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Tiananmen Square Massacre Anniversary Sparks Patriotism

Today is one of those days when I am extra happy and proud to be Canadian. Of course, I’m happy and proud to be Canadian on normal days, but today is not a normal day. It is the 20th anniversary of the bloody Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing, where on this day in 1989 around 800-1000 students, workers, and protesters were tragically killed by soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army. The whole world watched in horror as the lives of these people, who were demanding greater freedom and democracy, were abruptly ended by their own countrymen.

Twenty years is a long time. Alas, not long enough for the government in China to have progressed to the point where it would allow its citizens to at least acknowledge and honour the friends and family members that were killed on that fateful day in Beijing. According to the Toronto Star, uniformed and plainclothes police officers outnumber tourists in Tiananmen Square today. Known dissidents have been prevented by police from leaving  their homes, and anyone wearing all white (the Chinese colour of death) is being taken into police custody for questioning. Foreign journalists are being harassed in the square, and popular monuments and tourists attractions have been shut down “due to maintenance” for the days surrounding the anniversary.

How can one not feel blessed and lucky to be living in Canada when hearing of these atrocities? Imagine a mother literally not being allowed to grieve for her deceased child.

Recently, Toronto has been the setting for many dramatic protests by those urging the Canadian government to help the persecution of the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka. In order to bring attention to their cause, these protesters have resorted to dramatic measures- most notably, their forced closure of the Gardiner Expressway, on Mother’s Day.  There has been considerable backlash from Toronto’s population regarding these protests, as they have at worst endangered people, and at least irritated and inconvenienced them. My own mother, who nervously drove downtown to have lunch with my sister, was forced to sleepover in the city because of the Gardiner closing. She didn’t do much sleeping, mind you, as sounds from the street filtered through the windows of my sister’s King and Spadina condo: “Stephen Harper, help us!!! OBAMA, PLEEEEAAAAASEE!”.

I will admit that in spite of having a great deal of respect and admiration for the Tamil protestors’ tenacity, I, too, have been annoyed by the protests. My apartment is around the corner from the Sri Lankan consulate, and thus I have bore witness to many of the Tamils’ efforts. However, even when at the end of my rope with the noise and inconvenience that come of these protests, I always reflect on what an awesome thing it is to live in a country where it is your RIGHT to stand up for your beliefs and concerns. Here in Toronto, if one wanted to parade around in front of Queen’s Park wearing a sandwich board declaring that one is a Communist  Wiccan robot who disagrees with school segregation, that would be okay! An extreme example, of course, but you get my drift. How grateful I am to be born when I was, where I was.  Everyone reading this, please take a moment to reflect on how fortunate we really are to be living in Canada, a country defined by freedom.

Tags: canada, China, history, social issues, Tamil Tigers, tiananmen square, toronto

About the author

Jenna Illies works in the Publicity department at Dundurn.