One of the victims was a young maiden, a flower just ready to bloom; the other was a beautiful little girl. When the destruction of the loveliest things in the world is displayed on television, the public is filled with bitterness and resentment. Under the influence of these sentiments, how can sound reason and judgment prevail?
An English actor playing the part of the villain in Othello was once assassinated backstage by audience members who were filled with indignation by the plot. Did that audience not realize they were only watching a play? It is obvious that sentiment can blur people's eyes and control their thinking.
The horrible sight of the five self-immolators at Tiananmen Square makes people feel very sad. Yet, what makes them even sadder is this: those victims sacrificed their lives to express something to the world, but their message was suffocated, distorted, and even used as a political weapon to advance the self-interests of a few people in power. As a result, it is likely that even more kind-hearted people will suffer or be deprived of their lives.
Let's take a look at the sentiments being stirred up by the official report of the self-
immolation. How familiar we are with this scene! For example, the official report about the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident, which showed horrible scenes of a burn victim, also stirred up all kinds of hatred towards the perpetrators of that deed. However, under the influence of their emotions, how many people could think rationally about why that soldier was burned to death? If they knew how many innocent common people he had shot, would they still feel sympathy for him and hatred for the person who set the fire?
Over the years, the public has been repeatedly deceived by the propaganda of those in power, yet which political blizzard was not full of lies? People put so much trust in what they see and hear from the media that they are fooled and manipulated by those in power again and again.
Once emotions stirred up, whether the report is true or false will be ignored.
Even with fictional stories, film producers can make life-like movies. If they don't, they won't be able to control the audience's emotions with their plots.
There are many suspicious plots in the official report of this incident. The two extra self-immolators who were added after the fact--how could these reprehensible people be capable of such a solemn and stirring feat? After these two emerged, the original five victims appear even more tragic, since the words they gave their lives to express were spoken instead by the government's agents. It is obvious that what they intended to say did not satisfy the requirements of those in power.
Besides, no matter who the self-immolators were, the important consideration is why they did it. Their actions may arouse respect, they may cause people to feel pity for them, they may fill some people's hearts with hatred towards Falun Gong, and they may also cause people to feel hatred for the authorities. People's responses should depend on the motives of the victims, on whether or not they were trying to protest against the authorities. If we misunderstand their real intentions, would not this constitute an insult and blasphemy against their lives?
The Chinese government, which wants to destroy Falun Gong, has control over the investigation of this case. How much can we believe their reports? The film they have released has obviously been skillfully edited, revised, and supplemented by propaganda that it is contradictory and full of loopholes. The videotape taken by foreign journalists was confiscated, and international organizations and media are not allowed to investigate and confirm the government's story. The survivors are under guard at the hospital, and cannot give interviews. If their story had not been fabricated, why is the government trying so hard to prevent an honest investigation?
The truth is that this self-immolation incident is being used to launch a new political campaign against Falun Gong across the whole country. We are witnessing a tragedy within a tragedy, and we are all characters in this drama, acting out our own roles. The government says: "If Falun Gong practitioners are beaten to death, it is suicide."
Although what they are doing is against the law, the authorities are seeking confirmation and approval for their actions from the public. Throughout the past several decades, the government has frequently "provoked the masses to fight with the masses"--many times just so that an aged leader could cling to power until his death. Previously, the battle cry was against "deviation to the Right," and "Capitalist Class;" today it is against evil "[slanderous word respectfully omitted]" and "superstition." How many people have shed their blood and laid down their lives for such leaders?
Now, as this tragedy is being played out on a grand and spectacular scale, it has become the focus of world attention. In the past, we all played roles in similar dramas. Dear friends, what role are you playing now?
