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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.
The Cultural Revolution in China was led by Mao Zedong, due to this Liang and many others faced overwhelming obstacles in many aspects of their life such as work, family and everyday encounters, if affected everyone’s families life and education, Liang lets us experience his everyday struggles during this era, where the government determined almost every aspect of life.
"The Universal Declaration of Human Rights." The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada, n.d. Web. 03 May 2014.
The Communist Party of China (CCP), in power since 1950, is not famous for its tolerance of those who do not agree with its ideology and opinion. People must adhere to the Party’s legislation, and face consequences (the severity of which is debated) if they resist or rebel. One way the CCP controls members is through religion. Although the government encourages almost cult-like devotion to the Party, it allows its constituents to participate in certain major international religions. One religion that is illegal to participate in under Chinese law is the spiritual practice of Falun Gong. A new movement, the Falun Gong grew quickly in China and globally, and was officially banned in 1999. The CCP claims the Falun Gong is evil, and should be destroyed humanely to save China. However, the Falun Gong is peaceful, and the Chinese government is the institution that tortures, jails, and abuses its citizens if they are practitioners of the religion. The international response calls for the halting of these immoral actions, but China still claims that it is destroying an evil institution. The simple fact China denies its members freedom of religion violates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which China has signed, but the violence against its people if they adhere to Falun Gong beliefs is a gross abuse of its power. Although China bans many religions, there is special emphasis on the Falun Gong, and many wonder why. One highly possible reason is that the growth, international reach, and popularity of the Falun Gong threatens the universal power the CCP holds in China, weakening the government, and therefore leading to the destruction of the threat: the Falun Gong.
Who would’ve thought one of the most dangerous Communist leaders of all times would be born into a wealthy (as a result of a family farm) Confucian schooled family? Mao Zedong’s unlikely circumstances claim the epitome of irony. Growing up resentful of his environment, the fearlessly bloodthirsty former Chairman of China made many permanent (as of yet) changes to Chinese society and morals. Though Confucianism officially ended in China in 1905, Mao Zedong’s years as chairman blended the Chinese society into a Communist one.
Declaration of Human Rights: Dignity and Justice for All of Us. Accessed on October 29,
Before any legislation could be implemented, a definition of human rights had to be compiled and accepted. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was approved in 1948 by th...
The treatment of Chinese immigrants and Chinese-Americans is often overlooked as the struggles of other ethnic groups in the United States take center stage in history. Many remember the plight of African-Americans and their struggle over basic civil liberties during the 19th and 20th centuries in America. However we shouldn’t forget that the Chinese were another group heavily discriminated against with the use of legal racism in the form of laws violating basic human rights and Sinophobe sentiments held by the American populace. After the “fall” of China to communism, anti-Chinese sentiments were only exacerbated due to the second Red Scare and the Communist witch hunts that it created. People of Chinese descent were another unfortunate target of racism in America’s long history of legalized racism.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948, was the result of the experience of the Second World War. With the end of that war, and the creation of the United Nations, the international community vowed never again to allow atrocities like those of that conflict happen again. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and rel...
...ghur rights, as human beings, being violated, and who's responsibility is it to make sure that rights aren’t violated, as well as if China is living up to its responsibilities as a world power, to take care of its people.
Shortly after broadcasting this episode of the Jimmy Kimmel show on late night October 16th2013, controversy has raised among many Chinese-Americans, and later Chinese abroad. To them, the “joke” of “killing all the Chinese” does not seem to be fun. Thus, the protest of Jimmy Kimmel and ABC soon spread out among many of the Chinese-Americans and Chinese citizens nationwide to gather outside ABC’s...
"Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Jan. 2013. Web. 21 Nov. 2013. .
Declaration of Human Rights: Dignity and Justice for All of Us. Accessed on October 29,
It can also be argued that the political activities of Chairman Mao’s Communist China were more of a continuation of traditional Imperial China, based heavily in Confucian values, than a new type of Marxist-Leninist China, based on the Soviet Union as an archetype. While it is unquestionable that a Marxist-Leninist political structure was present in China during this time, Confucian values remained to be reinforced through rituals and were a fundamental part of the Chinese Communist ...
The spread of Communism and its ideals significantly increased during the final stages of the Chinese Civil War which intensified after the Second World War and resulted in a victory to the Communists in October 1949. At this time, the majority of the provinces in China were led by either the GMD or the CCP. However, the civilians in the GMD-ruled cities were suffering rapid inflation, strikes, violence and riots which led to a collapse of public order. Adding to this instability, corruption was rife within the Nationalist party’s lead...
China is rapidly becoming a prominent country within the global community. With its capitalist economy, China has grown from a third-world country to a modernized center of industry. In spite of economic freedom, the Chinese people do not have the equally important social freedoms enjoyed by citizens of other global powers. Social movements such as religious growth, especially Christian expansion, are strongly scrutinized by the Chinese government because it believes it will undermine the current ruling party and Chinese society. Contrary to this opinion, the growth of Christianity in China is more likely to increase the degree of stability in Chinese society.