Photo by Jeff Widener (Associated Press).I remembered the deep impression this event made on me when it happened, but until right before my visit to that country last year I had forgotten a lot of what occurred the few weeks prior to it; the length of time that the people were allowed to protest, the way the world collectively held its breath waiting to see what would happen next, the horror felt when the Chinese government dropped the proverbial hammer and the fact that this man did this the very next day after the crackdown.
Such courage & conviction.
And also the guy in the tank, he could have easily ran over the man. But he didn't. It was a very pivotal time in world history. As I watched the footage again, I noticed how far he had to walk to get over to the lead tank, how many tanks there were, and how he seemed just what he probably was - a common man - with his bags, on his way home. Who was he? what happened to him? What was going through his heart & mind right before he made the decision that made the world collectively gasp in disbelief? Only GOD knows, but there are a few things that I believe to be true of his actions that day.
He didn't hesitate,
he didn't waver,
he didn't contemplate the weight of his decision,
he was not silent.....
....he acted.
And through that action he spoke to the world.
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