shoulda, woulda, coulda

i read this this morning from Nicholas Kristof's {nytimes} facebook feed:

"June 4 always bring back searing memories of being on Tiananmen Square the night of the massacre in 1989. Gunfire! Tanks! Troops! And unbelievable courage by protesters. Ambulance drivers were shot, so it was up to rickshaw drivers to brave gunfire and pick up the injured. Then they'd rush off to hospitals, tears streaming down their cheeks. Some day there'll be a memorial in Beijing to their courage."

this image gave me chills and tears.  they literally gave their blood, sweat and tears (protesters and rickshaw drivers alike.)

i remember watching this on television when i was nine, with my parents in our living room.  the image of the man standing before the tank is branded into my brain, although some of the details are cloudy-- like, did he have a suitcase?  some bags?  was he wearing a white shirt?  i remember the tanks trying not to hit him, evading him and his briefcase or shopping bags.  i'm sure my mom had something positive to say about the protesters and my dad something non-commital.  

and now that i'm 30, i'm reading more about him....  that tank man.  that is the iconic image i have in my brain when i read about recent revolutions in current events. 

would i have the courage to do the same?  and would or could or should that happen here?