freedom today is not an unalienable right. Oppressive governments still attempt to suppress liberties, mandate ideology, and legislate restrictive laws, keeping individuals and populations from reaching their full potential. Humans are still enslaved based on ethnicity, gender and religious affiliation. Children are denied education for the sole purpose of populating armies to further extremist ideology and agendas.
For the perpetrators of oppression worldwide, I have only one message: You can’t suppress defiant leaders forever. There is nothing stronger than the will to achieve human potential, the desire of parents to make the world a better place for their children, or the sheer power of a taste of freedom. Somewhere, at sometime, someone will stand up in the face of dire consequences, and take a position on behalf of the oppressed. These leaders, who might remain nameless and faceless, inspire followers, make and break nations, and ultimately change the world.
What began 25 years ago in a square in Beijing sent a strong message to the Chinese government: Freedom is a power that cannot be contained, and in fact, is essential for progress. Although the government still has difficulties in addressing the events of that fateful day, the impact of June 4, 1989 is evident. Communication and interaction between Chinese citizens and the outside world has yielded innovation and progress at an unparalleled scale. Students from China today dominate the top universities around the world. The marked difference from 25 years ago is that today, most of them want to return. As China becomes more comfortable in providing a backdrop for increased personal freedoms and innovation, the power of its 1.3B people will dominate the 21st century.
It was one man in front of a tank. The image is burned into our collective memory. He represented thousands at the time, but remains an icon for defiance and courage.
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