There are times in life when we are faced with choices. Some are easy, but many are hard. It is at those times that we discover something about ourselves; something shocking, and yet, not totally unexpected. It seems that, for me, this is one of these times. I understand the implications of the world wide web, and how one story can change your life forever.
In 1992 a religious group called Falun Gong began in China. True the religion had been passed down for centuries, master to decibel, but in ‘92, the public was made aware. Mr. L. Hongzhi is credited with the knowledge, as he published books, and gave lectures about the subject. Falun Gong, or Falun Dafa, grew rapidly gaining followers until the religion swelled to almost 100,000,000 people.
Falun Gong is a combination of Buddhism, Taoism, and traditional Qigong. Spiritual mediation is combined with exercise to promote Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. For followers of Fulan Dafa, it is a very relaxing, and stress free way to start or end your day, leaving the follower with better health and mind. Falun Dafa teaches the principles of nonviolence, tolerance, and a general self-improvement.
While the religious movement continued to grow, the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) began to crack down. The party felt the movement was too strong, and became jealous of the popularity of Falun Gong. On April 25th, 1999, 10,000 practitioners were protesting the arrest of 45 members of their own. While the 45 were released, it marked the beginning of the persecution to come.
As with the Great Leap Forward, and the Cultural Revolution, the Chinese Government used propaganda to cast a bad light on Falun Gong. The group was named the “top class enemy” and Chinese citizens were told of it’s evil ways. Followers of Fulan Gong were told to renounce the religion and sign statements saying they no longer believed it’s ways. Those who resisted, or who protested where beaten, tortured, sent to labor camps, or some combination of the three.
Today Falun Gong is followed throughout the world, except in the country where it originated. Even with the recurrence of other religions, Falun Dafa is still banned. Followers practice in secret, going to “safe houses” or hoping they will not be discovered in their own homes. Others have moved to different countries, particularly America, but are now forever banned from their home nation, less they be thrown in prison for their beliefs. Though some still practice Falun Dafa, most feel that it is a lost cause, one that is not worth the price of family. One woman says, “ her spirituality has died: ‘I believe in nothing.’"* Others feel that the task their leaders ask to too hard. Perhaps the leaders who are forced to live in our country or others have forgotten how hard freedom is to come by in their home country. As they ask for more and more demonstrations, the followers in China ask why?
It’s hard to say exactly why the CCP banned Falun Gong. I myself would like to know, but I have a feeling that it is one of these things that just happens. Those unsolved mysteries that never seem to end. I would like to believe that it will one day be solved, and that the religion will be followed again, but I’m not so sure. I just find it so hard to believe that this could happen. Yes I think that the persecution is true, and some of the horror stories, even though the thought that human beings could do that to each other is horrifying. It just seems like too much, almost too much at once, as I am just beginning to understand most of it today. It is also difficult to understand the whole picture as much of what we see is tainted by someone else's view. May of the web sites that I looked at seemed to have their own opinion, without meaning too, not that you can look at the communist side for fear of the consequences. It is very hard for me to write this opinion when I’m not sure of all the facts and even if they are true. I guess my biggest hang-up is how far people will go for power.
*http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,165163,00.html
http://www.falundafa.org
http://www.falundafainfo.net
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2 comments:
While some still deny that the Hollacaust never happened there is proof that humans treated other humans in unbelievable ways in Germany. When a government believes itself in danger it acts. The CCP knows that followers of Falun Gong would be a huge threat to it's continued control. Thru history ruling governments' behaviors have not been shown to be benevolent to each other but as seeking power and dominance. While it is good to not blindly believe all you are told, there is great evil in people and we can not just dismiss things we find unbelievable. Mountianeer Mom
Aaahhh, the Falun Gong blog. A very hard write up to begin with.
Wouldn't a government fear a movement such as this one for fear it could take over the country? How else could they counter such a powerful force? History shows that such actions have been enacted before. The Holocaust is a more recent horrific example. Think about George Fox and the Protestants of England, too. The Protestants felt threatened by the people converting over to the Society of Friends. Did they also not react violently to try to prevent it?
watch your idea structure and paragrahs, and use less commas please.
-Van Der Bur
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