(Minghui.org) A child’s innocent face is like a mirror that reflects his or her pure inner world, and a child’s words of kindness are like a mirror that reveals their sincerity. However, some children in China have not been allowed to enjoy the happy childhood that is rightfully theirs.
When people are persecuted for their faith in righteous principles such as Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, it is a shadow on society. It harms all of us, including our children. We know this because of the stories below.
(Continued from Part 2)
When Qingqing came to the United States, she was finally able to smile.
When flight CA981 left China and arrived at JFK airport in New York on January 27, 2011, one of the passengers on the plane was a 7-year-old girl who had not smiled for three years. Her name is Qingqing and her parents, Mr. Niu Jinping and Ms. Zhang Lianying, were Falun Dafa practitioners from Dongcheng District, Beijing.
Because of persecution by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), officials arrested a large number of practitioners before the Olympics were held in Beijing in early 2008. When agents from local Domestic Security Division arrested her parents on April 20, 2008, four-year-old Qingqing was standing behind her mother. After the police entered their apartment, an officer grabbed her mother’s neck from behind and pulled it backward hard; the umbrella and bag in her hand dropped to the floor, and the eggs she was holding were smashed. Seeing the officer cover her mother’s head with a black hood and drag her upstairs, Qingqing was terrified.
Traumatized, little Qinging spoke in whispers afterwards, and never smiled. After her parents were abducted, her relatives took care of her. She often asked, “When will my parents come back?” Seeing the other children being picked up by their parents at kindergarten was a sad reminder that her parents were gone.
Fortunately, when Qingqing was 7 years old she was able to flee China and arrive in the United States. On her face there was a sweet, worry-free smile of freedom, something her mother had not seen for four years.
Young Practitioners Outside China Strive to End the Persecution
Liu Xiaotian said, “I hope more kind-hearted people join the efforts to end the persecution.”
Liu Xiaotian, the boy mentioned in Part 2 of this series, started to help expose the suppression after he arrived in Denmark. When practitioners from Sweden, Norway, and Denmark gathered at the The King’s New Square (Kongens Nytorv) on July 11, 2009, Liu spoke during the event to expose and end the persecution.
“Because they practiced Falun Dafa, my parents were arrested; in five short months they lost their lives while they were detained,” he said. “There are many cases like mine since 1999. Because of their faith in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, parents are detained and tortured, or forced to stay away from home. Like me, their children can no longer live and study normally. I hope more kind-hearted people join the effort to end the persecution, so that children can receive the care that they deserve.”
Some children grow up in the land of freedom. Although they and their families did not experience the suppression directly, they stepped forward to end the atrocities in China.
Six-year-old Katharina from Switzerland: “Please help stop the persecution against Falun Dafa in China.”
Katharina is a first-grade student in Switzerland, and she is liked by her teachers and classmates. She began practicing Falun Dafa at age 2, and likes to read Hong Yin, a collection of poems written by Master Li, the founder of Falun Dafa. When she got older Katharina began reading Falun Dafa’s main book, Zhuan Falunand followed the teachings to be a better person.
Despite her happy childhood, Katharina was sad when she heard how innocent practitioners – and their children – suffered horribly in China for practicing Falun Dafa. She joined her mother when events were held in Switzerland, Czechia, Ireland, Belgium, Austria, and Germany. The photo above was taken during an anti-torture exhibition event when Katharina was six. Her young face is pure and serious.
First-grade student Meiyun gave a speech at an event in Japan.
When Japanese practitioners held an event in Tokyo calling to stop the persecution in China on July 17, 2022, first-grade student Meiyun also spoke and described how the CCP persecutes practitioners. “Falun Dafa is good and the suppression is bad,” she explained. “I hope the persecution ends soon.”
Falun Dafa practitioners around the world have held many similar events. Although they speak different languages, these children all have the same plea: “Please help stop the persecution.”
A young boy participates in the candlelight vigil in Washington D.C.
During a candlelight vigil in Washington D.C. on July 22, 2020, practitioners formed the words, “Falun Dafa” with candles. Many children participated in the activity because they wanted to let people know Falun Dafa is good.
Seventeen-year-old Xuanxuan
Canadian practitioners in Toronto held a major event on July 17, 2020, to tell people about the tragedies in China. They displayed banners at more than 40 intersections at city centers, including Mississauga, Scarborough, and Markham. Xuanxuan, 17, also attended the activity and gave a speech. “Falun Dafa has taught me to be a good person and a better person – someone who is always considerate of others,” she said. “That is why I often tell people how great Falun Dafa is. I also hope to help stop the persecution.”
A 10-year-old practitioner sang at an event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
When practitioners held a rally at the Liberty Bell tourist attraction in Philadelphia on May 11, 2024, practitioners drew attention to the persecution through holding group exercises and displaying posters and banners. A 10-year-old practitioner performed a song,“Making Lotus Flowers” to raise awareness about Falun Dafa and the tragedies in China.
Young practitioners’ performance in Brisbane, Australia, on May 12, 2024
Australian practitioners in Queensland held an event at King George Square in Brisbane to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day on May 12, 2024. They demonstrated the exercises, and gave waist drum, dragon dance, and fan dance performances. Mark said he really liked these programs, especially those performed by children. “We should cherish the universal values of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance,” he said. “It is terrible that the CCP persecutes Falun Dafa.”
The children’s faces are like mirrors and they show us what is happening. From sixth grade student Wengting, we saw how the practice of Falun Dafa has benefited people from around the world physically and spiritually. Following the five sets of exercises and principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, practitioners gained good health and raised moral character—this benefits themselves, their families, and their communities.
From 10-year-old Zhang Jiarui, we saw the tragic consequences of the persecution. Not only have practitioners lost their good health and their freedom, their lives were disrupted, and their family members including children, are discriminated against and live in fear and darkness.
In six-year-old Katharina, we see hope. As more kindhearted people from around the world learn about the brutalities in China and support basic human rights, including freedom of belief, practitioners will one day be able to freely practice their belief in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
(The end)
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