Western Practitioner: Some Thoughts About the Notion of "Getting Involved in Politics"

(Clearwisdom.net) The dictionary defines "politics" as, "The art or science of government or governing, especially the governing of a political entity, such as a nation, and the administration and control of its internal and external affairs." The definition of "governing" is, "To make and administer public policy and affairs." Therefore, to "get involved in politics" would be to "get involved in the governing of a political entity and control of its affairs."

Falun Dafa does not get involved in politics, and therefore does not "get involved in the governing of a political entity and control of its affairs," nor does it influence the "making and administering of public policy and affairs." Ever since Falun Dafa was introduced to the public, Falun Dafa and its practitioners have never attempted to influence the governance of any nation, nor has it tried to control the affairs of any nation.

In the west, Falun Dafa practitioners go to Chinese consulates to appeal and protest the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) and Jiang Zemin's persecution of Falun Dafa and its practitioners. Is this "getting involved in politics"? Of course not! Such actions cannot be considered political, as they simply reveal the facts of the persecution and ask for an end to the persecution. They are not attempts to make and administer public policy, nor are they attempts to govern China or control its affairs.

Falun Dafa practitioners are exposing the evil that the CCP has committed in China, especially the wrongdoings committed during the persecution of Falun Dafa. Is this "getting involved in politics"? Again, according to the definition of "politics" this is not at all political, as it is in no way an attempt to govern China or control its affairs. It is simply exposing the evils of the current ruling party in China (Chinese Communist Party) that has persecuted Falun Dafa, so as to let the world see its true nature and understand the unjust persecution of Falun Dafa.

Falun Dafa practitioners meet with government representatives of various levels in many countries throughout the world, and talk to them about the persecution of Falun Dafa. Is this "getting involved in politics"? Of course not! This is simply revealing the injustices, asking for help and for justice to be upheld. Though the passing of resolutions demonstrating the representatives' disapproval of the persecution of Falun Dafa involves a certain political process, the role of Falun Dafa practitioners is not a political role, as they do not attempt to control or govern the state, but are simply expressing to the state's representatives the truth of Falun Dafa and the persecution, and encouraging the representatives to stand on the side of justice. The choices thereafter made by the government representatives may involve a political process and influence policy and affairs of the state, but that specific political process is completely executed by the government representatives of their own free will, and not at all by practitioners of Falun Dafa. Therefore the practitioners are simply not "getting involved in politics."

Then why is it that when some who see our appeals and protests, or see practitioners meeting with government representatives, that they feel that Falun Dafa is "getting involved in politics"? Why when people read articles written by Falun Dafa practitioners exposing the evils of the CCP, do some also feel these articles are "political"? It is because many people have somewhat incorrect notions about what constitutes "getting involved in politics." Today, many people will label any protest or discussion of any affair under the rule of a government as "getting involved in politics." But this is a misinterpretation of the term. Politics specifically relates to the governance, administration, and control of state affairs, while protests, appeals, and exhibits clarifying the truth are in a completely different category.

I remember hearing the following comparison made once with regard to the persecution of Falun Dafa: What if in a certain town, the mayor does not like your mother, even though she is innocent and has done nothing wrong. The mayor uses his power to have her arrested, beaten by the police, put on a show trial, and sentenced to prison. If you go to the mayor's office and appeal to have your mother released, and also write articles revealing how bad that mayor and his administration are, and how poorly they have conducted themselves and the similar things they have done in the past, are you "getting involved in politics"? Of course not! Your actions have nothing to do with politics. They are fully intended to uphold justice. But if this incident happened under the rule of the CCP, the mayor would say that you are "getting involved in politics" and unleash all his power on you to eliminate you. At the same time, the people would go along with this, as you would be considered "political" and therefore these actions of revealing the evil nature of the mayor and his regime would be considered bad, and in the people's minds it would not only be acceptable to eliminate you, but it would be seen as correct and "upholding the stability of society."

As practitioners of Falun Dafa, we need to be clear on the difference between what we are doing and "getting involved in politics." As members of society, we need to be clear on what is truly upholding justice, and support those who stand up for what is right. If we are influenced by or even we ourselves use the label "getting involved in politics" improperly, then we are not only not supporting what is right and good, but also adding to the suppression of justice.