Chinese students had demonstrated in the square for almost six weeks. Then the Chinese government ordered in the troops. The so-called People's Army fired on the people, most of them students, all of them unarmed protestors. The protests began over the death of Hu Yaobang, a pro-reform leader within the Chinese government. The government put a ban on the protests, but, on April 22, more than 100,000 gathered in defiance of the ban. Each day, then, the crowd grew, as more and more students and others from all walks of life joined the protest. On May 13, 2,000 of the students began a hunger strike, and, on May 20, the government imposed martial law. On June 2, the students turned back an advance of unarmed troops. But then, under cover of darkness, early on June 4, troops opened fire on the assembled crowds, and armed personnel carriers rolled into the square, crushing many students as they lay sleeping in their tents. The Chinese government said that few had died in the attack. But estimates range from several hundred to several thousand. In the following months, thousands of demonstrators were rounded up and jailed. In China today, the seeds of democracy still germinate. In time, they will sprout anew.

MODEL: If you live in a democracy, give thanks for it, and help make it work by exercising your various rights as a citizen, most expecially your right to think for yourself, to vote and to assemble. If you do not live in a democracy, try to figure out ways of achieving democracy in your own land.

A talker. If you were born on June 4, your quick thinking and command of language make you an inspired orator. When providing a dissenting opinion, however, you are rarely diplomatic. Ruled by the number 4 and the planet Uranus, you take rejection very hard.

A reluctant leader. You have great technical skills and are admired and respected by others in your field. You also bring structure and organization to your work and family environment. Although uncomfortable in leadership roles, you may find yourself top dog. You would probably be happier working as an important member of a team. Making decisions and rallying individuals together for a common goal are some of your talents.

Always learning. You enjoy being a student, learning new things, exploring new horizons, improving yourself. You quickly grow frustrated with the same old same old, especially if you feel you are not growing.

Hunches. You trust your instincts and they usually lead you to the right path. Thinking too much only gets you in trouble. Working too much can also get in the way, repressing physical urges such as exercise and sex.

Some advice: Try not to be so critical of yourself and others. Rise above the fray and accept people warts and all. Develop your human side, a sense of humor perhaps. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Rest your body and mind by doing nothing.

Also born on this day: Dennis Weaver (actor) George III (German born British king during American Revolution) Bruce Dern (actor) Robert Merrill (opera singer) Rosalind Russell (actress) Morgana King (jazz singer, actress) Mort Zuckerman (owner of Atlantic magazine) Henning Carlsen (Danish film director) Clark Branson (writer) Judith Malina (actress, director) Anthony Braxton (saxophonist, clarinetist, composer)