You are supposed to forget Tank Man. It’s A true story that many have never heard – but everyone should have. A story that stirs up disagreement, controversy, and conspiracy theories. A story where much of the truth has been lost. Because that’s the way they want it.
You’ve heard of Batman, Superman, Ant-Man, Spider-Man, Iron Man, and several other mythical superheroes who have appeared in popular culture for almost a century now. They began their lives as comic book hero’s, and went on to great acclaim at Hollywood box office. Each in their own way are principled folks who fight for truth, justice, … and the American way.
But, none of them are real.
Tank man on the other hand… he’s for real, but nobody knows who the heck he is. We don’t even know if he is still alive. And strangely, tank man, if he is still alive, probably has no idea what an impact his example has had around the world.
Additional references on Tank Man
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSbx352cn8A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-HgONOn0F8
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tank-Man
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You are listening to An Ounce, Season 6, Episode 10, Tank Man
You’ve heard of Batman, Superman, Antman, Spiderman, Iron man, and several other mythical superheroes who have appeared in popular culture for almost a century now. They began their lives as comic book hero’s, and went on to great acclaim at Hollywood box office. Each in their own way are principled folks who fight for truth, justice, … and the American way.
But, none of them are real.
Tank man on the other hand… he’s for real, but nobody knows who the heck he is. We don’t even know if he is still alive. And strangely, tank man, if he is still alive, probably has no idea what an impact his example has had around the world as exemplar for peace.
Who is Tank Man?
The story around Tank Man… Why it happened, what really happened outside the short bit of video that survives, and its outcome... are one of those things surrounded by competing arguments, claims, accusations, and controversy.
But here, as clearly as I can sort it out, is pretty much everything there is to know about this unknown icon, hero, and man who showed boldness and nobility.
In 1989 China was experiencing a rather strong push for self-determination by many of its people - mostly collage and students and young people. The whole of the country was in the throes of protest against the Communist Party.
The oppressive and authoritarian government was countering this movement, and the protests, by placing armed soldiers on overpasses, keeping truckloads of troops on patrol in any place where some act of defiance might appear. And mercilessly shutting down any disturbance with brutality.
Much of the hopeful effort of those petitioning for freedom began to focus in Beijing, as they had silenced the rest of the country. And just as in the rest of the country, the people had been driven back with force – and even firearms – by the People's Liberation Army or PLA. Many arrests were made, many were beaten, many were slaughtered, and many just vanished. Many who tried to render aid to those who were struck by gunfire were killed. Some parents, just looking to find and remove their children from the ruckus, were also shot.
5 minutes
By June 4th, 1989, the PLA had full control of Beijing, and had surrounded the protesters off Tiananmen Square. Which is located between the Forbidden City and the Mao Memorial Hall. And bordered on either side by the Great Hall of the People and the National Museum of China, with the China Hotel nearby.
Hundreds – and even thousands were trapped with no way out.
On the morning of June 5th an extraordinary event occurred as a long line of Chinese tanks began to enter the square. A lone man, wearing a white shirt and dark trousers and carrying what appeared to be a couple of shopping bags, walked calmly into the street. He and stoically positioned himself in front of the lead tank – and just stood there. The tank stopped as he stood motionless, blocking its path (along with the entire column behind the lead tank).
The tank repositioned to go around the man. The man again moved directly in front of the tank. And again, the tank stopped. This same pattern was repeated a few times until this lead tank, and the column behind it, just stopped. With this, the man climbed up onto the tank he had been obstructing and spoke with the soldiers – no one is revealing what was said – for the moment Tank Man was the winner of this rather high stakes game of chicken.
Can you imagine the driver of the tank. Trying to follow orders, but not run over this seemingly innocent unarmed man, while wondering about what might happen to him if he did not just move forward regardless of obstacle – human or not.
Within a few moments, the scene was rushed by a few of the protesters – at least that’s what they looked like – for all we know they may have been undercover police. Tank man was pulled away, and out of the view of cameras. If they were friends, they wanted to protect him, they didn’t want this brave man to be identified - to then just end-up disappearing. And if it was undercover cops… Well, nobody really knows what became of him.
To this day, Tank Man has not been identified. And even he probably has no idea of how he inspired the world.
Why they didn’t just kill him and move on like they had everywhere else? Who was he? A bold but very lucky Chinese citizen? A stooge in an awkward propaganda play? An Angel? … Many have speculated, but no-one who really knows - will answer that question.
This remarkable one-man act of defiance lasted about 5 minutes. The whole encounter was observed and captured on video, and still camera shots, by several foreign journalists and photographers staying in Beijing Hotel - as they timidly peaked out the windows of their rooms. Otherwise, no one outside the square would even know it happened.
The Chinese State Media did briefly mention a ‘local scoundrel’ who had foolishly interfered with the advance of the PLA, and praised the military for its show of restraint in dealing with him – as in no, we aren’t hurting anyone, the communist party are just restoring order.
Still a Mystery
The Chinese government admits no knowledge of Tank Man - other than a brief mention during an interview with Babra Walters about a year later. Walters directly asked Jaing Zemin (the CCP General Secretary) what became of him – Tank Man. His answer was that he could not “confirm whether this young man … was arrested or not” but that Jaing believed the man was “never killed.”
From the images we do have available, Tank Man appears to be a real, but anonymous and somewhat spontaneous, Superhero who chose to put himself at risk to peacefully defend… well – truth and justice.
His actions, at least for a moment, stopped the brutality and saved many lives.
Shortly after this singular spectacle, the foreign journalists were sent packing. And within a day or two Tiananmen Square was again quiet – the hundreds and even thousands of protesters were gone, in many cases never again to be seen – but where they went – no one is sure.
After that - Officially – everything went on in about the same as always – as least as far as anyone was willing to say out loud.
So, here’s the Ounce
Tank man held off an entire army – at least for a moment.
He had no weapon to defend himself or attack anyone with.
And after a day or so, life went on in China with no acknowledgment of his bravery – or that anything had ever happened.
And he has gained nothing for himself – he probably isn’t even aware that the whole world knows of Tank Man.
So, what did he even accomplish other than putting his life at risk?
What China labeled the actions of a lone scoundrel - the rest of the world has seen.
Tank man has become an icon of what one committed man can do, and an example of courage for the whole of the world.
And, that’s it. An Ounce, submitted for your consideration.