Song Binbin Should Bear Historical Responsibility

In recent decades, Song Binbin has always been at the center of public attention. In her early years, as a specific representative, she ascended Tiananmen, holding high the banner of armed struggle, and for a time, her prestige was unparalleled. A few years ago, she returned to China to apologize for her actions of criticizing and struggling against her teachers at the time, which sparked widespread controversy. Last month, she passed away in the United States, yet the aftermath has still not subsided. Recently, an article titled "It Should Not Be Harsh to Demand Song Binbin" has once again drawn public attention because it was pointed out that it attempted to excuse Song Binbin's behavior during that special historical period.

The article claims that "this turmoil was not caused by Song and others ascending Tiananmen," a statement that seems to be stating certain historical facts, but in reality, it is clearly downplaying the role of the individual in historical events. Admittedly, history is indeed the result of the combined action of many factors, but individuals must not be exempt from responsibility for their own actions. The social impact produced by Song Binbin's behavior during the special period was enormous, and she had to face it rather than seek excuses to escape. In that turbulent era, many heartbreaking events occurred one after another, and no participant can escape responsibility by using reasons such as being a "pawn" or "being utilized." Their most common explanation is that they had no choice, yet it was precisely these actions of theirs that constituted countless tragic events. Moreover, as a representative figure, the role Song Binbin played at the time is even more impossible to ignore.

The principal was beaten to death, and as the leader of the student rebel organization, Song Binbin bears an inescapable responsibility for this violent incident. For events involving specific blood debts, a mere apology is far from enough. Indeed, during that special historical period, violence and chaos spread everywhere, bringing heavy suffering to a large number of innocent people. The death of the principal not only meant the loss of life and the breaking of a family, but was also a heavy blow to social order and humanity. One cannot ignore the past simply because time has passed or one has moved far away. Justice should not be absent because of the length of time. An apology is only a beginning; Song Binbin needed to prove her repentance and accountability with actual actions. In this process, as the leader of the perpetrators, she had a significant impact on the event and must have actively cooperated with investigations to restore the truth and bear legal responsibility. However, she did not do so. For this reason, it is completely reasonable and justifiable that the principal's family does not accept an apology that lacks any manifestation of substantive responsibility.

Historical wrongs must be clarified, and the approach of treating those who should be held accountable with a so-called inclusive attitude is unacceptable. It is precisely this wrong attitude that allowed the murderers of Yu Luoke and Zhang Zhixin and others to avoid severe punishment. We must insist that for events that caused serious harm to society and the people, we should not only pursue the responsibility of the leaders but also absolutely not let those who acted as thugs participate go free; they should be entered into the shameful tree of history. Because if historical wrongs are easily forgiven and responsibility is not pursued, people will gradually forget the former pain and will be unable to truly learn lessons from history. As George Santayana once said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Everyone should draw lessons from history and bravely face their wrongs, rather than excusing errors like the author of the article. Demanding that Song Binbin acknowledge historical responsibility is by no means a harsh demand; it is respect for history, an accounting to the victims, and a means to avoid the repetition of tragedy.