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