Paranoid media fears 'the gong'
I'm sure we've all come to realize that a certain amount of paranoia runs rampant within the government and the state-run system as a whole. I mean, it can't hold a candle to the freak show that lies just below China's border in the northeast, but the years of Mao and the Cultural Revolution still seem to be influencing the state system. And one recent revelation about the state-run media really brings this point home to roost.
This past weekend a friend and colleague of mine revealed just how afraid China is of Falun Gong. I was told that before she was able to be considered for employment that she must put forward a letter from her university professors explaining to the management of the radio station that she has never been involved or associated with anyone who was part of the Falun Gong movement. It was also explained to me that this is common practice before anyone is allowed to take a position in the state-run broadcast media. Apparently, as the story goes, the State Administration for Radio, Film and Television, or SARFT, instituted this no-FG rule a few years back after -- as the story goes -- a Falun Gong member penetrated one of the broadcasting outlets here in China (can't be sure which one, but I think it may have been China Radio International) and put out anti-government messages for about 4 hours until they were discovered and, presumably, yanked off the air (and likely taken for a healthy dose of 'reeducation' forthwith)
Now I'm no fan of Falun Gong. Having been involved in the media in Canada for a number of years where the Falun Gong, or Falun Dafa, as they call themselves, have complete freedom, I have dealt with many of them, and truly believe that their movement -- however spiritual in nature that it may have been when it first started -- is now run by fanatics and zealots. But still, this revelation by my colleague brings home the fact that this government is scared of these people. So the question is why? Is it the fact that they organize well? Is the idea of a spiritual movement in a Communist-run society too unappealing?
Under Jiang Zemin, the line was that the government outlawed Falun Gong because the sect was telling its members to hurt themselves. But why, with a population of 1.3 billion people, would -- and not to sound too crass -- this government give a rats ass if dozens, or even hundreds of people decided to take a dip in the Kool-aid? That theory just doesn't wash. So what is it? Why is there so much concern about this movement that the state-run broadcasting organs are making their employees pledge not to be F.G.? I'm afraid it's an answer we shall never hear directly from the horse's mouth.
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The Ccp regime is so afraid of losing power and the Ccp and Chinese people are filled with fear. Falun Gong is not.We have freedom of mind and heart and are not afraid of the Ccp.This is the reason. You cannot control peoples minds when they are not afraid of you. This what the Ccp fear the most, losing control.
We are well organised because we have no fear because we know what we are doing is good and we will not kowtow to the Ccp who want us to stop practising Falun Gong.WE do not answer to them on this issue.
That's a shame you would consider Falun Gong practitioners fanatics and zealots. The motivation for what they do is really the opposite, just to cut through the massive and outrageous propaganda of the Communist Party, expose the persecution, and show that Falun Dafa is just a meditation practice with good principles.
But practitioners have never resorted to any kind of violent action in response to the persecution, and would never engage in any violent or aggressive conduct. The motivation behind what they are doing is absolutely not for personal gain or with any selfish intentions; it is a sincere and good wish to have people properly understand Falun Dafa and the persecution.
There do exist some groups made up of zealots and fanatics, which strike back at evil with evil, and engage in terrorist activities, guerilla warfare, etc.. Falun Dafa obviously is poles, poles, apart from this mentality. It is a philosophy of peacefulness and harmony. Please be clear on this enourmous distinction. I couldn't comment on the specifics of any inappropriate behaviour of individual practitioners which would lead you to think ill of them--if this were pointed out to those people, if they were practitioners, they would take it as an opportunity to learn and look within to improve.
I would urge leniency towards this group; it is essentially a peaceful practice with meditation exercises and moral principles (truthfulness-compassion-forbearance) which is being brutally persecuted in China--isn't this the first and most fundamental thing to recognise?
These are interesting comments, but I must thoroughly disagree. FG is clearly a political organization, complete with its own newspaper (the Epoch Times) which is harshly critical of the CPC. While I personally oppose religious persecution, it's interesting to note that many other religions are allowed in China.
Robertson... you also noted that practitioners have never resorted to "violent action", and I would have to disagree again. It's known that FG practitioners have set themselves on fire in Tiananmen Square, for example. Breaking into state-run media to broadcast FG messages could also be considered "guerilla warfare".
Again, I have no particular problem with FG. But to insinuate that it is a-political is nonsense.
Falun Gong is a fanatic group with questionable political agenda.
For example do you realize commenter "Jana" is actually the Epoch Times reporter/FLG blogsphere operative Jana Shearer? Google her name with keywords "Epoch Times".
I know because she has attacked bloggers like myself who spoke up against their propaganda:
http://falungongpolitics.blogspot.com/2007/04/epoch-times-reporters-gone-wild.html
Here're more example of Falun Gong's propaganda. Do you know they pass off breast cancer photo as evidence of sexual torture?
http://rambodoc.wordpress.com/2007/09/17/is-the-falun-gong-going-wrong/