MWC: I've read a series of biased articles on the Santa parade in Auckland about the fact that Falun Gong has been labeled as 'political' and thus their marching band is not accepted-again this year in that parade. Hmm! Overall I'm quite annoyed with this whole state of affair and especially the spin that media has given to this story as I read through several articles not to mention the works of the court.
The fact of the matter is that there are many ethnic groups participating in the parade and arguably there should be no room for discrimination. However, amidst all of this debacle, what has become crystal clear to me is the fact that the Falun Gong, who have a fabulous brass band that everyone enjoys--big kids and small kids alike--have been rejected because the organizing committee says they're using the parade as a platform to raise awareness to the regime's persecution of their group in China, even though everyone knows by now that the Falun Gong had made clear their intent to play music 'only' at these events like they do in other cities around the world.
So here's a hard question for you--could the people really objecting to Falun Gong's presence in the Santa parade be China's rulers? The answer is YES! One would think that the Kiwis should know better than going after a benign spiritual group that's been put to death in China for their organs to line the pockets of the cadres in Beijing. This leaves a bitter taste in the mouth and honestly this is not a good time either to give a foreign entity, such as the the Chinese government, any form of power via its organizations and consulates by toeing the party line.
After all, with Christmas right around the corner, isn't this a time to be jolly, to love thy neighbour and show some religious tolerance? Will somebody puulease tell the bosses in Beijing to take a break?
You can call me idealistic and maybe it's just me, but I believe that there shouldn't be any religious intolerance in this world and that human rights should be respected by all nations. And that's the real spirit of the matter.
Related Article:
Auckland's Panmure Santa Parade Receives Threat
http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/new-zealand/panmure-santa-parade-threat-china-falun-dafa-7832.html
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