Editor, Times-Dispatch:
I read with great interest Michael Paul Williams' column, "A Missed Chance to
Take a Stand," describing how the Henrico Board of Supervisors dismissed
consideration of a proclamation recognizing Falun Dafa week as an "international
issue."
While it is true that a former Chinese leader instituted a brutal and violent
persecution against those who practice Falun Dafa in China, this discipline now
has its place in Virginia. I am a non-Chinese American who learned Falun Dafa
(also called Falun Gong) four years ago. Falun Gong practitioners kindly
volunteered their time to teach the exercises to my husband and me. We also
visited their homes to watch 10 weeks of videos, the better to understand the
holistic teachings.
Since then, the pain in my lower back that I endured for 16 years has
disappeared. Also, upon understanding Falun Gong's emphasis on self-reflection,
I uncovered my own selfishness - a discovery that helped me make positive
changes in my life. And I didn't have to go to China to learn this.
Given the contributions these Chinese immigrants made to our community, I don't
believe we should turn a blind eye to the suffering of their families in China.
Nor should we ignore the fact that they endured local harassment from the
Chinese Embassy. Since this persecution began in 1999, Falun Gong practitioners
have never asked us Americans to fight for them. But at the very least, by
issuing local proclamations, we should stand by them.
Kery W. Nunez
Category: Falun Dafa in the Media
