Michael Jackson - RIP

The man was strange, no doubt but so many talents are.

Saturday Afternoon Murder in Tehran

WARNING: EXTREMELY DISTURBING, VIOLENT AND GRAPHIC VIDEO BELOW

Pray for the people of Iran, their own government is murdering them on their own streets.

Normally I would not even want to view such a video however in the context of this woman's death posting it makes sense. She was after all murdered protesting for the freedoms of Iranians and this cell phone video again shows the world what is going on behind the veil imposed by the Iranian government.

UPDATE: The woman's name is Neda, Farsi for voice. R.I.P.

Congressman Mark Kirk - Speaking Truth To Anyone Who Will Listen

US Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) from Chicago's North Shore had this to say upon his recent return from China: "We heard across the board -- in private -- substantial, continuing and rising concern."

If it matters I attended grammar school and high school with Mark.

President Reagan - Pointe du Hoc, 1984

To the Boys of Pointe du Hoc and all those who have stood for our freedoms, "thank you very much and God bless you all."

The Great Koko Taylor Has Passed Away

See the NY Times article here.

Tiananmen Square Massacre 20 Years Ago Tomorrow

Lady Liberty in Beijing's Tiananmen Square

Photo Copyright: Matt Groening
The Simpsons comment on Tiananmen

End Result

Students and Soldiers before the real violence broke out

Iconic image of man standing up to the tanks

Students and soldiers

A couple hide from tanks in the square above them early on the morning of June 4, 1989

During the month of May 1989 the world was treated to the televised spectacle of a freedom protest/sit-in/festival in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. The Chinese government brutally cleared the square during the night of June 3 - June 4 1989. I wrote about meeting two student leaders from the Tiananmen protests at the end of this post.