In China, Talk of Democracy Is Simply That

“It is said that history is written by those who have hanged the heroes.” The call to end the rule of the Tyrant has been the soul of human advancement. From Martin Luther and his 95 theses, to Moses and his celestial appointment, the world has seen empires built upon the backs of people denied a voice. In this age of information which we call our today, an empire has and is being forged or should we say “awoken.” China lay dormant under the suppressive nature of its rulers' tyranny for centuries, now it has seen that same tyranny bring it out of its depressive state. But the praise cannot be entirely given to the Government, for those who have lost their lives in their beliefs would not condone it. A Brutality has been part of this rising nation as media manages to reveal it to the world. It cannot be denied however that the people of China have spoken out amidst the fear. Voices have been heard which in the smallest degree have echoed some answer of Democracy. The events of Tiananmen Square cannot be said to have gone unheard even with the Government denying the allegations concerning the death toll and other technicalities concerning human lives.

Democracy is and always has been a hard road for people to walk down. China is looking for the middle ground between Western Governance which we refer to as “Democracy,” and what they have known to work for so long. “By permitting a relatively open round of political discussion, President Hu Jintao and other top leaders have sought to cast themselves publicly as progressives who are open-minded about ways to improve government practices and reduce corruption.”[1]

As Human beings we fear the unknown and it is these paradigms through which we see things that causes a lack of communication leading to this fear. The rulers of China fear this new threat of Democracy, how can they forsake the model that has brought them so far into this world. The Democratic World is afraid of this Communism. How could it have survived for so long? And perhaps “survived” is too timid a word. How has Chinese Communism thrived for so long? Each view is daunting in its own sphere with neither one looking to give way. When America sought to free itself from the British, the nobles of the Empire most assuredly thought it foolishness to allow this uprising to sail further than the docks of the Boston Harbor. From it emerged the great nation we have today. Now is America in that same position George III was in over two centuries ago? Only time will tell and some will be proved right, and others proved wrong. Rear view vision will remain 20/20 however and fingers of blame will be pointed whether it is in praise or dismay.

History was once that the laborers of the pyramid were created to be forgotten. That Pharaohs name would live forever through their work, without a whisper of their existence, but in this age of information many will ask who really built the pyramids. Was Alexander so great without his followers, did Britain discover the world, what type of leader do the masses need? China may lack an open admittance to allowing some form of Democracy but they have most definitely allowed the people to speak louder than ever before. History has taught us that so called heroes were nothing more than heretics, now we live in a world where heretics are nothing less than heroes revolting against the status quo. Though Democracy may only be talk in China, the talk is being heard more each day.

[1] Pg. 172 “In China, Talk of Democracy is Simply That Christian Soe