Ahh, June 4. Time of the year again to ignore facts, twist history, make spurious claims, and generally offer plenty of wrong-headed arguments. Since this is the 20th anniversary of the Massacre, tempers might flare so if you’re a true China-loving patriot, you are really going to need to be prepared with this, our handy guide to rhetorical fallacies. Here’s an example:
Argumentum ad ignorantiam (argument from ignorance). No one knows the true death toll of June 4. Therefore, the incident was no big deal.
That’s great incorrect thinking—your “proof” is your absence of evidence! You’re now well on your way to winning any June 4 argument by exhausting the other reasonable party, but we are only just starting. You’re going to need to ratchet up the deductive fallacies if you have any hope of tackling someone armed with rational, fact-based arguments. So let’s get started. And remember, if you find yourself in a bind, just start shouting till you’re foaming at the mouth—that should close any argument once and for all.
Bare assertion fallacy. Rich is right. China is rich. Therefore, China is right.
False analogy. Think of it this way—if the praying mantis does not devour her children and her mate, then there is no way that the manufacturing and export sectors of the mantis economy can adequately mature.
Compound question. Did the student leaders at Tiananmen Square A) incite violence with the goal of de-stabilizing and destroying the country, or B) did they go home and prepare fresh cupcakes for a nationwide bake sale? Exactly.