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46 comments from readers

John_A
21 August 2008 at 18:35

The remark about universities being complicit, or at least implicated, in all of this rings regrettably true. Those of us whose academic work involves China know all too well the omnipresent spectre of the PRC's nefarious "blacklist" -- a sort of silent menace that always lurks, threatening the would-be traveler to the Middle Kingdom with the prospect of denial and exclusion. Big deal, many may say. But for those whose academic careers depend on access -- be it for fieldwork or poking around archives -- it is a serious dilemma, the consequence of which is admittedly often self-censorship. Few are aware of this, or of the thus sanitized discourse on contemporary China that often emerges. Scholarship on Falun Gong, as with predatory practices of the Party-state, are no exception. Two candid pieces begin to convey the issues involved, and can be found online. One is Perry Link's "Anaconda in the Chandelier" (www.asianresearch.org/articles/2599.html) and a second, Carsten A. Holz's "Have all the China scholars been bought" (www.david-kilgour.com/2008/Jan_17_2008_13.htm). As for the reticence of journalists on this issue, I cannot speak with any authority, but find Lemish's analysis again compelling.

Broga
21 August 2008 at 19:46

The detachment and indifference of the West stains all who remain silent. As a member of Amnesty and Human Writes I know that torture is real and unimaginable to me or anyone in the comfortable West. However.the grisly Bush, with his rush to kill as many as possible on the Texas Death Row, undermines the West and any moral stance as long as he remains the "leader of th Free World." Those who do not protest tacitly condone. And that includes the horrors on Death Row, Polunsky Unit, Texas. Why do we ignore all this: just too much trouble to do anything else, I guess.

Gray Beard
22 August 2008 at 16:28

Broga:

There is simply no comparison between what is happening in China and a Texas public trial with all the rights afforded defendants in the U.S. The Texas prisoners were executed because they murdered innocent victim(s), sometimes after raping and torturing those victims. If you oppose the death penalty that is fine but please don't try to compare the persecution of FG with Texas' harsh criminal courts. FG are executed for being what they are. Texas prisoners could easily avoid the death penalty by refraining from committing murder.

Gray Beard
22 August 2008 at 16:38

Don't forget that think-tanks deal with the same problem as the universities. Any think tank that wants to start publicising what is happening with FG would also face denied access to China's university faculty and government officials. Its hard to be a China scholar if you don't get to know Chinese scholars or if you are unable to communicate with leading industry executives and party officials.

If you go to the Carnegie foundations website, you will see them bragging about their new facilities in China. They don't mention the compromises they had to make to make their presence in China possible. Carnegie has tremendous access to high party officials etc which places them in a favored position to produce quality scholarship on China. So long as they don't highlight the FG story.

The importance of the point made in Mr Leeshai's article about the subtle way the Party controls Western media etc cannot be overstated.

Makina
22 August 2008 at 22:41

Gray Beard wrote:

"FG are executed for being what they are."

So tell me Gray, does that means that you think it's OK to kill people for their faith?

Believing in the universal virtues is not a crime and should not be looked at as a crime anywhere but a given right to each and every individual on the planet. Even the Chinese Constitution says that religious freedom is OK.

My feeling is that they certainly would make the effort to implement the constitution if people cared about this situation and urge them to stop religious persecutions for starters. This situation would be resolved a lot sooner if it was exposed in the media. As we know, the truth is most powerful and that (truth) is exactly what China doesn't want you to know.

Douglas Chalmers
23 August 2008 at 19:37

"Practitioners are further motivated by belief in karma..."

Karma has its way of working out, whether one believes in it or not, Leeshai Lemish. Writing for the Epoch Times is one thing but their Nine Commentaries is really over the top in China-bashing. So too are you with your own personal crusade against China as an excuse for a career.

No wonder, then, that China's government is averse to anything mentioning Falun Gong. With people around the world targetting China with endless lies over vicious rock-throwing fake Buddhists in Tibet, more tall stories about what happened or did not happen a decade or more ago is hardly appreciated.

You fail to tell us that Falun Gong is not an organization but a practice. The Daoist and Buddhist practices it is based upon are still not banned in China, either. But, additionally, you also fail to tell us what your real motivation is as an American Israeli so utterly and negatively pre-occupied with China http://www.jewishjournal.com/arts_in_la/article/whats_that_i...

You might or might not have some genuine grudges about past experiences but it is not a very spiritual path to keep on endlessly blaming successive generations of mostly innocent Chinese mainlanders for things in the past. You are actually creating your own bad karma by allowing yourself to then be manipulated to attack China politically by the CIA and the US State Department.

In the end, that will help no-one and is just another excuse to justify America's own vicious hegemonic regime in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan which you must know that they illegally occupy and a million people have died and at leats 4 million displaced as refugees within their own country in the time that you have been distracted in whining about China.

People like Jiang Zemin and the PLA (China's army) are still generally well though of in China and for good reason. What is worse, though, is that you ahve failed o show any sympathy or regard for the 10,000's of people killed in recent earthquakes and floods or the millions now living sadly in tents. Obviously, you are working yourself up to some self-righteous political career in the US and you don't really give a damn about the Chinese anyway. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fsf06Q1KKjE

And, while you are supposedly on about "Truth, Compassion and Tolerance", do you have any links with the pro-Israeli AIPAC in the USA?

carryanne
24 August 2008 at 06:48

Mekina, Gray beard was no insinuating that Falun Gong people commited crimes, he was stating that the murderers on death row can escape execution by obeying US laws, but Falun Gong people have NOT committed any crime so it is impossible for them to comply with laws that are totally out to lunch unjust.

I think this douglas is paid shill (although very poorly trained) because he makes no sense. Lemish article is just stating some observations and is not 'bashing' China. I think if the facts are there, then this is very serious. I believe it because for some reason, Falun Gong is ignored by Western media. Maybe if Douglas has a such a load of complaints about Falun Gong's actions, he can help stop the persecution so they can go back to just doing their practice and not always protest, but it seems he has never thought of helping them escape unjust torture and murder.

Leeshai Lemish
24 August 2008 at 08:03

Dear Douglas,

Thank you for your questions.

Let me start with your questions about my personal background. I was born in the United States, grew up in Israel, studied and worked in London, and have spent considerable time in Asia, including China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. I have never worked for the CIA, the US State Department, or any other US government body, nor have I been approached by them. I also have nothing to do with AIPAC.

I come from a left-leaning activist family. From a young age I was at rallies protesting American arms shipment and similar issues. I therefore personally understand and sympathise with your concerns about America’s wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. In fact, when the U.S. invaded Iraq, I joined a three-day huger strike in protest of the invasion. The same goes for Israel. When I lived there, my family and I would regularly join rallies calling for peace and an end to occupation and abuses in the territories. I was actually at the pro-peace rally in which Prime Minister Rabin was assassinated (and later wrote an article about it: https://67.15.34.204/dmirror/http/en.epochtimes.com/news/5-1...). I also agree with an earlier posted comment that the Bush administration has done much to undermine international discourse on human rights. So that’s where I stand on these issues.

Now for the question of what my real motivation is. Certainly, as a Falun Gong practitioner, a big part of my motivation comes from the belief that when people hurt others they are ultimately hurting themselves most. But you don’t have to be spiritual to want to help persecuted people.

When I first started practising Falun Gong I had no idea it was being persecuted – I just vaguely recalled hearing it was banned in China. As my first article explained, my attraction to Falun Gong was purely spiritual. After I started practising, other people who practised in my area told me how practitioners in China were being tortured and killed and so I educated myself about it.

In the summer of 2001, a Chinese Falun Gong practitioner in America asked me if I could help edit some “death cases.” Each such documented case came, at great risk, from relatives and acquaintances of the victim in China. It included the person’s name, age, where they were from, how they started practising Falun Gong, when and where they were arrested and what for, where they were jailed, how they were tortured, and when and where they died. It also often included phone numbers of the detention centres where they were held, the names of policemen involved, and a photo of the diseased.

I was just responsible for editing the English translation. Because I was working at the time (at a home for developmentally delayed children), I would get up early to edit these cases. I remember sitting in front of my computer screen at 5:00am, weeping as I read one case after another about a normal person like you and me killed in such unimaginably horrible ways for their peaceful beliefs.

Unfortunately, these are not things “in the past.” They are still happening right now, in some cases on a greater scale, as my third article demonstrated.

And so I’ve tried to do what I can – in the beginning I was editing and collecting signatures, now I’m writing articles, and in the middle I tried helping a friend whose fiancé was being jailed and tortured in China. I’ve been paid for none of this. I’ve also done things on other fronts, like Darfur and Israel, but wish I could do more.

Finally, I think you seem to be conflating the concept of “China” with “Chinese government,” or “Chinese Communist Party” – these are not the same. As my articles show, I am not a fan of the latter. But I am a huge fan of China and the Chinese people. If this persecution were not taking place, I would probably be studying Tang poetry or Chinese history, which is what I majored in as an undergraduate, or simply the Chinese language, which I find most beautiful. Most of my phone book is filled with Chinese names, and so I find it funny that you say I’m on a personal crusade against China.

In the West the Chinese people we come across are mostly the winners of the system. At the London School of Economics, where I completed my master’s degree, most of the many Chinese students are sons and daughters of Chinese entrepreneurs or officials from coastal cities. Even Western ex-pats in Beijing or Shanghai have to go significantly out of their way to see this other China. But I’ve spent days and days sitting on floors hearing the stories of Chinese people told through great pain, and not just those of Falun Gong practitioners. My motivation is that these Chinese people ask me for help and I want to help them.

I feel very sad for the tens of thousands of Chinese who have lost their lives by the tragic Sichuan earthquake and for the families they left behind. I send them by deepest condolences. At the same time, I can’t help but wonder – as many Sichuan parents now are – how many of those deaths should have been avoided. How many thousands of Chinese children would still be alive today if a responsible government did not censor warnings of the earthquake, did not reject foreign aid during the first critical 72 hours, and did not build schools that crumbled so easily while government buildings remained standing?

China is indeed a big country and when things go wrong, as they did with the persecution of Falun Gong, it affects a lot of people. That is why work for the most basic rights of the Chinese people is so important –the number of people implicated is just staggering.

The contribution of people like me is a low-risk one. But countless Chinese people have risked everything and all-too-often paid the highest price to get this information out to the world and to demand the rights of others.

I take my hat off to these heroes and their memories. I will do my best not to let them down.

Leeshai.

Thompson
24 August 2008 at 08:27

"Douglas Chalmers" - You can't attack the article factually so you resort to ad hominem attacks? Get a life.

And why do you always have to hide behind such a name when your grammar, word choice, and the crazy logic sound so distinctively Chinese nationalist? I recall a while back someone asked who you were and you dodged the question very suspiciously. I expect either a lie or a similar reaction from you again this time.

This was actually quite a good conversation until you came along.

Douglas Chalmers
24 August 2008 at 10:00

Leeshai Lemish, aside from the expected ad hominem attacks by carryanne + Thompson, I think that you yourself still do have the PRC, China and Chinese people confused with the CCP and the PLA.

These ARE the Chinese people. It is no longer the 1960's and the old Long March brigade have long gone, discredited or revered, regardless. We and they all have to live with what exists NOW.

Whether you have never worked for the CIA (no spooks ever do, uhh) or don't have links with AIPAC, you haven't mentioned what kind of impact yours and others pro-FalunDafa agenda is likely to have globally as a US-based organization. China also has a view on this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aD4CWrX9wMY&feature=related

Whether you are so inclined or not, your work is easily used by national political interests in the USA and elsewhere to further their own Neocon agenda of wedging and harassing China. They have little else left since Taiwan voted democratically to have closer ties with the Chinese mainland. China makes a better friend than America - for Chinese!

The 10,000's of US military stationed permanently in S.Korea and in Okinawa and Guam are not there for any other reason. That is despite their having carved up Korea in the 1950's and Vietnam since and formerly forcibly occupying the Philippines since 1898. That IS the way the Americans do business.

As we both know, its not what you say so much as the effect it has opon others reading it that is the main issue. But the real issue for the USA is not human rights in China but the fact that China now finances most of their foreign debt and trade debt. The State Department and congress don't really give a damn about FalunGong.

That, and nothing else, worries the USA very greatly now. Who is going to finance their precious hegemonic wars and unaffordable lifestyles? Its all just "California dreaming" now:-

Aug. 22 (Bloomberg) -- A failure of U.S. mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could be a catastrophe for the global financial system, said Yu Yongding, a former adviser to China's central bank..... China's $376 billion of long-term U.S. agency debt is mostly in Fannie and Freddie assets, according to James McCormack, head of Asian sovereign ratings at Fitch Ratings Ltd. in Hong Kong. The Chinese government probably holds the bulk of that amount..... http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=aslo2E01...

“It is easy to ignore the storm if you look at the opposite horizon. When the storm reaches your location there can be no more ignorance.....” http://prudentbear.com/index.php/commentary/guestcommentary?...

Bruce Carroll
24 August 2008 at 12:53

Douglas Chalmers and Leeshai Lemish

Great discussion, Awesome to see this topic being discussed in such a robust and passionate way. Having been invovled with Falun Gong and having a keen interest in International affairs, I hope I can contribute some meaningful middle ground. In the event my addressing either of you using first names creates any offence, let me know and I will adjust my approach accordingly.

For many suffering at the hands of the China's government, the reality on the ground is all too real. Hearing Leeshai express his concern and desire to assist a sub-set of those unfortunate enough to fall foul of China's ruling elite, rekindles similar sentiments in my self. However, on the other hand, after being involved with Falun Gong for some time, I can also empathize with Douglas' take on what must appear to many, as Falun Gong's apparent blind allegience to a regime that is increasingly challenging China's reputation in terms of malevolence and brutality. Not to mention having a much more imperialistic momentum.

After reading the PNAC documents and witnessing the carnage that has been unleashed on , Afganistan Iraq, and now Georgia as their strategies unfold, it is increasingly difficult for me to respect a media that remains completely silent about all these atrocities and malicious intentions, all the while nitpicking China at every turn.

Further, evidences suggests the US is facing a crisis equal to, if not greater than China suffered at the hands of Mao Tze Tung; and Germany suffered at the hands of Hitler. Nevertheless, to the Epoch Times, this all seems to be insignificant and of little consequence as long as China can be found wanting in some regard.

To sum up, while I appreciate the sentiments driving Leeshai to awaken the World's conscience to the horrors facing many Falun Gong practitioners in China and am encouraged by his protests for the dignity of peoples more broadly, I have to say, I can also easily understand Douglas concern. When reading much of the copy printed in EET, I am often bewildered and dismayed and on more than one occasion have protested that ET appears to have been hijacked by political interests with far more sinister intentions than awakening people to the benevolent nature of Falun Gong and the tragic fate of many practitioners at the hands of the CCP.

As history unfolds, I expect that if ET mindlessly supports the evil, criminal elements currently driving the US, in the minds of many ET will bear the same humilation and disrespect being increasingly afforded to what is being recognized as a rogue state all around the world. The real distinction is between good and evil, what is right and what is wrong and has nothing to do with China verses the US, or politics in general.

Bruce Carroll
24 August 2008 at 13:12

* note

Falun Gong's apparent blind allegiance to a regime that is increasingly challenging China's reputation in terms of malevolence and brutality.

should read

Falun Gong's apparent blind allegiance to a regime whose reputation is increasingly challenging China's in terms of malevolence and brutality.

sarahsarah
25 August 2008 at 01:36

" Douglas", maybe you are in lack of some information although you are Chinese:

First, Falun Gong isnot based on Daoism and Buddhism.

Secondly, nobody in China are following Daoism and Buddism teachings. Those people who are now regarded as Daoists and Buddists are lead by the Chinese Communist Party , which destroyed Buddha and Dao statues and temples and forced the monks and nuns into marriages. Only after the Party was convinced that the modern monks and nuns had been completely cut from their religious tradition and left only with some trivial superficial things making them resembling the old religions, and had been able to be controlled by the Party, these so-called Buddhist and Daoist are allowed to exist in their costumes and temples.

And there are possibly some genuin Duddhists and Daoists. But they don't show up in the society and they ignore the people who need to be saved badly as they don't think they are able to make it to nowadays Human beings.

Any people like Falun Gong practitioners and family Christian members who have genuin belief and deny the controll by the Party, are bound to be persecuted and their practises be banned.

Just for your information.

Sarah

dragonchef
25 August 2008 at 10:12

I would like to make a comment to all the pro Chinese Communist Party (CCP) people. China has a history of around 5,000 years, the CCP, around 60. Moreover, Communism is a foreign import to China. Why would ordinary, intelligent Chinese people still support and defend the policies of such an entity?

Douglas Chalmers
25 August 2008 at 16:16

Well, thanks for accepting me as Chinese, #sarahsarah, even though I said that I am not. No amount of eating rice has made any difference, though (i'm only joking, LOL). Actually it is true that my mother was really AngMo (red hair) but my father's people must have been from much further East (black curly hair and blue eyes) although he was from Scotland too. I have many Asian friends and including Chinese mainlanders and I have often blogged in Asian countries as well.

Frankly, I don't give a damn what Li HongZi says he based his Falun Gong upon, it is still all basically Buddhism and Daoism. He is not capable of thinking further himself and all of the exercises are forms of QiGong regardless of the label. Nor has the CCP repudiated any of the exercises and it is all paracticed under martial arts by the PLA and their sports academy in China these days anway.

It was excessively precious of Leeshai Lemish to go on building him up as some kind of spiritual master when even Li would not have accepted that. At some stage in the past, he was known as a humble sel-effacing person but what has become of him now? He must have known that his organization was being used by the USA to denigrate China and yet he seems to have gone along with that as a US citizen, now.

But I am amazed at people who are still moaning aboutand berating China while the Olympics was still in proress. Haven't you watched the openning ceremony or the closing ceremony, sarahsarah? The opening ceremony proudly went for four hours and the closing ceremony on Sunday night (BeiJing time) was full of joy and happiness and love for all. The 1,000's of performers WERE the Chinese people at their happiest and most earnest.

So what if some of them were from the PLA (even the singers), these ARE the people of China TODAY and they will make the changes for the better that the West so jealously resents them having the opportunity of now. Can you love and learn and strive and progress with them, sarahsarah, and all of you feeble FalunGong moaners and pro-Tibetan whingers? As one fifth of all humanity on this Earth, they ARE the future!

Michael Barker
26 August 2008 at 02:04

I have just published an article that critiques some of the US-based groups that are supporting the plight of the Falun Gong, see

"The Project For A New American Humanitarianism: Olympian Ambitions from Darfur to Tibet and Beijing", Swans, August 25, 2008.

http://www.swans.com/library/art14/barker04.html

This article examines links between neoconservatives, Zionists, and the "New Humanitarian" human rights activists.

Although I understand that Leeshai Lemish is a dedicated Falun Gong practitioner and appears to be genuinely concerned with promoting human rights, this does not mean that his cause is not being exploited by less scruple less political operatives.

For example, I note that:

"While most readers will be unaware of the controversial background of Lemish's travelling companion, it turns out that Ethan Gutmann is a former visiting fellow at Project for the New American Century, and he presently serves as an adjunct fellow at the neoconservative Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (a group whose work is closely tied to that formerly undertaken by PNAC). In addition, Gutmann's 2004 book, Losing the New China, was published by the well-known neoconservative publisher, Encounter Books; while the Earhart Foundation, which is supporting the production of Lemish and Gutmann's collaborate book project, is an infamous neoconservative funding body."

http://www.swans.com/library/art14/barker04.html#05

sarahsarah
26 August 2008 at 04:40

Bejing Olympics used a lot of fakes. And I know the CCP dosen't like to be lonely in the world. Evils need friends badly. If the evils' friends are not enough, it is easy to used fake here.

I understand your mission need a foreigner's name and you also need to stress that you are a foreigner. But only a Chinese used to be brain-washed by CCP as me can read your Chinese mind which also brain-washed by CCP.

Sarah

sarahsarah
26 August 2008 at 05:20

" Douglas", Human beings show respect to each other.

If you show disrespect to my belief and my master, you mean you want to stop the communication.

Sarah

dragonchef
26 August 2008 at 08:12

"Douglas" be careful of your words. Mind your speech and your manners. I hope you were taught to behave better than you have been. Your behavior really has not appeared to meet the basic standard of being a human. I am concerned about you. There is saying from Western society which states "as a man thinks, so he is." Your thoughts are reflected in you words. And those words are full of ignorance, fear and arrogance. I hope you are a real person who wants to be a good person. You appear to be concerned about what appears to be people bashing China...from my perspective, no one here appears to be doing so. I for one am talking about the actions of the Communist Party that is ruling China at the moment.

Instead of simply a knee-jerk response to the article (which includes some America bashing on your part) why not consider this point: The CCP is killing, torturing, imprisoning, raping, maiming, repressing, murdering and depriving some of China's citizens of their basic human rights. This is what Lemish's article aims to point out...something we all are aware of that is happening in China right now. Why not investigate the truth for yourself instead of blindly attacking anyone who dares to raise these issues?

Or are you afraid?

Douglas Chalmers
26 August 2008 at 11:53

#dragonchef: "Why not investigate the truth for yourself instead of blindly attacking anyone who dares to raise these issues..... Or are you afraid...?"

#sarahsarah: "Human beings show respect to each other..."

Then kindly show respect (face) to me, dragonchef and sarahsarah. I have not abused you but you and others have aggressively tried everthing to have your own way regardless of the truth.

Your master is not my master. He has to prove something to me just as anyone else. I owe him nothing, least of all respect. I have given face to him and his position as I referred to him as best I could. If he now has no face in this world, he is the cause of that himself, uhh.

As with the PRC, my birthday is October, 1949. Celebrate that great time with me soon. It will help you all to be happy. Look for the good amongst the imperfections of all us humans, wherever we come from. LOL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x19mTFH6n38

I leave you with this thought - "Objects seen in the rear-view mirror may be closer than they appear....." When the Guru holds us spellbound, how can we ever truly be free?

Kevin_SF
27 August 2008 at 02:08

Dear Bruce Carroll,

You claimed that you've been involved with Falun Gong for some time. I wonder in what way you have been involved. You and Douglas are trying to make China/Chinese people and Communist Party as the same and only one. In fact they are not. You and Douglas are attacking Falun Gong on the base of siding with China/Chinese people although only you and Douglas know what the real reason(s) behind it. As Lemish and other pointed out that Falun Gong practitioners are against the presecution, not against China/Chinese. Just the contrary, I believe, the actions Falung Gong pratitioners have taken to stop the persecution greatly benefit the people of China. Otherwise, 1.3 Billion people would have no voice and no rights under the Communist regime. Keep an open mind, listen to the other side of the story before making judgement. Any action taken or words spoken against your conscience will most likely turn out to be wrong and you'll regret it. I hope you'll put aside all the motives and truly examine your own conscience to understand what you are doing is against your own conscience and how it is going to impact your future. Just for your own good.

M. Teri
27 August 2008 at 06:37

Leeshai's posting here and articles are a breath of fresh air and sanity in a sea of absurdity. Leeshai - your articles are thoughtful, intelligent, rational and clearly compassionate. Thank you for sharing your experiences.

However, the absurdity of some of the postings are unbelievable. To invoke the "glory of China's Olympics" as the "real China"? Really?! When 60-80 million Chinese people have died, AND MORE ARE STILL DYING, under the CCP's vicious rule; when countless thousands of people have been forcibly removed from their homes, with their homes bull-dozed over, not receiving adequate compensation, and having no place to go; while tens of thousands are unlawfully imprisoned because they truly care about human rights and China's people. Glorifying the CCP's so-called "progress" is insulting to all intelligent people who respect traditional values, spiritual traditions, free flow of information and social stability!

People who believe in the CCP's hype often inadvertently become its mouthpiece - whether they realize it or not.

The top one fifth of China's population controls all the money in China - guess who comprises this group? The so-called "real Chinese" that was seen at the Olympics. Party officials and their off-spring. Epoch Times focuses a lot of its coverage on China, thankfully, for one reason - it's the only media that's actually reporting on the true situation in China - a niche that makes smart business and journalistic sense, as well as being socially responsible - thank goodness for ET!

People who are pro-CCP/anti-Falun Gong are clearly not interested in the truth, but are completely sold on the CCP's version of reality. They will learn in time just how deceived they are. Their postings about how the U.S. is using Falun Gong - yada, yada? Makes no sense to true China watchers. A couple of excellent resources on the CCP are: James Mann's "About Face" - written about the CCP-US relations from Nixon to Clinton. Based on documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act as well as interviews with analysts and government officials. And "China, the Gathering Threat" by the late Dr. Constantine Menges, an expert on the CCP. And don't forget, the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party (see ninecommentaries.com). There's not enough praise for this important work.

Practitioners have worked hard to break through the CCP's great wall of propaganda to let people know the truth about the persecution and the practice of Falun Gong - at their own time, expense; and unfortunately, at risk to their own lives. Equally impressive are the people who have stepped forward to support Falun Gong's efforts. These people are not Falun Gong practitioners, but they took the trouble to investigate the truth of the persecution and have stepped forward to let the world know the truth. People like Edward McMillan-Scott, VP of EU; David Matas, reknowned human rights attorney, and David Kilgour, former Canadian Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific, who, together with Matas, confirmed the truth of the organ harvesting of Falun Gong. And Gao Zhisheng, the Christian attorney who uncovered the true nature of the persecution and wrote open letters to the CCP leadership to try to stop the persecution. They deserve our respect.

Maintaining and perserving the free flow of information is imperative when the CCP seeks to control all media and information - both in China and abroad - as clearly seen with all the ruckus at the Olympics over media coverage. The fact that over 41 million Chinese people have all quit their Party associations speaks to how closed and sheltered their access to news and information has been. Once they learned the true history of the CCP from the Nine Commentaries, their immediate reaction has been to reject the Party wholeheartedly.

By the way, I've read the Falun Gong teachings, and I've never read anywhere that Master Li called himself a "god." Beware the fabrication that is passed off as "truth" here and elsewhere. People are easily deceived when they lack information about the true nature of the CCP and the true history of traditional China. The Communists do not represent all traditional Chinese people. They maintain their illegitimate rule through a combination of large-scale propaganda mixed with deception, manipulation, threats, coercion and other forms of violent aggression, torture and suppression.

So-called social progress at the expense of widescale human rights abuses is not only unacceptable; it's completely unnecessary. Case in point - Taiwan's economic success. No need for torture and coercion; free flow of information; and spiritual freedom.

Human rights and the freedom to embrace spiritual traditions are not something that can be delegated, tossed aside, trampled on or otherwise defiled or destroyed. These are God-given rights that mankind cannot suppress or eradicate. No man has the right to dictate my spiritual beliefs; try as they may. It's the bottom line for countless millions of people worldwide. Spiritual traditions are an important part of our social fabric that brings social stability. And yet, if you are an atheist in the western world - no one's going to twist your arm, subject you to beatings, shock you with electric batons, inject you with harmful drugs or otherwise subject you to rape, humiliation, financial, mental or emotional harm. So, how can anyone justify these same cruelties being visited upon any spiritual practitioner in the name of "social progress"? Especially when these same practitioners are among the most socially responsible citizens in China today? No, there is no justification for accepting these human indignities. Today's society has a disposable mentality, heavily reliant on the quick fixes of economic incentives and the pursuit of materialism. Interestingly, Falun Gong flourished in China in the early 1990s, and continues to flourish despite the persecution, precisely because of the spiritual vacuum left by the CCPs morally corrupt pursuit of money and status. Let their downfall be a lesson in the shallow and mindless pursuits of materialism. Social progress cannot maintain itself without being grounded within a spiritual foundation. CCP propaganda is a poor substitute for heartfelt spiritual belief and practice.

Douglas Chalmers
27 August 2008 at 14:52

"...a breath of fresh air and sanity in a sea of absurdity..... thank goodness for ET..."

China has had them for years.....

ET in China http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-_yibPQs7c

ET at Shenzhen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPlpLGz_-mA

"Taiwan's economic success..."? No need for torture and coercion, they were happy to vote for closer ties with the CCP and the PRC mainland and to get rid of pro-US puppet, Ah-Bian, and US weapons. Now that IS "free flow..... and spiritual freedom..."!

"And yet, if you are an atheist in the western world - no one's going to twist your arm, subject you to beatings..... or otherwise subject you to..... humiliation..... mental or emotional harm..." - Oh, really? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I28UcqobzPA (and note at 1min25+)

M. Teri, you say that "Human rights and the freedom to embrace spiritual traditions are not something that can be delegated, tossed aside, trampled on or otherwise defiled or destroyed. These are God-given rights that mankind cannot suppress or eradicate.....". It's also "...the bottom line for countless millions of people (in China).....", uhh.

So, how can anyone justify these same cruelties being visited upon a one-legged young woman in a wheel chair - with just a blind companion in a strange and cold land?

FalunGong flourished in the West "... precisely because of the spiritual vacuum left by the..... morally corrupt pursuit of money and status..." and the Neocon's pursuit of power at any cost. So, "Let their downfall be a lesson in the shallow and mindless pursuits of materialism. Social progress cannot maintain itself without being grounded within a spiritual foundation...". Neocon propaganda "...is a poor substitute for heartfelt spiritual belief and practice...".

M. Teri
27 August 2008 at 19:32

What's the matter, Mr. Chalmers? You lack the moral understanding and intellectual capacity to effectively communicate your own garbled thoughts?

Please try to refrain from taking my words and putting your own twisted bent on them. Typical CCP propagandistic move, by the way - designed to confuse.

Douglas Chalmers
27 August 2008 at 22:01

What's the matter, M. Teri? You lack "moral understanding"?

#Quote: "China has been most successful in reducing poverty, with the numbers falling by more than 600 million, from 835 million in 1981 to 207 million in 2005..... The poverty rate in China has plummeted from 85% to 15.9%, with the biggest part of that drop coming in the past 15 years, when China opened up to Western investment and its coastal regions boomed..... China accounts for nearly all the world's reduction in poverty..". http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7583719.stm

Conversely.....

#Quote: "Political power grows from the barrel of a gun, as China's Mao Tse Tung observed, and the United States spends more on its armed forces than the rest of the world combined. There are more than 700 U.S. military bases in some 130 countries..." http://www.reuters.com/article/reutersComService4/idUSLR6279...

Thus, these days can be compared to China's ancient Romance of the Three Kingdoms but with Russia, the USA and China being the main contenders - and George Bush could be thought of as the first Neocon emperor, duh.

M. Teri
28 August 2008 at 13:24

It's easy to come up with media coverage reflecting the CCP's "growth" because western media has largely become the mouthpiece of the CCP. And are you trying to say that the CCP is justified in its efforts to eradicate spiritual groups because "the US has military bases in some 130 countries" and "Bush is the first Neocon emperor?" That's your rationale?

Gray Beard
28 August 2008 at 18:03

"China has been most successful in reducing poverty, with the numbers falling by more than 600 million, from 835 million in 1981 to 207 million in 2005..... The poverty rate in China has plummeted from 85% to 15.9%, with the biggest part of that drop coming in the past 15 years, when China opened up to Western investment and its coastal regions boomed."

Douglas, why r u quoting these stats in response to M Teri's post? You seem to get off message when someone with clear thoughts starts talking at you.

Anyway, I have no idea how accurate the numbers are. But lets assume for the sake of argument that they are true. Is it your contention that the communists should take credit for this? That is extremely laughable.

The growth took place in the last 15 to 25 years. Guess what happened that caused the growth? Your communist party stopped acting like communists. China was an economic backwater for decades BECAUSE of the communist party. When the party decided (or was ordered) to release part of its neurotic totalitarian control of the people by "allowing" them to go into business for themselves, there was an explosion of economic growth. Capitalism and economic freedom caused the growth, the communists had merely prevented it for decades by sitting on top of the shoulders of the Chinese people, like an 800 pound gorilla.

When someone suggests that the gorilla should also let the people have political freedom, we end up having to listen to rants from people like you about how evil the west is and glorious the CCP, while avoiding responding to the point.

Try to answer this question Douglas, without any deflection if you are capable: why not let the Chinese people choose their leaders, and have those leaders decide what political and religous freedoms the people should have?

brucecarroll999@gmail.com
29 August 2008 at 01:08

Dear Bruce Carroll,

You claimed that you've been involved with Falun

Gong for some time. I wonder in what way you have been involved. You and Douglas are trying to make China/Chinese people and Communist Party as the same and only one.

Huh????

What on earth are you talking about Douglas?

Did you even read what I wrote on this forum?

I suggest you go back and read and then maybe rephrase what you say so that it makes some sense.

"In fact they are not. You and Douglas are attacking Falun Gong on the base of siding with China/Chinese people although only you and Douglas know what the real reason(s) behind it".

I do not have any design on trying to improve the CCP's image, only ET's. And, only for the reason that ET is widely recognized as a mouth piece for Falun Gong. Therefore everything it does, reflects on the image Falun Gong is projecting.

I am not attacking Falun Gong, as you put it; however, I am able to reflect on what I perceive to be a problem and discuss it openly. Since you are a Practitioner, I would expect you have at least an inkling of this basic cultuvation skill.

I am making what I consider a constructive criticism of ET. And, I seriously think many Practitioners should reflect on the impact that ET is making by mirroring the rhetoric of a very fascist warmongering regime.

Lets take the Russian Georgian conflict for example, clearly Russian forces were protecting South Ossetians from a Georgian offensive that indiscriminently slaughtering civilians. ET carries only one side a the story that has potentially devestating consequence, despite lots of evidence disputing the stories they are publishing. Surely some self reflection is required. I don't see much reflection on the issues at all. Its scarey to see some of the rubbish put out by ET with no apparent regard for the truth.

If you dont' believe me, research it yourself.

Maybe they should subscribe to the New Statesman.

As Lemish and other pointed out that Falun Gong practitioners are against the presecution, not against China/Chinese.

I am sure anyone in their right mind is horrified by the persecution of Falun Gong and the type of barbarism China's government has lowered them selves to in this segment of their history.

However, some of the stuff being printed in ET about China is ridiculously superficial, and I don't think they enhance ET's image one bit; rather they make it look rather silly at times, criticizing for the sake of criticizing.

Just the contrary, I believe, the actions Falung Gong pratitioners have taken to stop the persecution greatly benefit the people of China. Otherwise, 1.3 Billion people would have no voice and no rights under the Communist regime.

I agree Falun Gong has made some great inroads in awakening people to what has/is occuring in China, should continue to do so, and should be commended for what it has achieved.; Having said that, I also believe ET betrays its own mission statement in many other areas. Such double standards are hard to reconcile.

My suggestion is that you do not rest on your lorrels but lreflect honestly with an eye to the future.

Keep an open mind, listen to the other side of the story before making judgement. Any action taken or words spoken against your conscience will most likely turn out to be wrong and you'll regret it.

Playing the fear card in the face of a little criticism is pathetic and, if you claim to represent Falun Gong, seriously tarnishes Falun Gong's image .

If you are going to resort to such theatrics then any hope for meaningful dialogue is sorely misplaced. Or, are you seriously threatening me?

I hope you'll put aside all the motives and truly examine your own conscience to understand what you are doing is against your own conscience and how it is going to impact your future. Just for your own good.

I hope you can follow your own advice.

I have stated my motives clearly and truthfully, if you can't accept it, then any further discussion is pointless.

brucecarroll999@gmail.com
29 August 2008 at 01:18

Dear Bruce Carroll,

You claimed that you've been involved with Falun

Gong for some time. I wonder in what way you have been involved. You and Douglas are trying to make China/Chinese people and Communist Party as the same and only one.

Huh????

What on earth are you talking about Douglas?

Did you even read what I wrote on this forum?

I suggest you go back and read and then maybe rephrase what you say so that it makes some sense.

"In fact they are not. You and Douglas are attacking Falun Gong on the base of siding with China/Chinese people although only you and Douglas know what the real reason(s) behind it".

I do not have any design on trying to improve the CCP's image, only ET's. And, only for the reason that ET is widely recognized as a mouth piece for Falun Gong. Therefore everything it does, reflects on the image Falun Gong is projecting.

I am not attacking Falun Gong, as you put it; however, I am able to reflect on what I perceive to be a problem and discuss it openly. Since you are a Practitioner, I would expect you have at least an inkling of this basic cultuvation skill.

I am making what I consider a constructive criticism of ET. And, I seriously think many Practitioners should reflect on the impact that ET is making by mirroring the rhetoric of a very fascist warmongering regime.

Lets take the Russian Georgian conflict for example, clearly Russian forces were protecting South Ossetians from a Georgian offensive that indiscriminently slaughtering civilians. ET carries only one side a the story that has potentially devastating consequence, despite lots of evidence disputing the stories they are publishing. Surely some self reflection is required. I don't see much reflection on the issues at all. Its scarey to see some of the rubbish put out by ET with no apparent regard for the truth.

If you dont' believe me, research the topic yourself.

Perhaps, ET's writers and editors should subscribe to the New Statesman.

I am sure anyone in their right mind is horrified by the persecution of Falun Gong and the type of barbarism China's government has lowered them selves to in this segment of their history.

However, some of the stuff being printed in ET about China is ridiculously superficial, and I don't think they enhance ET's image one bit; rather they make it look rather silly at times, criticizing for the sake of criticizing..

I agree Falun Gong has made some great inroads in awakening people to what has/is occuring in China, should continue to do so, and should be commended for what it has achieved.; Having said that, I also believe ET betrays its own mission statement in many other areas. Such double standards are hard to reconcile.

Playing the fear card in the face of a little criticism is pathetic and, if you claim to represent Falun Gong, seriously tarnishes Falun Gong's image .

If you are going to resort to such theatrics then any hope for meaningful dialogue is sorely misplaced. Or, are you seriously threatening me?

.

I hope you can follow your own advice. Not just for you own good, but for the good of ET and to safeguard the reputation of Falun Gong. My suggestion is that you do not rest on your lorels; rather, reflect honestly with an eye to the future.

I have stated my motives clearly and truthfully, if you can't accept it, then any further discussion is pointless.

M. Teri
29 August 2008 at 03:31

Bruce, this is a blog for the New Statesman, not for ET. Why don't you post your comments to ET? I'm sure they would like to hear your feedback.

brucecarroll999@gmail.com
29 August 2008 at 04:36

Mr Teri.

I guess because i have not seen such a robust discussion going on there.

brucecarroll999@gmail.com
29 August 2008 at 04:44

not to mention there is a better news coverage here.

brucecarroll999@gmail.com
29 August 2008 at 04:54

If i am interested to get research material on China, the latest news on Falun Gong, what the Neo-cons are up to outside America, or if want to browse some of the science pages for example, EET, is worth a visit.

If i want to read credible stories about on what is going on America or elsewhere, I have to find another source of information.

brucecarroll999@gmail.com
29 August 2008 at 05:26

To John A amd and any others who care to respond.

In my view, any scholarly study of Falun Gong has to take into account elements outside of China as well as those inside. While the study of events inside in China might be obscured and difficult to document, the behavior of its media outside of China is out in the open for every one to see and judge for them selves.

To give credit where credit is due ET, New Tang Dynasty TV and Sound of Hope radio have played a vital role in bringing the persecution of Falun Gong into the public eye, and they should continue to do so and I commend EET for its legitimate efforts to expose the crimes against Falun Gong in China;

Nevertheless, by publishing newspapers and circulating them widely, and by running radio and telvison networks, Falun Gong has entered numerous arena's, not the least of which is the world of International politics.

In this regard I find the vast majority of editorial decidedly biased, unashamedly promoting the US's agenda for the never ending war outlined in the PNAC documents. The English versions of ET follows this script almost to the letter.

I do not have to be convinced of how bad the Chinese Communist Party is and I certainly would not want to live in a world modelled in their image;however, I find this incredible duplicity worrying.

The gruesome destruction inherited in the wake of the so called 'War on Terror', could possibly be ignored; however, to consistently publish articles that not only support this military aggression but potentially incite further carnage is worrying to say the least, and seriously fly in the face of the claim that Falun Gong is apolitical, much less benign.

I agree, China has a long, insidious and sinister arm that reaches far and wide; however, is the fate of the Balkans, Afganistan, Iraq, South Oseetia really something anyone would wish upon China, Iran, Russia, Venezuala or any other country that does not accept US hegemony. Surely any karma these countries may have accrued can be taken care of by the appropriate diety without a helping hand from Falun Dafa media.

From another perspective, Is blindly supporting this agenda, the karma EET wishes to invite upon itself and its readers?

I would appreciate if responses stick to the issues I have raised and do not degenerate into usual mele of name calling, claims of affliliated with the CCP, or vague threats of one kind or another. Thank you.

M. Teri
29 August 2008 at 15:10

I think it's a truism that if you can find media to support your views, that media earns its trust in your eyes. ET has earned such trust in my eyes; as have the others that you referenced.

"Surely any karma these countries may have accrued can be taken care of by the appropriate diety (sic) without a helping hand from Falun Dafa media."

[1] CCP has a long arm and ambitions to match, and while YOU may be able to tell the difference between the Communists and traditionalists, or if you are able to see beyond their hype and propaganda to their true, hidden intentions - I find that many people in the west cannot. Hence, the world needs ET to focus on revealing the truths that other media cannot or will not focus on.

[2] I believe there is a Christian saying - "God helps those who help themselves." I believe some form of this principle probably exists within other spiritual traditions as well. To "rely on the appropriate deity" to reveal the truth to people who cannot tell the difference is to abdicate responsibility from ones' own self - something which many in society are already doing at an alarming rate. Hence we have an undercurrent of fear at the growing uncertainty of these times which can leave otherwise intelligent people - numb and incapable of responding effectively or responsibly. The most important thing we have to do NOW is to act responsibly against encroachments on our humanity. Communism seeks to destroy and enslave while hiding its crimes behind a facade of "doing what's best for China." And the CCP's ambitions extend far beyond China's borders. Communism does what's best for the Party, not for China; not for the world; least of all for Americans. As long as that is going on, I expect and demand that responsible media like ET continue to shine a spotlight on such evil.

[3] Precisely because most other media in the west ignores the persecution of Falun Dafa, at the insistence of the CCP, ET plays an especially important role. As to ET's coverage of other regions in the world, I can't comment on because my only interest is in China. But again, I must stress the importance of your sharing your views directly with ET. No media worth its salt will refuse welcome feedback - as long as it legitimately addresses issues of concerns.

[4] The fact that the 3 media you referenced may have Falun Dafa practitioners working there ignores the fact that many writers/analysts who contribute to these media are NOT practitioners. People like Wei Jingsheng, one of China's most respected democracy activist who spent 19 years in a laogai. He's like Nelson Mandela. Or Matas and Kilgour, the two Canadians who exposed the truth about the organ harvesting. Chen Yongli, the former CCP party secretary who defected in 2005 in Sydney, Australia. And many others. Naming these media as "Falun Dafa media", (almost, like it's a curse) is nonsensical. It's like calling the NYT a "Jewish" paper, or the Christian Science Monitor the "Christian" paper. Do we really need to stoop to that level? I wish people would give it a rest, already. It's idiotic.

I hope that people like yourself who welcome "robust dialogue," will also welcome the opportunity to contribute to the concerns shared about our society in other ways as well. Like, by sharing your views with ET. Give them a chance to consider your feedback and respond to your allegations. Frankly, I think it's rather self-indulgent, when you obviously have strong thoughts about it, for you to continue to engage here when you may be able to help ET grow stronger.

I don't know what you mean by ET "blindly supporting this agenda." Maybe that's a question you need to address to ET directly.

brucecarroll999@gmail.com
29 August 2008 at 23:54

Mr Teri

Ad Hominium aside, some good points and some interesting interpretations.

Have you ever read the PNAC statements that form the basis of US foreign policy. If you have, you might understand what i am talking about.

If you think i am using the term Dafa Media in derogatory fashion, you might be indulging in your own persecution complex. Worth looking at, I think.

Writers are one thing, political bias in editorial selection is another. My suggestion is that you don't let your good intentions be used by vested interests. Research, what you are publishing.

In my view, the nine commentaries on the CCP gives a lot of information about, the nature of evil, tyranny in government and the dynamics of socialization and control.

If you are serious about real threat to humanity such things (code named Communism) pose, don't just pay lip service to it, read it, understand, apply it universally, and without prejudice.

The fact that the English version is literarily cumbersome to the point of nearly being unreadable is unfortunate, but what to do.

M. Teri
30 August 2008 at 04:28

You seem to be confused. I'm not ET. Do you fear directing your concerns to them directly? Maybe you should look at this.

Douglas Chalmers
30 August 2008 at 06:49

brucecarroll999@gmail.com, 29 August: "If you are serious about real threat to humanity such things (code named Communism) pose..... In my view, the nine commentaries on the CCP..."

I can't believe the garbage you Americans continually produce in your desperate attempts to justify your own meaningless consumer-oriented existence on this planet. The real truth is that you miss playing with your nuclear WMD's since Horishima and Nagasaki and your also pathetic justifications for that.

You are NOT "the world's policeman" and you are NOT welcome in Asia except for your money and that is only to trade as normal civilized people, not hegemonic demons. Note that the only country threatening the world with WW3 is the USA! In the nuclear age of global waming, 'live and let live' is the paramount clue to mutual survival, not 'winner takes all'.

All the more hypocritical that you rabbit on about "...the PNAC" and "US foreign policy..." but still want to view everybody other country in the world as either evil or potentially evil or susceptible to evil but not yourselves. This is a very juvenile state that you have not been able to free yourselves from as a result of your own excessively precious self-indulgences and self-aggrandizements for so long, uhh.

raiatea
31 August 2008 at 05:34

ONLY FALUN GONG PRACTITIONERS HAVE HAD THE COURAGE TO EXPOSE THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY FOR WHAT IT IS. ABSOLUTELY VILE!!!

M. Teri
31 August 2008 at 15:55

Raiatea is right. Until the publication of the Nine Commentaries, no one knew how vile the CCP was. Not even Chinese people - both within China and overseas. Most people was fooled by the CCP's propaganda, and forming relations with China enabled that propaganda to spread around the world. CCP was also able to find recruits as spies in various countries - through student and business associations. As for PNAC and other foreign policies, you will always be wrong in trying to categorize Falun Gong within that realm. I strongly recommend you visit the Falun Dafa Information Center (FDIC) as the official voice for Falun Gong. In it, you will learn about the practice and the persecution. Falun Gong does not "collude" with any other groups and does not follow anyone else's agenda. The focus is to stop the persecution, to stop the killings and organ harvesting, and to bring the abusers to justice. That's pretty much it, in a nutshell. FDIC will make official statements through its website press releases - as it did concerning the Olympics. So check there. If you have questions concerning its position on any issue - I recommend you write to FDIC directly. I'm sure they will appreciate the interest you express, and will be happy to respond.

M. Teri
31 August 2008 at 16:01

FDIC website is www.faluninfo.net. Among its publications, I find their press releases and their magazine, Compassion, to be especially informative.

Douglas Chalmers
01 September 2008 at 18:21

Once more, #M. Teri, you haven't the faintest idea what you are talking about, uhh http://www.cantonfair.org.cn/en/info/web_cast/index.htm

Douglas Chalmers
01 September 2008 at 18:46

Oops, should have been posted in response to #M.Teri in the "China’s other world" topic on the FLG..... LOL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVjZVxhrlVk&feature=user

MK
01 September 2008 at 22:19

"Douglas", you have completely blown your cover by now. It has been intriguing, yet sad, to see the disguise come off piece by piece over the progress of these comments in response to Mr. Lemish's articles.

It is now also clear that you have a hatred of Westerners. This is also sad.

You have exhibited your deep loyalty to the Chinese regime, and for the moment that may bring you some benefits. But you have not exhibited any capacity to relate to rational comments made by so many others who have patiently explained the situation to you from many angles.

You have an agenda and you simply do not care about anything otherwise. You can attempt to batter me with your wild, whirling and irrational words, but I won't engage in conversation when there really is none to be had. By this point, you are seen very clearly. I would not even say "shame", as I doubt that has any significance to you. What you have written exhibits everything clearly.

On another, conversational note, Bruce, would you be able to more specifically explain how it is that you think ET has been unwittingly duped into supporting US angles on international affairs? Since most of their articles on these issues come from Reuters, then I would assume you feel that Reuters is also, wittingly or unwittingly, following the US agenda on international issues. It seems to me that ET publishes a wide view of international issues, but I may not be seeing it clearly.

I do agree that ET is the place to go for China issues. No one has the inside sources in China or the reporters on the ground there who are communicating the issues that Western and overseas Chinese language media are afraid to report. Many Chinese bloggers (I'd love to meet these guys) try to tell bits of truth but that info is quickly taken down by the regime's censors. No one is doing it with an organized media publication such as ET or New Tang Dynasty TV or Sound of Hope.

brucecarroll999@gmail.com
04 September 2008 at 03:11

Micheal Barker. Interesting article; however, for me, any disturbance revolves who/what Falun Gong media appears to support rather than who may support Falun Gong.

Hopefully, people from all quarters will answer Falun Gong's call to end the persecution and. investigate allegations of organ harvesting.

Having said that, I seriously believe Falun Gong needs to be careful about who/what they directly or indirectly support and promote in their media.

Seeing a consistent commitment to truth,. compassion, and forbearance in these pages would be a welcome relief. Rather, what is regularly observed are articles that encourage ignorance and highlight the geopolitical aspirations of a very malevolent and belligerent, criminal minority.

Articles that incite war and lead to a more tense and polarize world; only reinforce a culture of us and them, of finger pointing and blame, of distrust and incrimination.

Peter
06 September 2008 at 11:21

What FG faces today in China resembles what the Jews experienced during the Nazis Germany period. Few voice of courage and humanity in defense of FG's rights from the international community, media, or so-called democracies. It appears that the morality of society today is not sustained by virtue, honor, and dignity, but indifference and self-interest, which will in turn drag humanity to the danger of self-destruction.