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20 Years On, Chinese Youth Forget Tiananmen

Democracy recedes for today's student generation

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted May 22, 2009 8:12 AM CDT

(Newser) – It's now been 20 years since the Chinese army rolled into Tiananmen Square, killing hundreds of students in the final push to put down a growing democracy movement. Beijing is anxious as the June 4 anniversary of the massacre approaches; Google "Tiananmen" in Beijing and you'll likely find pages blocked. But as the Los Angeles Times reports, apathy among today's youth, more than censorship, has made the events of 1989 recede.

"Our generation doesn't feel so much pressure as our parents," said one student, who admitted he was "not too clear" about the Tiananmen protests. Some dismayed older activists call today's youth "the stupid generation." But many young Chinese know about 1989 and simply don't care. "For me right now, I feel satisfied with my life, my country. I seldom think about politics," said one young woman.

The bodies of dead civilians lie among mangled bicycles near Beijing's Tiananmen Square in this June 4, 1989 file photo.
The bodies of dead civilians lie among mangled bicycles near Beijing's Tiananmen Square in this June 4, 1989 file photo.   (AP Photo/File)
Communist Party General Secretary Zhao Ziyang speaks with fasting university students in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, the last time he was seen in public, in May 1989.
Communist Party General Secretary Zhao Ziyang speaks with fasting university students in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, the last time he was seen in public, in May 1989.   (AP Photo/Xinhua, File)
In this May 30, 1989 file photo, the portrait of Mao Zedong faces a statue dubbed The Goddess of Democracy by Chinese students, who modeled it after the Statue of Liberty.
In this May 30, 1989 file photo, the portrait of Mao Zedong faces a statue dubbed "The Goddess of Democracy" by Chinese students, who modeled it after the Statue of Liberty.   (AP Photo/Jeff Widener, File)
A protester shows the picture of dead body from a newspaper of Tiananmen issued in 1989 during a roadside photo exhibition in Hong Kong in 2007.
A protester shows the picture of dead body from a newspaper of Tiananmen issued in 1989 during a roadside photo exhibition in Hong Kong in 2007.   (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Chinese soldiers march through Tiananmen square in Beijing, China, in 2007.
Chinese soldiers march through Tiananmen square in Beijing, China, in 2007.   (AP Photo/Elizabeth Dalziel)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Observer
May 22, 2009 2:18 AM CDT
The average Chinese are sheep that roll over when the Military Dictators demand it. The Communists are still completely in control and do not tolerate dissidents. They jail them.
 

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