Seven years ago, the quiet city of Waco, with a population of 100,000, became known the world over as the site of the Branch Davidians incident. Having witnessed this tragedy with their own eyes, the residents of Waco have become more skeptical towards all kinds of belief systems and undoubtedly more seasoned at telling the good from the evil.
In January 1999, Falun Dafa was brought to Waco. Since then, many Falun Dafa workshops and seminars were held at fitness centers, public libraries, entertainment centers, community centers and other public places in Waco. The profoundness of Falun Dafa combined with its simple and easy to learn movements attracted many local residents of different ages and backgrounds. Through cultivating Falun Dafa, they realized that 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance' was indeed the path to the ultimate truth. Mr.Laurence, a 84-year-old Waco resident told everyone he met: "I have tried many different cultivation ways. But Falun Dafa is singularly the most effective cultivation method." Mrs.Mary, another Waco practitioner, echoed, "After practicing Falun Dafa, my mind and body have changed dramatically. Even my husband is very surprised at the changes he has seen."
Last July, Jiang Zemin began cracking down on Falun Gong, labeling it a cult, and inhumanly persecuting millions of Falun Gong practitioners. Falun Dafa practitioners displayed great compassion and forbearance in the face of such brutal treatment and willingly faced the test of life and death, leaving the world in awe.
The Waco Tribune, the major local newspaper, conducted an interview with local Dafa practitioners and published a favorable report. One local church invited Falun Gong practitioners to give a presentation on Falun Gong and the persecution in China. The audience watched the video "Falun Gong, the Real Story" and raised numerous questions. At the end, they queued up to sign their names on the letter of appeal calling for the peaceful resolution to the Falun Gong issue. Some of them started practicing Falun Gong after the event. Subsequently, these western practitioners formed the hongfa group of the Jung Society; together with practitioners from Dallas and Houston, they played an important role in spreading Dafa in Texas.
Falun Gong has become a regular program at a certain entertainment center in Waco. The managers of the center have themselves attended the nine-day seminar and have learned the full set of Falun Gong exercises. They are amazed at the profoundness and the mystical effect of Dafa. They are totally perplexed and unable to accept the fact that such a wonderful and harmless practice is being suppressed in China.
In February, Waco's state Congressman, Mr. Edwards, received three Dafa practitioners at his office, and expressed his concern regarding the crackdown on Falun Gong in China. He extended his sympathy to the Dafa practitioners. He not only showed his support, he was very interested in finding out about the Dafa. He and his assistants, amid their busy schedules, sat down to watch the videotape 'Falun Gong, the Real Story' to gain deeper insight.
A peaceful and righteous Fa shines anywhere. Falun Dafa has gradually blended itself into all kinds of activities in Waco. Early this year, Falun Dafa practitioners in several cities of Texas participated in a peace march in commemoration of Martin Luthur King. They demonstrated Falun Gong exercises to local residents and completed the walk to the serene music of Pudu. Local newspapers, radios and two TV stations covered their participation. One western practitioner remarked, "During the march, I could sense the strength of righteousness exuded by every Falun Dafa practitioner. I was deeply moved."
In recognition of Falun Dafa's benefits to local citizens, Mrs. Linda Ethridge, mayor of Waco, proclaimed November 25 as Falun Dafa Day and encouraged citizens of Waco and government employees to try the practice system. At the workshop that followed, more people joined in the practice.
A righteous Fa is righteous anywhere, it is not afraid to be scrutinized and tested. Only the evil is afraid of being exposed. Like Waco, which was victimized by a cult, Japanese society has also been damaged by the influence of a cult. Also like Waco, Japan recently issued an honor to the contact person of Falun Gong in Japan. These two cases speak louder than any of the vicious slander by Jiang Zemin , who brands Falun gong a cult.
A municipal staff member in charge of reviewing the application for Falun Dafa proclamation said, "Regardless of what the Chinese government has said, we will issue the proclamation so long as the people in Waco like Falun Dafa."
Dafa practitioners in Waco
December 1st, 2000
