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History Question

Posted:
Fri Aug 12, 2005 6:34 pm
by Nexeus
Okay, here's a question that has been nagging me for months.
There's these famouse pictures of tanks on a free way, and people standing infront of them in protests for the tanks to stop (all I remember was that it happened in the Soviet Union, I think, and it was a protests for freedom). The question is, did those tanks ever stop? or do they just go right on over those people?
Yes, I know my history sucks at times. I can remember ancient stuff, but not some current events.
Re: History Question

Posted:
Fri Aug 12, 2005 6:42 pm
by Mire
Nexeus wrote:Okay, here's a question that has been nagging me for months.
There's these famouse pictures of tanks on a free way, and people standing infront of them in protests for the tanks to stop (all I remember was that it happened in the Soviet Union, I think, and it was a protests for freedom). The question is, did those tanks ever stop? or do they just go right on over those people?
Yes, I know my history sucks at times. I can remember ancient stuff, but not some current events.
I think you are thinking about the China event at Tiananmen square protest.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiananmen_Square_protests_of_1989

Posted:
Fri Aug 12, 2005 7:10 pm
by Nexeus
goddamnit, I swore this was a 1970's event - thus shows much up to day I am during history in 1980.
YES this is the event I was thinking about, thank you for helping me out in my history newbness.

Posted:
Fri Aug 12, 2005 7:50 pm
by Boinky
And yes the tank did stop(far as I know cause I never saw a picture of the guy being trampled by the tank)

Posted:
Fri Aug 12, 2005 8:14 pm
by Mivat
Boinky wrote:And yes the tank did stop(far as I know cause I never saw a picture of the guy being trampled by the tank)
He didn't get squished. I think, however, that he was eventually arrested and shot.

Posted:
Fri Aug 12, 2005 8:22 pm
by Boinky
But hey, he did get to be famous!


Posted:
Fri Aug 12, 2005 9:47 pm
by Mire
No no no. The young man who is known as the "unknown rebel" was not squished. He eventually got on top of the tank, spoke with the lead tank driver asking them why they were there and to go away. A bunch of people in the crowd watching this stand off for a good 30 minutes finally decided he was pushing his luck and dragged him off the tank. What happened after he disappeared into the crowd is still unknown, which is the reason why he is too this day called the unknown rebel.
I believe you are confusing the tank driver and his arrest and death sentence for disobeying his orders that were to drive over the boy.

Posted:
Fri Aug 12, 2005 9:59 pm
by Decavolt
If you were originally thinking of an incident in Russia, the Soviets really liked to roll their tanks (and anything else that went boom) through Red Square in Moscow any time they could find an excuse. It's also the exact reason why the roads in/out of the square and the square itself are so wide - so the tanks could easily roll in on a whim. There are plenty of photos and video of this, but none of them any where near as famous as the Chinese protest you're thinking of.

Posted:
Fri Aug 12, 2005 10:56 pm
by Mivat
Mire wrote:No no no. The young man who is known as the "unknown rebel" was not squished. He eventually got on top of the tank, spoke with the lead tank driver asking them why they were there and to go away. A bunch of people in the crowd watching this stand off for a good 30 minutes finally decided he was pushing his luck and dragged him off the tank. What happened after he disappeared into the crowd is still unknown, which is the reason why he is too this day called the unknown rebel.
I believe you are confusing the tank driver and his arrest and death sentence for disobeying his orders that were to drive over the boy.
Ah. Thanks for clearing that one up


Posted:
Fri Aug 12, 2005 11:53 pm
by Nexeus
Decavolt wrote:If you were originally thinking of an incident in Russia, the Soviets really liked to roll their tanks (and anything else that went boom) through Red Square in Moscow any time they could find an excuse. It's also the exact reason why the roads in/out of the square and the square itself are so wide - so the tanks could easily roll in on a whim. There are plenty of photos and video of this, but none of them any where near as famous as the Chinese protest you're thinking of.
You know.. knowing my dumb ass - I'm probabbly getting both events skewed together. The picture that I remember is from the Tiniman Squaer, but I also remember an incident(s) where people whom stood infront of tanks in protest were ran the hell over, it is most likely my disasosiation (sp?) with the picture and the event...
or as foxy would say it... "Yooooouuu Suck"! :-p