This is an interesting look at how Chinese students are reacting to Zhao’s death. They are a far cry from the students of 15 years ago, and it seems Zhao’s death has generated nary a ripple. Many hardly know who he was. The article’s last lines say it all:
For those who witnessed the bloodshed, their trust in the government was shattered. But for millions of others, schooled in the mindset of the party, the economic gains from the ensuing stability might go some way to justify that loss of life.
1
By Filthy Stinking No.9
My girlfriend’s father is a party member … so I found his comments to her very interesting.
1) Zhao Ziyang was a very good premier.
2) The students at Tiananmen Sqaure were protesting against corruption.
Neither of which accords with the party line … and at least shows that the propaganda message hasn’t totally blinded people.
January 20, 2005 @ 8:05 pm | Comment
2
By richard
Not totally. But, painful as it is to admit, they’ve done a damned good job.
January 20, 2005 @ 8:07 pm | Comment
3
By bellevue
Richard:
Even your blog proves your point. Look back 3 entries and what they are actually talking about:
Western’s China gold rush;
EU ban on weapon trade near end;
No one cares who Zhao is.
And we still hire *Soviet* expert to babysit foreign policy. I guess you don’t have much to say on this inauguration day.
January 20, 2005 @ 8:34 pm | Comment