The Indomitable Human Spirit

I am reminded today of the indomitable human spirit by two events, and people, that stood out as beacons of hope for those that followed them – and for the rest of us as well.

62 years ago a young black man named Jackie Robinson first donned his #42 uniform and took to the field with the Brooklyn Dodgers – the first crossing of the base path a shot heard round the world for equality in sports! Today Major League players will don his $42 on their uniforms in honour of this courageous man, and the courage of those who would say ‘Dammit, the BEST man for the job, regardless of rage, colour, creed, orientation – whatever!”

20 years ago today a much more sombre event occurred in Beijing when a 73 year old career Communist bureaucrat named Hu Yaobang died of a heart attack during a politburo meeting. And who was this man Hu Yaobang?

Perhaps one of the most forward thinking minds in China, he championed change and empowering the people of China to take control of their own lives. Almost heretical at the time, he was villified by the powers that be, and it was only after great pressure was brought to bear that he was afforded a state funeral. Did I say career bureaucrat? I underestimated the man I think – he was the 6th General Secretary of the Communist Party and beloved by the new generation of Chinese people.

A week after his death 50,000 young people congregated for his funeral and to present a petition for change to Li Peng. Unfortunately the demonstration turned violent as police and army troops over-reacted.

And where did that occur? A large public area in Beijing known as Tiananmen Square.

Makes you pause for a minute…

Kwee