——为纪念“八九六四”37周年而作

作者：吕易 （中国社会民主党主席、中国民主党海外委员会副主席）

（谨以本文献给一切为中国的自由、民主、宪政为理念，奋斗、奉献、牺牲的真民运人士。那些打着民运旗号，故意损害、破坏民运的人；混迹于民运队伍，却有损民运声誉、破坏民运形象的人；带着中共任务，污名民运人士，分裂民运团队和组织的人；搜集所在国情报，收买国外政要，为中共服务效力，但却贴了民运人士标签，到处招摇撞骗的人……，请离开。因为本文不适合你。）

       笔者曾多次撰文呼吁，要实现中国的自由、民主、宪政，必须建立一支坚强有力的民运队伍。因为中共当权者，同中外历史上的一切反动派一样，不会自动放下屠刀，不会自行放弃他们的权力和既得利益。相反，他们毫无例外地利用掌握的军队、警察、监狱等国家机器，极力迫害、镇压异议人士，维护其专制独裁统治。所以，必须要有一支坚强有力的民主运动队伍，站在运动的前面，带领亿万民众，抵抗中共反动派的镇压，方能取得民主运动的最后胜利!

       建立一支坚强有力的民主队伍如此重要，我们要从哪里入手呢？在纪念“八九六四”37周年之际，在思考怎样才是对“6、4”死难者最好纪念这一问题的同时，本人进一步认识到，要建立一支坚强有力的民运队伍，应该从民运人士的道德操守与民主素养的提升两个方面着手。

一，真民运人的道德操守

1，诚实守信与公开公正

      诚实守信，就是信守诺言，言行一致。不撒谎，不欺骗，不散布虚假信息，不传播谣言以惑众。这是每一个真民运人，都要具备的民主意识和民主行为。民主，不是只喊喊口号。不是说一套，做的又是另一套。真民运人应该有平等的民主思想、民主意识、民主精神和民主素养。行动上体现民主，实际运作中真正按民主制度和民主原则办事。因此，信守诺言，言行一致，诚实无欺，是每一个真民运人士首先应具备的道德标准和道德要求。

       公开公正，是指民运人士做事要光明磊落，正大光明。不能当面说好话，背后搞阴谋诡计。我们从事的民主运动本身，就是为广大劳苦大众谋权利、谋利益、谋福利的正义事业。我们的诉求是公开公正的；我们的目标和目的是公开公正的；我们制定的路线和实现达到目标的方法手段等，都是公开公正的。遮遮掩掩、鬼鬼祟祟、暗箱操作等，都是真民运人士不予采纳的。

        中共专制统治者为了欺骗人民否定民主，夸口什么:社会主义国家可以有计划，更高效，更可控，集中力量办大事。而资本主义国家，议会民主，议来议去，效率低，干不了大事。但他们却掩盖了，个人独裁，专制暴政，暗箱操作下的贪污腐败，挥霍浪费，损公肥私等实质。他们为什么不敢让人民自由公开发表言论？为什么不敢公开各级党政干部的财产状况？因为他们知道几乎在所有方面，都“猫儿腻”和陷阱，隐藏着极大的不公正！

2，尊重与包容。

       这是真民运人士应该具备的又一个基本道德标准。既然是民主制，那就不是也不应该一个人说了算，而应由这个群体，这个国家的所有人共同参与决策，共同讨论、论证、决定。这就要充分尊重他人发表意见的权利，包容不同的想法和意见。有一句名言:我不同意你的观点，但我誓死捍卫你说话的权利。这是对人的起码尊重。

        

       在中共专制独裁制度下，个人独尊，一言九鼎，下级服从上级、底层听命于高层、平民百姓，根本没有说话的权利。什么妄议中央，什么非法集会、非法游行示威等，都不被中共政权所容忍，都要被当局训戒、罚款、拘留或以罪论处。李文亮医生被训戒，致使全世界数千万条生命死亡，至今都令人胆寒！

       在海外民运人士中，不尊重他人、不包容他人和相反意见的现象也屡见不鲜。著名异议人士王若望老先生就曾经说过，民运人士一定要打倒自己心中的小毛泽东。因为他看到当时的海外民运人士中，彼此互不服气，互相指责，争斗不断。各个都要争老大，好像个个都像小毛泽东。

      真民运人士，就要尊重别人讲话的权利，包容不同意见和建议。动辄扣帽子、打棍子，上纲上线，这些不良现象必须克服。

      当然，我们尊重、包容他人，并不是是非不分，混淆黑白，不能对那些攪屎棍、闹事者等一概纵容。在坚持民主的基础之上，要按民主程序和民主原则处理问题。如在会议上随意插话打断他人发言。故意挑起事端引发争吵或进行人身攻击等。对这些害群之马的纵容，就是妨碍正常民主的实行。为避免劣币驱逐良币，我们要坚持宁缺毋滥的原则。对于不具有基本民主素质的人，分别进行批评教育，或劝退、或清除出民运队伍。

3，脚踏实地与持之以恒

       真民运人士都懂得，实现中国的自由、民主、宪政，不是一蹴而就的。需要千千万万民运人脚踏实地工作和持之以恒的坚持。

       结束邪共暴力专制统治，不能只喊口号，而需要踏踏实实地工作。如，宣传和发动民众参加到民主运动当中来，就是一项十分复杂细致的工作。如果说一呼百应还相对容易，那么，把响应者紧密结合团结起来，则是很难很难的一件事。特别在西方民主社会，大家的地位平等，思想自由，思维方式、看问题的角度、所处立场、发表的观点、意见等，千奇百怪，多种多样。如果靠哄、骗、忽悠，怎能使大家心往一处想，劲往一处使呢？所以，诚实做人，踏踏实实做事，应该是真民运人的一个标志和特点！

    中共靠强制迫使人服从。什么下级服从上级，全党服从中央。统一指示，统一行动。但民主运动则靠民运领袖的道德感召；靠大家自觉自愿，同心协力；靠大家脚踏实地，一步一步往前走。

      持之以恒的道德要求很高，也是确保民主运动成功的一个重要方面。记得儿童时代就有一篇铁棒磨成针的课文，告诉我们坚持到底，一定成功的道理。现实生活中常常有人就是因为没有信心和耐心，不能坚持到底，结果是功败垂成。

        最近从网上获悉，因纪念”六四”而被中共当局判刑的民主人士董广平，一直都没有停止同中共当局抗争。他已经四次设法逃离中国，前两次分别逃到泰国和越南。都被中共当局分别联合泰国和越南警方，把他遣送回国，并加重处罚。后来，他又只身泅度金门，准备游泳到台湾。但也失败而被迫返回大陆。最近，董广平乘充气橡皮艇逃到韩国，被韩国警方拘押。相信他不弃不舍的坚持，一定会感动上帝，被加拿大政府允许他赴加与其家人团聚。

       圣经有言:爱是亘久忍耐。如果我们热爱民主，愿意为中国民主而奋斗，那就没有什么不可以忍耐，不可以坚持到底的。同道的误会，可以通过解释而消除;邪共如此强大，那我们就以蚂蚁啃树的毅力和精神，日日夜夜的啃噬，相信邪共大树终有一天会倒下。哪怕努力千万次，最后定有成功时。坚持，坚持，再坚持!

持之以恒，不能忽冷忽热，不能半途而废;持之以恒，就是要历尽千难万险都不气馁、不放弃。邪共不亡不罢休!

4，团队意识和团队精神。

       民主运动，不是一个人或少数几个人的事。而是千万民众的共同意愿、共同意思、共同事业、共同利益。所以，团队意识和团队精神，对每一个真民运人士，都是不可或缺、非常重要的道德品质。

       任何一个社会团体或组织，都需要这个组织的每一位成员团结协作，相互配合，相互支持。这就需要大家树立团体意识，发扬团队精神。单打独斗，各行其是，争名夺利，相互拆台，相互攻击等，就一定会给这个团体造成极大的伤害和破坏。

       民主运动必须按民主原则办事，并且要有行之有效的民主监督机制。但还不够，还需要这个民运组织的每一个成员都具备团体意识和团队精神。因为民主运动，是由一群志同道合的人共同参与的。个别人不按民主原则办事，违反民主制度，却不像国家那样有强制力，迫使他/她服从。民运组织只能靠组织成员自己的团体意识和团队精神，靠自我约束，自觉服从团体的决定和决议。不明知故犯，不搞特殊，不特立独行。

      某协会理事会举行理事长选举，理事会共六人（原七人，选举前一人辞职），按协会规则，理事长必须获得超过半数以上的选票即四票才能当选。选举时，理事长候选人得票最多的只有三票。这个得票最多的理事长候选人是台湾人，在台湾也担任过社会职务，对民主规则不能说不熟悉，对协会的规则不能说不了解，其他理事也很了解，但这个来自于民主社会、口口声声要建立公民社会的人却依然当仁不让地坐上了理事长的位置。

     笔者曾经工作过的澳洲某华人教会，每四年举行一次全澳会督选举。前些年一次选举会督，有一百多名牧师和教会领袖参加投票，进行了23轮投票都没有一位候选人得票超过半数以上。选举会议从晚上八点开始，一直到当夜十二点都无结果。直到第二天早上将近六点，终于有候选人得票超过半数以上，最后当选为该全澳教会的会督。

     上述两个例子，反应了一个社会组织的不同”团队意识和团队精神”所产生的不同结果。

为什么海外民运团体众多，但不成气候？不能不说，缺乏团队意识和团队精神，是一个重要因素。早就有人说，中国人不团结，像一盘散沙。一个中国人像条龙，一群中国人像条虫。  有识之士早就指出，”中国海内外民主运动几十年没有多少起色的原因之一就是：很少有民主人士懂得如何按民主规则，进行民主运动。”诚哉，斯言！

       中国民主人士，一个真正的民运人，让我们从自己做起，不断提高自己的道德标准，严格要求自己，增强团队意识，发扬光大团队精神，团结一切可以团结的人，联合一切可以联合的力量，逐渐让世人改变“中国人不团结”的负面印象和看法!

5，责任意识与担当精神

      这也是真民运人应该具备的道德品质。责任意识与担当精神，一方面要求民运人不轻易鼓吹、煽动他人承担自己不愿意承担的风险或不可能实现的事情；另一方面就是勇于承担责任，愿意并主动承担因民主运动而带来的后果。特别对民运领袖而言，责任意识与担当精神，更为重要！

      在通过何种方式或途径，结束中共暴政的问题上，民运界一直都有争论。一种观点主张通过“暴力革命”，而另一种观点则认为只能通过“和平革命”（就是“和平、理性、非暴力，简称和、理、非）。几十年了，主张暴力革命的民主人士认真想过没有？手无寸铁的群众怎样赤手空拳，对付武装到牙齿，掌握了几百万军队、警察等暴力机器的中共暴力政权？特别在现代通讯技术和检查、检测、识别技术如此发达的今天，平民百姓从哪里得到武器？现代社会，从苏联、东欧巨变，到“茉莉花”等颜色革命，又有哪个国家的政权更替是通过暴力革命成功的？还有，美日欧等现代文明国家，不但不支持暴力革命，而且视主张暴力者为恐怖分子，全力围捕、消灭之都唯恐不及，哪一个会公开支持“暴力革命”？

       问题来了，既然“暴力革命”不靠谱，不现实，为什么还有人鼓吹、煽动，并且不厌其烦、不遗余力呢？他们是何居心？难道是故意让别人去做无谓的牺牲，而他们自己却躲在平安富足，自由民主的国家吗？这样的人不是什么真正的民运人！因为他们缺乏真民运人应该具备的责任意识和担当精神！

      笔者认识一人，他公开参加了党章明确规定“和理非”的某民主党派，却总是在各种场合反对别人提“和理非”。令人不得不问，他是老糊涂了，还是人格分裂？或者是有其它不可告人的目的？

     还有一位所谓民运大佬，大家都知道，过去他是一位“和理非”倡导者，而近十几年，他却转而成了一位“暴力革命”鼓吹者。在纽约、洛杉矶等城市，他频频参加集会、游行，发表暴力革命的演讲。有人提出疑问，他为什么有这样大的转变？知情者直接回答说：为了钱！果真如此，实在可悲、可怜、可叹！

     需要说明的是，本人及所在组织主张和平革命，并不意味着我们就是反对暴力革命。和平革命是我们根据当前中国和世界的实际形势所做的判断，从而提出的务实而策略的主张。对于暴力革命者的有效革命行为，我们真诚高兴。如果暴力革命成功，我们更是乐观其成。再者，广大劳苦群众为了保护他们的人身和财产不受侵犯，为了维护他们的合法权益，而以武力反抗暴政，抵抗、打击掌权者的迫害行为，是合法合理的正当防卫行为。我们不但不会反对，而且还会大力声援支持。我们反对的是那些身在“和理非”组织的章程之下，却公然反对自己“同意”了章程，非逻辑、不道德地鼓吹什么“暴力革命”！

二，真民运人的民主素养操练

      真民运人，除了道德层面的要求，还必须经常不断进行民主素养操练。

1. 政治素养。

       正确理解本国和有关国家的宪法、法律、规章等有关规定，及其运作程序与要求。 

真民运人在民运活动中，必须遵守所在国的法律，不得做违法犯罪的事。如在澳大利亚，我们集会、游行或在中共国驻澳洲的使领馆门前举办纪念“六四”烛光晚会前，都要提前申请并获得批准。也有朋友，公开毁坏了财物，被澳洲有关执法机关给予了惩罚处理。这都是政治素养或水平造成的问题。

       明确地说，民主运动是最重要的政治运动，不是情绪表达，不能靠大声喊叫。而是要事先制定妥善的计划，提出可行方案，分清实施步骤，明确分工负责等。 不然，乌合之众，一哄而散，就表明这个组织和成员在政治上很不成熟。

      我曾阅读过一篇很好的《六四反思》的文章，说道：“ 妥协仅是解决争端的方式，不是最终目的，更不会改变极权体制本质 ”。但“妥协可以减缓冲突升级，实现阶段性的目的-即体制内改革派有话语和主导权，从而避免镇压，并有可能走向深化改革机会。这一目标在当时国内社会条件与国际政治环境是具有可行性的。 但学潮自身的街头政治性质使政治目标与行为方式分裂，情绪高于理性，自由压制秩序，造成学生和社会各界都不希望发生的后果”

      早有西方学者提出，妥协和谈判是一门艺术。因此，学会妥协，掌握谈判技巧，对每一位真民运人的民主素养的提高都非常重要。

2. 认知能力

       应该承认，任何人的认知能力都是有一定局限的。真民运人要十分注重学习、掌握新知识、新技术和新技能。不断提高我们在各方面的认知能力和认知水平。了解本国历史与现状，学习国际民主运动历史和现代经验。 从而帮助我们所从事的伟大的中国民主运动。

3. 公共沟通能力

       本人自从事海外民主运动以来，参加过几十场次民运会议了。座谈会、研讨会、甚至重要的大型集会，经常出现插话，抢麦克风，或大打出手，最后导致大家不欢而散的场面。这都是因为大家不能理性表达，缺乏公共沟通能力，形成情绪对立，进而发声冲突。 因此，能与不同阶层、不同立场的人理性沟通。 认真听取他人意见，也能让对方正确理解自己的意思，从而达成一致意见。使会议成功而顺利，使我们的民运组织健康发展壮大。

4. 组织能力与纪律

       民主运动若缺乏组织伦理，没有程序，没有纪律。就容易引起内部失序、纷争、分裂。

      每一场民主行动的成功举行，都需要领袖的组织协调能力和团队合作精神。 这里，民主团体的领袖严格按程序办事和严格执行纪律是十分关键的因素。我们华人组织，多注重面子和人情，却往往轻视纪律的执行。这是民运组织的领袖特别应该改进的。

结语：无需讳言，中国民主运动，民运组织和民运人士中，存在着这样那样的问题，也有许多争议。山头林立，夫妻店，永久主席，派系争斗，个人崇拜，“逢中必反”，双重标准等等。对于这些问题，每一位真民运人都应该重视，并思考寻求克服、解决之道。严格以民运道德标准规范自己，不断操练自己的民主素养，无疑会极大提升中国民主运动水平！

2026年6月3日

编辑：冯仍 校对：冯仍 翻译：周敏

Moral Integrity and Democratic Literary Attainment of Democracy Activists —Written for the 37th Anniversary of Commemorating “June 4th, 1989”

Author: Lyu Yi (Chairman of the China Social Democratic Party, Vice Chairman of the Overseas Committee of the China Democracy Party)

(This article is respectfully dedicated to all true democracy activists who fight, dedicate, and sacrifice for the concept of China’s freedom, democracy, and constitutionalism. Those who hold the banner of the democracy movement to deliberately damage and destroy the democracy movement; those who mix into the ranks of the democracy movement but damage the reputation of the democracy movement and destroy the image of the democracy movement; those who carry CCP missions to stigmatize democracy activists and split democracy movement teams and organizations; those who collect intelligence of host countries, buy off foreign politicians, and serve and work for the CCP, but put on the labels of democracy activists to swindle people everywhere…, please leave. Because this article is not suitable for you.)

The author has written many times to appeal that to realize China’s freedom, democracy, and constitutionalism, we must establish a strong and powerful democracy movement team. Because the CCP authorities, like all reactionaries in Chinese and foreign history, will not automatically lay down their butcher knives, and will not voluntarily give up their power and vested interests. On the contrary, they without exception utilize the state apparatuses they control, such as the army, police, and prisons, to extremely persecute and suppress dissidents, and maintain their autocratic and dictatorial rule. Therefore, there must be a strong and powerful democracy movement team standing in front of the movement, leading hundreds of millions of people to resist the suppression of the CCP reactionaries, so that the final victory of the democracy movement can be achieved!

Establishing a strong and powerful democracy team is so important, so where should we start? On the occasion of commemorating the 37th anniversary of “June 4th,” while thinking about what is the best commemoration for the victims of “6/4,” I further realize that to establish a strong and powerful democracy movement team, we should start from two aspects: the enhancement of democracy activists’ moral integrity and democratic literary attainment.

I. The Moral Integrity of True Democracy People

1. Honesty, Trustworthiness, Openness, and Fairness

Honesty and trustworthiness mean keeping promises and aligning words with deeds. Not lying, not deceiving, not spreading false information, and not circulating rumors to delude the public. This is the democratic consciousness and democratic behavior that every true democracy person must possess. Democracy is not just shouting slogans. It is not saying one thing and doing another. True democracy people should have equal democratic thoughts, democratic consciousness, democratic spirit, and democratic literary attainment. Embody democracy in actions, and truly act according to democratic systems and democratic principles in actual operations. Therefore, keeping promises, aligning words with deeds, and being honest without deception are the primary moral standards and moral requirements that every true democracy activist should possess.

Openness and fairness mean that democracy activists must do things openly, aboveboard, and honorably. They cannot say good things to one’s face but engage in schemes and intrigues behind one’s back. The democracy movement we engage in itself is a righteous cause to seek rights, interests, and welfare for the broad masses of hard-working people. Our appeals are open and fair; our goals and purposes are open and fair; the lines we formulate and the methods and means to achieve the goals are all open and fair. Being secretive, stealthy, and operating in a black box are all not adopted by true democracy activists.

The CCP autocratic rulers, in order to deceive the people and deny democracy, brag about something: Socialist countries can have plans, be more efficient, and be more controllable, concentrating resources to accomplish big things. While capitalist countries, with parliamentary democracy, discuss back and forth, have low efficiency, and cannot accomplish big things. But they cover up the essence of corruption, extravagance, waste, and feathering their own nests under personal dictatorship, autocratic tyranny, and black-box operations. Why do they not dare to let the people freely and openly express opinions? Why do they not dare to open the property conditions of party and government cadres at all levels? Because they know that in almost all aspects, there are “tricks” and traps, hiding extreme unfairness!

2. Respect and Inclusiveness

This is another basic moral standard that true democracy activists should possess. Since it is a democratic system, it is not and should not be one person having the final say, but should be jointly participated in decision-making, jointly discussed, demonstrated, and decided by this group, and all people of this country. This requires fully respecting other people’s right to express opinions, and being inclusive of different thoughts and opinions. There is a famous quote: I do not agree with your point of view, but I will defend to the death your right to speak. This is the starting respect for human beings.

Under the CCP autocratic and dictatorial system, personal supremacy and words carrying the weight of nine tripods prevail; subordinates obey superiors, the bottom obeys the high level, and ordinary folks fundamentally have no right to speak. What “wantonly criticizing the central authorities,” what “illegal assembly, illegal parade and demonstration,” etc., are not tolerated by the CCP regime, and all will be admonished, fined, detained, or treated as crimes by the authorities. Doctor Li Wenliang was admonished, resulting in tens of millions of lives dying worldwide, which still makes people feel chilled to the bone to this day!

Among overseas democracy activists, the phenomena of not respecting others, and not being inclusive of others and opposite opinions are also frequently seen. The famous dissident Mr. Wang Ruowang once said that democracy activists must overthrow the small Mao Zedong in their own hearts. Because he saw that among the overseas democracy activists at that time, they were not convinced by each other, mutually accused each other, and infighting was continuous. Every single one wanted to fight to be the boss, as if every single one was like a small Mao Zedong.

True democracy activists must respect other people’s right to speak, and include different opinions and suggestions. At every turn putting caps on people, hitting people with sticks, and escalating things to principles and lines—these bad phenomena must be overcome.

Of course, we respect and include others, but it does not mean not distinguishing right from wrong, confusing black and white, and we cannot blindly indulge those shit-stirring sticks, troublemakers, etc. On the basis of adhering to democracy, we must handle problems according to democratic procedures and democratic principles. Such as casually interrupting and cutting off other people’s speeches in meetings. Deliberately provoking incidents to cause quarrels or conducting personal attacks, etc. Indulgence of these black sheep is obstructing the practice of normal democracy. To avoid bad money driving out good money, we must adhere to the principle of preferring shortage to low quality. For people who do not possess basic democratic quality, conduct criticism and education respectively, or advise to withdraw, or clear them out of the democracy movement team.

3. Down-to-Earth and Perseverance

True democracy activists all understand that realizing China’s freedom, democracy, and constitutionalism cannot be achieved overnight. It requires thousands upon thousands of democracy people to work in a down-to-earth manner and persist with perseverance.

Ending the evil CCP’s violent autocratic rule cannot rely only on shouting slogans, but requires doing work in a down-to-earth manner. For example, publicizing and mobilizing the masses to participate in the democracy movement is a very complex and meticulous work. If it is said that one call brings a hundred responses is relatively easy, then tightly combining and uniting the responders together is a very, very difficult thing. Especially in Western democratic societies, everyone’s status is equal, thoughts are free, and ways of thinking, angles of looking at problems, positions held, expressed viewpoints, opinions, etc., are strange and varied, numerous and diverse. If relying on coaxing, cheating, and hoodwinking, how can everyone’s mind be directed to one place, and energy be applied to one spot? Therefore, being an honest person and doing things in a down-to-earth manner should be a mark and characteristic of true democracy people!

The CCP relies on coercion to force people to obey. What subordinates obey superiors, the whole party obeys the central committee. Unified instructions, unified actions. But the democracy movement relies on the moral appeal of democracy movement leaders; relies on everyone being conscious and voluntary, and working together with one heart; relies on everyone being down-to-earth, walking forward step by step.

The moral requirement of perseverance is very high, and it is also an important aspect to ensure the success of the democracy movement. I remember in childhood there was a textbook text about grinding an iron bar into a needle, telling us the truth that persisting to the end will definitely succeed. In real life, often people are exactly because of having no confidence and patience, and cannot persist to the end, resulting in failing when success is in sight.

Recently learned from the internet, the democracy activist Dong Guangping, who was sentenced by the CCP authorities due to commemorating “June 4th,” has never stopped resisting the CCP authorities. He has already managed to escape China four times; the first two times he escaped to Thailand and Vietnam respectively. He was both times repatriated back to the country by the CCP authorities respectively uniting with Thailand and Vietnam police, and given heavier punishment. Later, he again alone swam across to Kinmen, preparing to swim to Taiwan. But this also failed and he was forced to return to the mainland. Recently, Dong Guangping took an inflatable rubber boat and escaped to South Korea, and was detained by South Korean police. I believe his unyielding persistence will definitely move God, and he will be allowed by the Canadian government to go to Canada to reunite with his family.

The Bible has words: Love is long patience. If we love democracy and are willing to fight for China’s democracy, then there is nothing that cannot be patient about, and cannot be persisted to the end about. Misunderstandings of fellow travelers can be eliminated through explanation; the evil CCP is so powerful, then we use the perseverance and spirit of ants biting a tree, biting day and night, believing that the evil CCP big tree will one day collapse. Even if trying thousands of times, finally there must be success time. Persist, persist, and persist again! Perseverance cannot be hot now and cold then, cannot give up halfway; perseverance means through thousands of difficulties and tens of thousands of dangers, not being discouraged, not giving up. Not stopping until the evil CCP perishes!

4. Team Awareness and Team Spirit

The democracy movement is not a matter of one person or a few people. But it is the common will, common meaning, common cause, and common interest of thousands upon thousands of people. Therefore, team awareness and team spirit, to every true democracy person, are indispensable and very important moral qualities.

Any social group or organization needs every member of this organization to unite and cooperate, mutually coordinate, and mutually support. This requires everyone to establish group awareness and carry forward team spirit. Fighting single-handedly, each going their own way, striving for fame and profit, mutually pulling the rug from under each other, and mutually attacking, etc., will definitely cause extreme harm and destruction to this group.

The democracy movement must act according to democratic principles, and there must be an effective democratic supervision mechanism. But it is still not enough; it also requires every member of this democracy movement organization to possess group awareness and team spirit. Because the democracy movement is jointly participated in by a group of like-minded people. When an individual does not act according to democratic principles and violates the democratic system, it is yet unlike a state that has coercive power to force him/her to obey. The democracy movement organization can only rely on the organization members’ own group awareness and team spirit, rely on self-restraint, and consciously obey the group’s decisions and resolutions. Not knowingly committing violations, not engaging in special treatment, not being unconventional and independent.

A certain association’s board of directors held a chairman election. The board of directors had a total of six people (originally seven people, one resigned before the election). According to the association’s rules, the chairman must obtain more than half of the votes, namely four votes, to be elected. During the election, the chairman candidate who got the most votes only had three votes. This chairman candidate who got the most votes is a Taiwanese person, and had also held social positions in Taiwan, and cannot be said to be unfamiliar with democratic rules, and cannot be said to not understand the association’s rules, and other directors also understood very well, but this person who came from a democratic society and repeatedly said to establish a civil society still unyieldingly sat on the chairman’s position.

In a certain Australian Chinese church where the author once worked, a national bishop election is held every four years. Some years ago, in one election of the bishop, more than one hundred pastors and church leaders participated in voting, and conducted 23 rounds of voting, and not a single candidate’s obtained votes exceeded more than half. The election meeting started from eight o’clock in the evening, and all the way until twelve o’clock that night had no result. Until nearly six o’clock the next morning, finally there was a candidate whose obtained votes exceeded more than half, and was finally elected as the bishop of the national church.

The above two examples reflect the different results produced by different “team awareness and team spirit” of a social organization. Why are overseas democracy movement groups numerous but cannot form a climate? It cannot but be said that lacking team awareness and team spirit is an important factor. Someone has long said that Chinese people are not united, like a pan of loose sand. One Chinese person is like a dragon, a group of Chinese people is like a worm. Insightful people have long pointed out, “One of the reasons why China’s domestic and overseas democracy movements have not had much improvement for decades is exactly: very few democracy activists know how to conduct the democracy movement according to democratic rules.” Sincere are these words!

Chinese democracy activists, a true democracy person, let us start from ourselves, continuously improve our own moral standards, strictly demand ourselves, enhance team awareness, carry forward and grow team spirit, unite all people who can be united, combine all forces that can be combined, and gradually let the world change the negative impression and view of “Chinese people are not united”!

5. Responsibility Awareness and Responsibility-Bearing Spirit

This is also a moral quality that true democracy people should possess. Responsibility awareness and responsibility-bearing spirit, on the one hand, require democracy people to not easily advocate and incite others to bear risks that they themselves are unwilling to bear or things that are impossible to realize; on the other hand, it is being brave to bear responsibility, and being willing to and taking the initiative to bear the consequences brought by the democracy movement. Especially to democracy movement leaders, responsibility awareness and responsibility-bearing spirit are even more important!

On the question of through what way or path to end the CCP tyranny, the democracy movement circles have all along had debates. One viewpoint advocates through “violent revolution,” while another viewpoint believes it can only be through “peaceful revolution” (which is “peace, rationality, non-violence,” abbreviated as He, Li, Fei). For decades, have democracy activists who advocate violent revolution seriously thought about it? How do bare-handed masses deal with the CCP violent regime that is armed to the teeth and has mastered several million troops, police, and other violent machines? Especially today when modern communication technology and inspection, detection, and identification technologies are so developed, where do ordinary folks get weapons? In modern society, from the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe upheavals to the “Jasmine” and other color revolutions, the regime replacement of which country was successful through violent revolution? Also, modern civilized countries like the US, Japan, and Europe not only do not support violent revolution, but also regard violent advocates as terrorists, and rounding up and eliminating them with full strength is all they can do, which one will openly support “violent revolution”?

The question comes, since “violent revolution” is unreliable and unrealistic, why do some people still advocate, incite, and are untiring and sparing no effort? What is their intention? Is it deliberately letting others go to make useless sacrifices, while they themselves hide in peaceful, affluent, free, and democratic countries? Such people are not any true democracy people! Because they lack the responsibility awareness and responsibility-bearing spirit that true democracy people should possess!

The author knows one person, he openly joined a certain democracy party whose party constitution clearly stipulates “He Li Fei,” but he always in various occasions opposes other people mentioning “He Li Fei.” It makes one cannot help but ask, is he old and muddled, or does he have split personality? Or does he have other unspeakable purposes?

There is also a so-called democracy movement big shot, everyone knows, in the past he was a “He Li Fei” advocate, but in the recent dozen years, he conversely turned into a “violent revolution” brayer. In New York, Los Angeles, and other cities, he frequently participates in assemblies and parades, delivering speeches on violent revolution. Someone raised a doubt, why does he have such a big turn? Those who know the inside directly answered: For money! If it is really so, it is truly sad, pitiful, and lamentable!

What needs to be explained is, I and my organization advocate peaceful revolution, which does not mean we are against violent revolution. Peaceful revolution is a pragmatic and tactical proposition we put forward based on the current actual situation of China and the world. For the effective revolutionary behavior of violent revolutionaries, we are sincerely happy. If violent revolution succeeds, we are even more optimistic to see it happen. Furthermore, the broad hard-working masses, in order to protect their personal and property safety from being violated, and in order to maintain their legitimate rights and interests, use force to resist tyranny, and resist and strike back at the persecution behavior of the rulers, which is legal and reasonable justifiable defense behavior. We not only will not oppose it, but also will greatly voice solidarity and support. What we oppose are those who are under the constitution of a “He Li Fei” organization, but openly oppose the constitution they themselves “agreed” to, non-logically and immorally advocating some “violent revolution”!

II. True Democracy People’s Practice of Democratic Literary Attainment

True democracy people, besides the requirements on the moral level, must also constantly and continuously conduct the practice of democratic literary attainment.

1. Political Literary Attainment

Correctly understand the constitution, laws, regulations, and other relevant stipulations of one’s own country and relevant countries, and their operation procedures and requirements. True democracy people in democracy movement activities must abide by the laws of the host countries, and must not do illegal and criminal things. Like in Australia, before we assemble, parade, or hold a “June 4” candlelight vigil in front of the CCP embassy or consulates in Australia, we must apply in advance and obtain approval. There are also friends who openly destroyed property and were given punishment handling by relevant Australian law enforcement organs. These are all problems caused by political literary attainment or level.

To put it clearly, the democracy movement is the most important political movement, not an emotional expression, and cannot rely on shouting loudly. Rather, it must formulate proper plans in advance, put forward feasible schemes, distinguish implementation steps, and clear division of responsibilities, etc. Otherwise, a rabble dispersing in a hubbub indicates that this organization and members are politically very immature.

I once read a very good article of “Reflection on June 4th,” which said: “Compromise is only a way to resolve disputes, not the ultimate goal, much less will it change the nature of the totalitarian system.” But “compromise can slow down conflict escalation, and realize stage-by-stage goals—namely, reformists within the system have the voice and dominance, thereby avoiding suppression, and it is possible to move towards deepening reform opportunities. This goal at that time under domestic social conditions and international political environment possessed feasibility. But the street politics nature of the student movement itself made the political goal and behavior manner split; emotion was higher than rationality, and freedom suppressed order, causing consequences that the students and all circles of society did not wish to happen.”

Western scholars have long put forward that compromise and negotiation are an art. Therefore, learning to compromise and mastering negotiation skills are very important to the improvement of every true democracy person’s democratic literary attainment.

2. Cognitive Ability

It should be admitted that any person’s cognitive ability has a certain limitation. True democracy people must pay great attention to learning and mastering new knowledge, new technologies, and new skills. Continuously improve our cognitive ability and cognitive level in all aspects. Understand domestic history and current situation, and learn international democracy movement history and modern experiences. Thereby helping the great Chinese democracy movement we engage in.

3. Public Communication Ability

Since the author engaged in the overseas democracy movement, I have participated in dozens of sessions of democracy movement meetings. Seminars, symposiums, and even important large-scale assemblies often have scenes of interrupting, grabbing microphones, or fighting, finally leading to everyone dispersing in unhappiness. These are all because everyone cannot express rationally, lacks public communication ability, forms emotional opposition, and then generates conflicts. Therefore, being able to rationally communicate with people of different strata and different positions. Seriously listen to other people’s opinions, and also let the opposite side correctly understand one’s own meaning, thereby reaching consistent opinions. Making the meetings successful and smooth, and making our democracy movement organizations healthily develop, grow, and strengthen.

4. Organizational Ability and Discipline

If the democracy movement lacks organizational ethics, has no procedures, and has no discipline. It is easy to cause internal disorder, disputes, and splitting.

The successful holding of every democratic action needs the leader’s organizational and coordination ability and team cooperation spirit. Here, democracy group leaders acting strictly according to procedures and strictly executing discipline are very key factors. Our Chinese organizations pay more attention to face and human feelings, but often slight the execution of discipline. This is what democracy movement organization leaders especially should improve.

Conclusion: There is no need to conceal that in China’s democracy movement, democracy movement organizations, and democracy activists, there exist these and those problems, and there are also many controversies. Hilltops standing like forests (factions everywhere), husband-and-wife shops, permanent chairmen, factional infighting, personal worship, “opposing China whenever China is mentioned,” double standards, and so on. For these problems, every true democracy person should pay attention, and think to seek the way to overcome and resolve them. Strictly regulate oneself with democracy movement moral standards, and continuously practice one’s own democratic literary attainment, which will undoubtedly greatly lift the level of China’s democracy movement!

Editor: Feng Reng Proofreader: Feng Reng Translator: Zhou Min