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China Pressures Australia & Malaysia - Don't Attend Show
by Swan | March 31, 2008 at 10:10 am | 458 views | 4 comments | 6 recommendations
OPINION PIECE:
You'd think China had more important things to worry about these days, than who attends what show in which country.
This is the second time that the Chinese Spectacular has performed in Australia and the second time that the Chinese government has pressured Australian politicians to stay away.
THE Chinese Government has pressured Victorian [Members of Parliament] MPs not to attend a stage show it has denounced as propaganda for the Falun Gong movement.China's Melbourne Consul- General Liang Shugen wrote to politicians urging them not to accept invitations to performances of the Chinese Spectacular at the Arts Centre.
The Malaysian government, under the pressure from Chinese Embassy to the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, cancelled the Divine Performing Arts troupe performances that were originally scheduled on March 22 and 23 at Kuala Lumpur Convention Center.
The truly stunning show is again touring to critical acclaim the world over and uses traditional dance and classical music to depict rich cultural history of China.
It's true that the performers follow Falun Gong, however when one views the definition, you'd have to wonder why this is of such great and urgent concern to the Chinese Government:
Noun
* S: (n) falun gong (a spiritual movement that began in China in the latter half of the 20th century and is based on Buddhist and Taoist teachings and practices)
Many of the performers consist of exiles - exiled purely because they follow Falun Gong, which is banned in China by the ruling Communist Party.
Mr Zoba Giatzo, a psychologist and Kung Fu teacher (what a pairing!) had this to say in Canberra:
"In the context of Canberra, Canberra is a multicultural city. We're very happy to have all sorts of culture and all sorts of backgrounds presented here… Australia is a democracy as you know, like the US, and we encourage and foster diversity.So it's very nice to see such diversity presented and such a different background of Chinese culture,"
Its mission is to rediscover the essence of true, traditional culture and to bring arts to the world that celebrate human dignity and positive values.It produces and performs works that center on classical themes and divinely-inspired cultural traditions. The group's performances aim to provide an experience of consummate beauty and goodness.
Lord knows now what has happened to the audiences that have seen the show. Have they grown green antennae? Have they all become despots, a stain on the very fabric of life?
China - you do see how ridiculous you sound don't you?
While you may practice extreme censorship in your own country - it's just not going to fly here in the west. We welcome all cultural diversity and learn a great deal from other cultures.
China - you're fast becoming the least forward thinking country of the east - and a joke in the west.
You've become a country that fears it's own shadow.
Sources:
The Age
China Pressured State MPs to Skip Show
by Jill Stark
Epoch Times
Audiences Regret the Cancellation of Chinese Spectacular Show in Malaysia
(no byline)
Image Sources:
China Pressured State MPs to Skip Show
Photo by Wayne Taylor
Audiences Regret the Cancellation of Chinese Spectacular Show in Malaysia
Public Domain
Wordnet Search
Definition: Falun Gong
March 31, 2008 at 10:10 am by Swan, 458 views, 4 comments
Crowd Power
Swan
Portland, Oregon, United States
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (4)
at 12:10 on March 31st, 2008
Swan, many thanks again for a very informative and well-researched piece.
at 12:59 on March 31st, 2008
Hello Cynthia,
Nice to see you dropping by again and giving the article a GS flag, along with your comment. Thank you!
Those flags always give a writer a smile and make them feel as if they've really been able to serve the world of citizen journalism. But then you'd know all about that, wouldn't you? ;)
~ Swan
at 13:58 on March 31st, 2008
We had the same show last year in Toronto, Canada without any objections from the Chinese Goverment but something like this only give them more bad press.
Alfred
at 14:26 on March 31st, 2008
Hello Alfred,
It's possible that there were objections from China but that it was kept behind closed doors a little better than they've managed to do this time around.
Then again, having said that, I don't think the U.S. had any objections from China either. Perhaps they really thought that a couple of way-out-there countries like Australia and Malaysia would just fold under political pressure.
Well ok, one country did fold, but Australia made a stand!
"Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!"
(Australian cheer, or warcry at any kind of international competition ;)
~ Swan