Thoughts...

Standing by a building near Tiananmen Square, I see a student blocking a line of tanks. I think to myself...

This is a person. This is not an animal. This is real.

This is a tank. This is not a toy. This is a machine.

This is a defense. This is not a game. This is war.

Just standing here and watching this demonstration, I feel pain. I feel pain in the buildings around Tiananmen Square. I feel pain coming from the people in the cars, and the observers looking through the windows. If this is how I am feeling, I wonder what the student and the people in the tanks are feeling. What are these people thinking?

Tanks: I was commanded to get to Tiananmen Square. This man is in my way. He needs to move. He is not moving. I am leading a line of tanks and I am being stopped. I cannot be stopped. If he doesn't move, I might have to run him over. I don't want this to lead to that. Going around him is not working. He needs to stop following and blocking me. What is he doing getting on my tank? This guy is going to be dead.

Student: The tanks are coming towards me. The other protestors instruct me to block the tanks. What are the tanks going to do to me? I am afraid, but I cannot show my fear. This is defense. They cannot pass me. I will not let them. I am going to protest. This is my chance to fight back. The tanks keep coming towards me. Will they run me over?



Standing here watching, I picked up a piece of paper. This paper magically flew out of the pocket of the student and blew towards me as I was thinking. What does the paper say?

This is the instruction. Follow it carefully.

A. Keep the tanks from reaching Tianamen Square. They will try to get there, but you will not let them pass. Stand in front of the tanks. Face them. Stand still and do not move. Do not let the tanks pass you.

B. If the tanks move, you will move with them. Do not give them any space to go ahead. If they try to go around you, follow them. Keep yourself in front of the tanks. Keep still. Do not be afraid.

Once the tanks stop moving, make your way towards them. Climb onto the first tank in front of you. Do what you can to get the people out of the tank. When they get out of the tank, this is what you will say:

If I ruled the world, I would make sure everyone was happy.
If I ruled the world, I would erase all pain and suffering.
If I ruled the world, I would want everyone to respect each other.
If I ruled the world, I would make sure everyone was loved.
If I ruled the world, I would not let anyone struggle for world peace.