Young & Free

I was a Year One student in the Uni. during the tragedy. A sad place was reserved in my heart since than. Every 6.4, the days and nights came back to me. I had been lighting a candle in that dark corner for those forever young lives and for my lost youngth…

I could not, or had not desire to share my sadness and pain with others, even with my wife. Until one day at a Xmas party, one of my colleague, who is from Romania, asked me about the event. He admired the courage of the Chinese who challenged the tanks. And, he also shared his experience during their uprising in 1991(?). We talked for a long time, and finally, say good night with a huge hug and tears in eyes. I felt that I was just reunioned with a brother-in-arms.

I am tired in reading the arguments based on the “Historical”, “Strategic”, “Development” points of view. These arguments lost their colours when confronted with the images of those young lives. Why so few people looked at this event at a personal level? I believe that the lost of one young live is the lost of a whole world for a mom, dad, brother & sister.

I left China and can not call it “my country” anymore. I feel sad but do not regret, because I do not want the same thing happening on my son. I do not want to worry about him as my mom & dad did during the bloody summer of 1989. My Romanian brother and I understand what price we had to pay.

Every time when I heard the national anthem, I was moved by the lyrics “we are young and free…”. Someday, I may tell my son my story – how a young man without freedom journeyed to a freeman without youngth.

I thank God, my dear son, you will be both Young and Free.