By now it is almost like a yearly ritual. As Chinese New Year is drawing near, Falun Gong is doing a publicity campaign to promote its Chinese New Year gala performance around the world in marquee venues. The advertisement I saw along highways in Chicago calls itself Divine Performing Arts. Divine Performing Arts, what a name.
For unsuspecting Americans who are interested in Chinese culture, the Divine Performing Arts billboard can be attractive on surface but ultimately misleading, because nowhere did it mention that it is a front for Falun Gong. Therefore a number of unsuspecting people who went to the show last year were disappointed, to the point that they left before the show was even over, as mentioned in this NYT article.
Here is something I know, based on personal experience:
A good high school friend, who I shared a dorm with, played basketball and joked together for three years, went berserk after becoming a FLG convert, killed his wife, then committed suicide;
A good friend's relative got sick, but refused to take medications, citing that contradicted with FLG belief.
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bewiser Said, January 16, 2009 @
Would you like to substantiate the first claim? Sounds very much like communist propaganda.
The second is that person's own choice.
Most of the flyers mention Falun Gong.
Oh, and please see this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reports_of_organ_harvesting_from_Falun_Gong_practitioners_in_China
Maya Rock Said, January 16, 2009 @
The first claim is a variation of a well-known "urban legend", spread by CCP agents tasked specifically to tarnish Falun Gong.
The second, well, here is one: My good friend's relative was very sick, but refused to to be admitted to a hospital because he does not believe in western medicine, but prefer to take Chinese herbal medicine instead. He died from this illness subsequently. We should therefore condemn all Chinese herbal medicine to hell because someone believe in it and died as a result??
A Chinese Said, January 16, 2009 @
Bewiser, don't you think it is a bit ridiculous to say the New York Time runs communist propoganda?
I don't like communists that much, but I think it is a bit too much to have torture scenes in Falun Gong's performance for the Chinese New Year celebration. It is the New Year for god's sake! I don't want to see torture scenes! And it is true that you are not honest to people. I was in NYC in a conference last February with American friends and we were fooled into the performance. Can't you be more honest?
Haidong Ji Said, January 17, 2009 @
To bewiser and Maya Rock,
When and how did my high school classmate's death become "urban legend" and "propaganda"? Speaking of which, drivels from Falun Gong, such as the Epoch Times, NTD TV, and various other publications and pamphlets actually give the CCP's propaganda department a run for its money! Your sensational claim of organ harvesting, based on information I gathered so far, is a perfect example.
The billboard I saw didn't mention Falun Gong, and that was what I wrote about, so don't bring out the flyers. Speaking of flyers, the one I saw in the past did NOT mention Falun Gong on it. I know because I was tricked first and became interested in seeing the show myself after reading the flyer, and saw the flyer mentioned NTD TV that I've never heard of before up to that point. It was only after searching for NTD TV that I realized who is truly behind it. I haven't seen this year's flyer, so your comment of "Most of the flyers mention Falun Gong", using your method of attack, is "propaganda and urban legend".
Put the merit of western medicine and Chinese medicine aside, Maya Rock, your argument does not hold water. An individual's choice of whether or not to take medication, what kind of medication, is his/her own prerogative. However, if such individual's said decision is based on doctrines, delivered brainwashing style after joining a sect or cult, then I think it is reasonable to hold the cult accountable.
Now let me borrow your modus operandi, bewiser and Maya Rock, by asking you this. Since both of you are based out of Queensland, Australia at the moment, where Falun Gong maintains a sizable media operation, prove to me that you are NOT part of FLG's squad that prowls the web, silencing dissent, unleashing personal attacks, and smear people holding a different opinion as spreading propaganda and being brainwashed.
(www.haidongji.com, January 15, 2009)
Original text from: http://www.haidongji.com/2009/01/15/divine-performing-arts-is-sponsored-by-falun-gong/#comment-17648