Tank Man

This video was moving for me. To watch an ordinary man run out during a stressful time in China and stand in front of several tanks was a courageous thing to do. Back then, China was not a free country and if someone were to do something the government wouldn't like, that person could possibly die. That's what shocked me the most, was watching those soldiers driving the tanks just stop and not really do anything about the man blocking their way. No one knew who this "tank man" was, but for people to witness and even years later see pictures of this gutsy move was an inspiration. In a way, this reminds me of David and Goliath in the Bible; how Goliath was this enormous Philistine with armor and a sword and how David was a man of God with only a sling shot and a little stone. David stood against Goliath and in the end, defeated him. Both David and this "tank man" had amazing courage to stand up for what they believed in.

What also amazed me was to watch a part from the video that was interviewing three college aged students from China about the "tank man" and who he was. They saw a picture of him standing in front of the tanks and didn't have a clue as to who he was or even what the picture stood for. The narrator explained how many students from around the world knew about this man and what the image meant, but when it came to students in China they really didn't know who he was. This tells me how strict China was and is and how the government doesn't want their people to know things that would have a negative effect on them.

This video has also made me realize how proud I am to be an American. Sometimes I lose sight of that but I don't think I would want to live anywhere else. Even though I've never been to a different country, I know that the United States of America is a special country and that's why so many people want to live here.