Falun Gong: Free to Believe

1296 Words3 Pages

Today, Americans know freedom as the most basic right, so it’s shocking for them to learn about countries that don’t have freedom. Americans know about the cruelties in the Middle East, but what about the atrocities in China? Under a communist government, everything in China is restricted, limited, and monitored. Miraculously, one religion emerged from the country and spread by the name of “Falun Gong.” Falun Gong practitioners are faced with persecution in China, pushing them to head overseas to practice in peace. Although it may cause conflicts, America’s reinforcing religious freedom internationally is crucial, as not only will it save millions of lives all over the world, but also preserve the national identity of the United States as an advocate of human rights.
In 1992, Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Gong, began spreading the practice in China, and by 1998, there were more than 100 million Falun Gong practitioners. They came from all walks of life, from poor farmers to high ranking officials, and all strictly adhered to truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, their three most important principles. In a government-conducted survey in 1998, Falun Gong “improved health, uplifted moral standards, and encouraged social stability.” As the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) became increasingly corrupt over time, Falun Gong grew, perhaps because its emphasis on righteousness filled a moral void created by the dissolute government.
A communist government is one that feeds on being the one and only power. Believing that it was competing with a powerful and ever-growing religion, the government felt threatened. They feared that the number of Falun Gong practitioners would eventually exceed the number of Party members, and once that hap...

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"Background: Persecution of Falun Gong in China." Fofg.org. Friends of Falun Gong, n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2013.
The Epoch Times. Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party. Gillette, NJ: Yih Chyun Book, 2004. Print.
"International Religious Freedom Act." United Nations. 1948. Web. 16 Nov. 2013
Roosevelt, Eleanor. Introduction. In Your Hands: A Guide for Community Action for the Tenth Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Print.
"United States Government." Faluninfo.net. Falun Dafa Information Center, 25 May 2008. Web. 16 Nov. 2013.
"The Universal Declaration of Human Rights." United Nations. 10 Dec. 1948. Web. 16 Nov. 2013
"Why Is Falun Dafa Persecuted In China?" Behindlies 09.wordpress.com. Behind Lies 09, 8 Dec. 2010. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.
"A Young Falun Gong Practitioner: Kristine Feng." Personal interview. 16 Nov. 2013.

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