Chapter 20: George W. Bush Unveils the “Communism Victims Memorial,” 2002–2008 (Part II)

On June 1, 2002, George W. Bush delivered a commencement speech at West Point. He stated that global peace and security could only ultimately be achieved when all nations shared common, universal values—specifically, a commitment to individual freedom. He also spoke of China: “The leaders there are discovering that economic freedom is the only lasting source of national wealth. They will eventually discover that social and political freedom is the true source of national strength.” Bush placed high hopes on political reform in China.

Unfortunately, his understanding of the evil nature of communism did not match Reagan’s clarity. When faced with a choice between an “anti-terror” or “anti-communist” policy, he chose “anti-terror,” not only letting “anti-communism” slide but in effect aligning with communism against terrorism—a serious mistake. Some commentators called Bush a friend of China. But whether someone is truly a friend is not judged by what they say, but by what they do. Bush’s two wars diverted American attention, giving China a golden decade of growth. What other “friend” in the world could create such circumstances?

Of course, President Bush also caused China some discomfort. One episode drew strong protests from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2003, prompted by families of victims of communism, the U.S. Congress passed legislation establishing the “Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.” Funds were raised, and a memorial was planned on the northwest corner of G Street near Massachusetts Avenue and New Jersey Avenue. Its purpose: to educate future generations about the history of communist tyranny. The foundation completed fundraising in just three years, and construction of the memorial began in September 2006 near Capitol Hill.

The memorial is a replica of the “Goddess of Democracy” statue that Chinese students erected in Tiananmen Square in 1989, which was crushed by the People’s Liberation Army. The statue, representing victims of communist regimes, now stands in Washington, D.C., with an inscription reading: “In Memory of the Victims of Communism.” The front of the base bears the dedication: “To more than one hundred million victims of communism and to those who love freedom.” On the back: “Dedicated to the freedom and independence of all enslaved nations and peoples.” The inclusion of the “Goddess of Democracy” carries unique significance. President Bush stated: “The designers could have chosen a symbol depicting oppression, such as a replica of the Berlin Wall, a former Soviet Gulag, or a killing field of the Khmer Rouge. Instead, they chose a symbol of hope—a goddess holding a torch of liberty. She reminds us of the victims of communism and of the strength to overcome it.”

On June 12, 2007, President Bush attended the dedication ceremony of the Victims of Communism Memorial in Washington, delivering a speech in which he mentioned China twice. He said: “Scholarly estimates indicate that communism claimed the lives of millions of Chinese and Soviet citizens… Brutal communist rule led to the silent deaths of tens of millions, including many during China’s Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution. Evil is real, and it must be confronted.”

Bush’s speech evokes the words of Lin Zhao, who was arrested in 1960. In prison, she wrote in her own blood: “Our youth, love, friendship, careers, ambitions, ideals, happiness, freedom—everything in our lives, everything in a human life—was almost entirely destroyed under this filthy and evil totalitarian rule.” In 1968, a five-cent bullet ended her priceless life.

Communism not only stole lives but attempted to erase humanity and memory. The memorial serves to restore their humanity and memory. They will never be forgotten. Millions perished under communist regimes in China and the former Soviet Union, and hundreds of thousands more suffered in North Korea, Cambodia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Africa, Eastern Europe, and many other regions. Many Chinese died during the Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution; Cambodians were slaughtered under Pol Pot; East Germans were shot at the Berlin Wall; Poles perished in the Katyn Forest; Ethiopians were executed during Red Terror; the Mosquito Indians died under the Somoza dictatorship in Nicaragua; Cubans drowned fleeing for freedom.

Bush urged that history’s lessons be remembered. He stated: “We hold this dedication because we have an obligation to ensure future generations understand the crimes of the twentieth century and guarantee they never happen again.”

On May 8, 2005, Bush made a similar remark in Latvia: He criticized the Yalta Agreement as a continuation of the injustices of the Munich Agreement and the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact—a treaty between major powers sacrificing the freedom of small nations. The U.S. bears some responsibility for postwar European division. Bush said: “This is one of the greatest mistakes in history. We must not repeat it by tolerating tyranny for false stability or allowing power to sacrifice freedom. We have learned that no one’s liberty can be sacrificed. Our long-term security and true stability depend on the freedom of others.” Bush’s reflection demonstrates the humility inherent in liberal democratic governance.

In summary, Bush did not confront communism directly, nor did he tackle domestic terrorism. His focus on international terrorism caused him to misread the larger geopolitical landscape. The U.S. fought in Afghanistan and Iraq, while China took advantage of the situation. Bush’s misstep—aligning against terror while ignoring communism—gave China a golden decade to rise. Following Deng Xiaoping’s dictum, “Development is the hard truth,” and Jiang Zemin’s “Keep a low profile, accumulate strength,” China used economic growth to maintain political legitimacy, rising over 30 years to become the world’s second-largest economy. By the later years of Bush’s presidency, he finally recognized the evil of communism and strongly affirmed anti-communism—a decision worthy of acknowledgment.