By Zhang Yun

(Clearwisdom.net) Five shows of the 2008 Chinese New Year Spectacular were held in Toronto, with the last on January 20. The beautiful performances were well-received by the audiences.


Thanh Minh Tran, Director of Vietnam Times

After watching the final show at the Sony Centre in Toronto, Director of Vietnam Times Mr. Thanh Minh Tran said, "The performance was well done. I have never seen such an excellent show."

He said that the dancing was nice with colorful costumes. The dancers were first class, and the backdrops were excellent. Though he did not understand Chinese, the words on the backdrops helped him to keep up with the show.

Mr. Tran said, "I especially liked 'The Power of Awareness', which helped me to know more about Falun Gong. We know that evil can never defeat good. There is a similar thing occurring in Vietnam, with the Communist party always trying to control people's thinking and their freedom of expression. From my past experiences, I understood the dance well, which was a presentation of people's awareness and righteous choices."

"I will write an article about the show for our newspaper to let people know about the show." said Mr. Tran at the end.



Ms. Anta brought her son to watch the show

Ms. Anta is a department manager at IBM, and she took her six-year-old son to the show. She said that the show was awesome and congratulated the hosts on such a successful performance. She said that she understood the performance and would read the program brochure after going home to learn more.

Ms. Anta is an Indian born in Canada. She said that some of the cultural elements of the show were quite similar to Indian culture. She said that she was happy to have learned some things about Chinese traditional culture from the show.

Posting date: 1/27/2008

Chinese version available

By Li Ruoyun

(Clearwisdom.net) Bugene Sterling, a retired music instructor from San Hose, and his wife Susan Sterling watched Chinese New Year Spectacular show in San Francisco on January 23, 2008. Mr. Sterling highly praised the show, saying, "Absolutely well done!"

Mr. Sterling was glad to have the chance to learn more about Chinese culture. He said, "It was a beautiful presentation of ancient Chinese culture and all of the wonderful things that go along with it. I don't know much about Chinese classical dance, and it was very interesting to see it tonight. I understood a lot of what went on, which surprised me." He continued, "I think in this age, we have so much diversity in the world, but we are all one, and we all need to learn about other cultures. I really appreciate this tonight."

Mr. Sterling also praised the excellent artistry displayed in the show. "I've been a musician all my life, and I think the singers did very, very well," he said. He was impressed most with the performance "Descent of the Celestial Kings." He said, "Every culture has its own mythology and this gave us the sense of Chinese mythology of the gods creating kings to come down to the earth. It was beautifully done." He remarked that all of the stories in different cultures have things in common that deal with trials and tribulations, joys and sadness. He added, "We all have human emotions, so we can all relate to them."

His wife Susan enjoyed the performances and the meaning behind them. She said, "I think that it shows that it is a human need to be free from oppression. And the truth is good, regardless of what it is, truth is beautiful."

Susan has a background in fashion and said that she especially enjoyed the costuming and the dancing. She noted, "This is depicting a beautiful culture that I don't know a lot about. The body movements and the use of hands are very gentle and delicate and graceful. And the women were floating across the stage. I loved that."

Posting date: 1/27/2008

Chinese version available

By Falun Dafa practitioner in Atlanta

(Clearwisdom.net) January 21, 2008, was a national holiday to commemorate the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. More than 1,000 representatives from all walks of life and different places around the country attended an annual commemorative ceremony in Atlanta. The ceremony was held at the Ebenezer Baptist Church Horizon Sanctuary. The coordinator of the Mid-USA Falun Dafa Association, Georgia Tech graduate Dr. Sen Yang, was invited to make a speech entitled, "I Too Have a Dream." This was the fourth time that a Falun Gong practitioner was invited to attend the ceremony and make a speech.

Dignitaries attending the ceremony included former President Bill Clinton, Republican presidential candidate and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, U.S. Senator John Isakson, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, and numerous religious leaders. The affair was also attended by many of Dr. King's relatives.


Falun Dafa Association President Sen Yang pays tribute to Dr. King


Panoramic view of the congregation


Daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr is being interviewed

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr once said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." As a leader of the civil rights movement, Martin Luther King Jr exhausted all his efforts to fight for freedom in a peaceful and nonviolent manner. He was imprisoned and finally assassinated. His most famous speech was "I Have A Dream."

Falun Gong practitioners' peaceful resistance, shares many similarities with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s nonviolent resistance at the time. In his speech, Dr. Sen Yang said:

"I lived in China for 31 years and now in this country for 15 years. I love China and I love the people of China. I want them to be respected and live like human beings. I want them to enjoy the same inalienable rights that God has given to all his people, not only in the United States, but everywhere.

"I dream that all people in China will have freedom of thoughts and that they won't have to endure persecution (torture, illegal arrests and interrogation) because of their most deeply held thoughts and ideals.

"I dream that all people in China will have freedom of religion and that they won't be persecuted because of what they believe; and that they won't be sentenced to illegal prison terms or subjected to extra-judicial killing.

"I dream that Falun Gong practitioners in China can one day, walk to the public park and start to do the morning exercise without being beaten by the police."

The audience responded with a prolonged standing ovation. After the rally, many audience members, including government officials walked up to practitioners to shake hands and give them a hug. Some people said, "After listening to your stories, I cried. I'll pray for you." Some people said, "You must keep going. My heart is with you!" Some other people expressed their thanks for bringing up the topic of Falun Gong. Dr. King's youngest daughter, Bernice King said, "Thank you for coming here, I appreciated your speech. Your speech earned recognition from all. We will pray for China to enjoy freedom one day. Be firm in your belief, and stand up for freedom. We will be hand in hand with you. This day will come soon."

Some from the audience later recognized Dr. Yang at the airport, and said that they were honored to hear the stories about Falun Gong.

Atlanta's Fox 5 made a live broadcast of the event.



The following is a transcript of the speech:

I Too Have a Dream

Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Sen Yang, President, Mid-USA Falun Dafa Association

Ebenezer Baptist Church Horizon Sanctuary

Atlanta, Georgia

Jan. 21, 2008

President Clinton, Governor Huckabee, Senator Isakson, Mayor Franklin, and all honorable guests:

In 1992, I started my graduate study at Georgia Tech. I landed in Atlanta, a great city best known as the home of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I am honored to call this great city my second home in honor of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. And "Georgia is on my mind".

But when I first arrived, I knew little about Dr. King. I very much wanted to return to China. Everything was so unfamiliar to me. But then I noticed something I had never before experienced.

I noticed that people in this country could say what they think without being arrested by the thought police. I noticed that people went to church on Sundays and that all people were free to practice their religion. I never saw people being arrested for Bible study or for trying to be good and kind citizens of this country.

There was only one word that could describe my feeling: Freedom.

At first, I thought these freedoms were easily achieved in the United States. But then as I studied U.S. history, I learned about Martin Luther King Jr., one of the main leaders of the American civil rights movement. I read Dr. King's "I Have a Dream Speech," and started to have my own dream.

I talked with a friend in China. He asked me what greatest thing was in US. I told him it was "freedom" I enjoy the most. He replied: "You are rich and we are poor. We will chase after 'freedom' when we get more money." I told my friend: "You don't need to be rich to fight for the right to be free." I told him that Dr. King fought for the freedom not because he was rich, but because he had the heart.

I lived in China for 31 years and now in this country for 15 years. I love China and I love the people of China. I want them to be respected and live like human beings. I want them to enjoy the same inalienable rights that God has given to all his people, not only in the United States, but everywhere.

Inspired by Dr. King's "I Have a Dream Speech," I thank him for the sacrifices he endured to help all people in the United States become free. His life is an example for all people everywhere who have a dream of freedom, even me - a humble physicist happy to live as a free man in this country. I too have a dream.

I dream that all people in China will have freedom of thoughts and that they won't have to endure persecution (torture, illegal arrests and interrogation) because of their most deeply held thoughts and ideals.

I dream that all people in China will have freedom of religion and that they won't be persecuted because of what they believe; and that they won't be sentenced to illegal prison terms or subjected to extra judicial killing.

I dream that Falun Gong practitioners in China can one day, walk to the public park and start to do the morning exercise without being beaten by the police.

I have a dream that my daughter can return to China and will not be judged by her belief in Falun Gong, but by her character. And, as Martin Luther King Jr. said,

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

Posting date: 1/23/2008
Chinese version available

By Mary Silver
Epoch Times Atlanta Staff
Jan 21, 2008


Freedom: Falun Dafa Association President Dr. Sen Yang addresses the standing-room-only crowd at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta on January 21, 2008. Dr. Yang called for freedom for the people of China, including Falun Gong practitioners. Former President Bill Clinton, who spoke at the event, is seated at the end of the middle pew.

King's Birthday Celebration Draws Surprise Visitors

By Mary Silver

Epoch Times Atlanta Staff

Atlanta--Former President Bill Clinton made an unannounced speech at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta on January 21. Mr. Clinton said he, "cried like a baby" when he heard King's 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech alone in his middle class house in Arkansas. This would have been Dr. King's 79th birthday. King was assassinated at age 39. A diverse group of dignitaries celebrated King's life, including Dr. Sen Yang, President of the Mid-USA Falun Dafa Association, Morehouse President Dr. Robert Franklin, Congressman Sanford Bishop, Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, and Presidential candidate and Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. "Remember! Celebrate! Act! is the King center slogan, and the service called for action.

AME Bishop for Tennessee and Kentucky Vashti Murphy Mackenzie gave the keynote address. She is a pioneer, the first woman bishop in her denomination. Her sermon was structured like a symphony, ranging from Cicero to C. S. Lewis with detours for Gandhi, Oprah and Ida B. Wells. She cited heroes who were followed by greater heroes, from Old Testament times to today. She said we must work and dig our own wells, and that we are climbing Jacob's ladder, as we expand on the dreams of those who went before us.

Bishop McKenzie said "I dare you to step forward and follow your dreams even if you don't have any support and have to step out by yourself. Widen your circle of concern to include people who don't look like you, dress like you, or talk like you. I dare you to come back next year not in the same place where you are this year."

The service opened and closed with "We Shall Overcome," the civil rights anthem, sung in Hebrew, French and English.

http://en.epochtimes.com/news/8-1-21/64470.html

By a French practitioner

As on previous Sundays, Falun Gong practitioners in Paris exposed the Chinese Communist regime’s inhuman persecution of Falun Gong practitioners to tourists at Human Rights Square near the Eiffel Tower on the afternoon of January 13th, 2008. After learning about the extent and severity of the persecution, some people said, “The Chinese Communist Regime’s persecution of Falun Gong practitioners must end.”




Talking to practitioners and looking at information about the persecution of Falun Gong



Signing to support an end to the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners

Placed on a small table were leaflets and information newspapers in Chinese, French and many other languages. The two banners reading “Stop the Evil CCP’s Persecution of Falun Gong” and “The Things Happening in China……” were erected at a eye-catching spot in the square while a series of photos exposing the Chinese regime’s cruel persecution of Falun Gong practitioners were displayed on the ground. Some practitioners, with leaflets and signature forms in their hands, explained the background about Falun Gong to the tourists and collected signatures on a petition condemning the persecution. Over a dozen Falun Gong practitioners of various ages practised the Falun Gong exercises peacefully despite the wind. Without any microphones the scene was so peaceful that it was like what is described by the lyrics of the song “Sit by My Side” as follows:

Sit by my side, closing your eyes;
together in silence, we call for
the end of torturing, the end of killing,
the end of persecution; compassion grows in our hearts;
together in silence, our wishes can make a difference.

On that day, Falun Gong practitioners met many tourists from Poland, Korea, Ireland, China, France, the U.K., Israel, Switzerland, etc. Many of them, including those who live in France, heard of the persecution of Falun Gong in China for the first time. After viewing the photos, talking to Falun Gong practitioners and watching their peaceful demonstration of the Falun Gong exercises, they could not help but exclaim, “I cannot imagine how such peaceful people might do any harm to society and why the Chinese Communist regime would use these torture methods to persecute them.”

A student from Poland said, “Poland once suffered the atrocities of the communist regime until it broke away from communism at the end of 1989. I was then too young to have deeper feelings or experiences in this regard, but through my parents’ explanation, I realised that only after we got rid of communism did we really have genuine freedom.”

Some Korean teachers came to view the photos, along with a dozen or so Korean students who came there to participate in their Green Camp activities. The teachers signed to support an end to the persecution. Some of the teachers had already had been aware of Falun Gong before they came to France. When the teachers explained the meanings of the photos to the students as well as the Chinese regime’s atrocity of harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners, the students listened attentively. Since the Korean leaflets were no longer available, a teacher who didn’t know the fact about Falun Gong picked up the English-version. She said that she would tell her students about the information in the pamphlet after reading it.

After seeing practitioners practising the sitting meditation for a while, a man could not help walking up to the practitioners and having a picture taken with them. Upon hearing that they could access more information about the truth of Falun Gong, two tourists from China picked up various materials before they left.

Upon seeing the posters in simplified Chinese characters, two Western experts on China who had studied in China said that the CCP has damaged Chinese culture by simplifying traditional Chinese characters. In response to their enquiries about Falun Gong activities, practitioners told them, “We usually hold activities here every Sunday afternoon. During the New Year, we also participated in a New Year parade to show Falun Gong practitioners' magnificence and genuine Chinese traditional culture. Falun Gong itself is rooted in the five thousand year long Chinese culture and its main principles, truthfulness, compassion and forbearance are in fact the essence of Chinese culture.” These two Westerners were very glad and they said that they would be back to hear more.

There were some students from Ireland. As soon as they heard the truth, they signed the petition one after another. When their tour guide told them it was time to leave, they still insisted on signing their names to uphold justice.

After signing the petition, a French lady said, "What I’ve done is so little." A Falun Gong practitioner replied sincerely, "In fact, what you’ve done is very precious. If everyone who knows the truth about Falun Gong is willing to reach out their hands, then the outcome will be so enormous that the evil CCP can no longer persecute Falun Gong".

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