"In June 2021, a group of U.N. independent experts expressed their concerns at allegations of organ harvesting carried out on minority groups including Falun Gong practitioners, Uyghurs, Tibetans, Muslims and Christians, in detention in China. According to the statement, the experts, including Mr. Fernand de Varennes, Special Rapporteur on minority issues; Mr. Ahmed Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief; Mr. Nils Melzer, Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, received “credible information that detainees from ethnic, linguistic or religious minorities may be forcibly subjected to blood tests and organ examinations such as ultrasound and x-rays, without their informed consent; while other prisoners are not required to undergo such examinations. The results of the examinations are reportedly registered in a database of living organ sources that facilitates organ allocation.”

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ewelinaochab/2021/07/08/united-nations-concerned-about-organ-harvesting-in-china/?sh=4c39e7dc42dd

I guess a person is lucky to be just slave labor.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are members of Falun Gong. Tens of millions of people in China practiced Falun Gong until there was an incident where the leader of falun gong protested something the CCP did - which resulted in 10,000 people showing up to protest. The ability of Falun Gong to organize a protest like this scared the CCP and then Falun Gong was banned and then anyone that practices it is basically imprisoned, turned into slave labor, tortured and even killed - there is even organ harvesting. The same thing has happened to the Uyghurs. I know this group has some weird beliefs but I am glad they have survived the CCP's attempt to completely destroy them and still speak out. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1999/04/26/silent-protest-draws-thousands-to-beijing/e0b7ee29-eec6-48ba-b6a6-5cd10980ec77/

I condemn China's human right violations. Does that mean that I have to accept Falun Gong's hateful message against atheism? Or their anti-science propaganda?

No, of course you don't have to accept it. I would go to the show and see it for what it is, however, I like that they use the money to further their cause which is resistance to the CCP. If you take the time to read a book like "Made in China" or "They have been harmonized," it may change your perspective. "Made in China" follows one Falun Gong member who is imprisoned, tortured, then freed, then most likely followed to another country and murdered. He explains why Falun Dafa appealed to him, and based on the repression of religion in China, I can understand this longing for some spirituality and Falun Gong was filling this role. I don't see any reason to be offended by the show; if anything it's a window into what is going on in another country.

I already got robbed when I paid for the Shen Yun show, why would I funnel extra money into the Falun Gong pockets by buying the book? I don't like that they use the money to further their hateful message against atheism and their anti-science propaganda. These are more important to me than their resistance to the CCP.

NP. Except what you're saying is a complete fabrication. The author of "Made in China" isn't in Falun Gong, the author is Uyghur, and an award winning journalist who wrote a book about China's human rights abuses (and the New York Times loved it). It does sound like you're unwilling to hear stories and experiences of those who are different from you and with whom you disagree regarding religion or politics. I think the correct term for this is close-minded.

I simply assumed that the book was published through Falun Gong. You cannot accuse me of being closed minded just because I am not interested in a cause that you seem to be very invested in. There is so much to read out there that I have to be selective with what I dedicate my time to. I will not apologize for not being willing to read about and sympathize with a fundamentalist religious sect that hates atheists and science.

You should be interested because I'm sure you own a lot of stuff made in China by Uyghurs and members of Falun Gong. They are used to help factories meet their quotas. The book starts out with a note a woman in the U.S. finds in a bag of Halloween decorations she buys at a local Walmart. It is from an imprisoned Uyghur begging for help.

As soon as I saw the nutty Baldwin brother in the commercials endorsing it, I knew it had to be a super conservative religious show.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are members of Falun Gong. Tens of millions of people in China practiced Falun Gong until there was an incident where the leader of falun gong protested something the CCP did - which resulted in 10,000 people showing up to protest. The ability of Falun Gong to organize a protest like this scared the CCP and then Falun Gong was banned and then anyone that practices it is basically imprisoned, turned into slave labor, tortured and even killed - there is even organ harvesting. The same thing has happened to the Uyghurs. I know this group has some weird beliefs but I am glad they have survived the CCP's attempt to completely destroy them and still speak out. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1999/04/26/silent-protest-draws-thousands-to-beijing/e0b7ee29-eec6-48ba-b6a6-5cd10980ec77/

I condemn China's human right violations. Does that mean that I have to accept Falun Gong's hateful message against atheism? Or their anti-science propaganda?

No, of course you don't have to accept it. I would go to the show and see it for what it is, however, I like that they use the money to further their cause which is resistance to the CCP. If you take the time to read a book like "Made in China" or "They have been harmonized," it may change your perspective. "Made in China" follows one Falun Gong member who is imprisoned, tortured, then freed, then most likely followed to another country and murdered. He explains why Falun Dafa appealed to him, and based on the repression of religion in China, I can understand this longing for some spirituality and Falun Gong was filling this role. I don't see any reason to be offended by the show; if anything it's a window into what is going on in another country.

I already got robbed when I paid for the Shen Yun show, why would I funnel extra money into the Falun Gong pockets by buying the book? I don't like that they use the money to further their hateful message against atheism and their anti-science propaganda. These are more important to me than their resistance to the CCP.

NP. Except what you're saying is a complete fabrication. The author of "Made in China" isn't in Falun Gong, the author is Uyghur, and an award winning journalist who wrote a book about China's human rights abuses (and the New York Times loved it). It does sound like you're unwilling to hear stories and experiences of those who are different from you and with whom you disagree regarding religion or politics. I think the correct term for this is close-minded.

I simply assumed that the book was published through Falun Gong. You cannot accuse me of being closed minded just because I am not interested in a cause that you seem to be very invested in. There is so much to read out there that I have to be selective with what I dedicate my time to. I will not apologize for not being willing to read about and sympathize with a fundamentalist religious sect that hates atheists and science.

You repeat your false narrative about the book, which you provide as your rationale for not reading it (or even just googling it). It's not about Falun Gong. But you won't read it because you assume it might possibly be about or sympathetic to someone from a persecuted religious group that has different beliefs than you. Yes, that makes you closed-minded.

https://www.amazon.com/Made-China-Prisoner-Letter-Americas/dp/1616209178

I did not repeat any false narrative. It was easy to accept that I may have been wrong in my assumption that Falun Gong was involved in publishing the book. But here is some flash news for you: people may refuse to read books that you highly recommend even if they are not closed-minded. You don't have a monopoly on deciding who is closed minded based on who reads a book that you like. I learned enough about Falun Gong through the Shen Yun experience and I don't feel like reading your book. I can invest that time doing something else that is more meaningful for me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought everyone knew this. It pays to google and actually read the results !

It is not hard to do better research than I did. I saw some advertisement and I looked up some more videos (which were well made, celebrity endorsements, nice music, colorful costumes, amazing dancers). I ended up reading a bunch of reviews on the Shen Yun website (now I know that I should have searched for an unbiased source of reviews). I asked my wife if she wanted to see the show - she didn't know either. We asked some friends if they were interested in seeing the show - they agreed because they were also not aware. There were several points where the truth about Shen Yun should have come to light if "everyone knew." People in our extended family knew, but we never consulted them before going to the show.

I didn’t know before this thread.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are members of Falun Gong. Tens of millions of people in China practiced Falun Gong until there was an incident where the leader of falun gong protested something the CCP did - which resulted in 10,000 people showing up to protest. The ability of Falun Gong to organize a protest like this scared the CCP and then Falun Gong was banned and then anyone that practices it is basically imprisoned, turned into slave labor, tortured and even killed - there is even organ harvesting. The same thing has happened to the Uyghurs. I know this group has some weird beliefs but I am glad they have survived the CCP's attempt to completely destroy them and still speak out. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1999/04/26/silent-protest-draws-thousands-to-beijing/e0b7ee29-eec6-48ba-b6a6-5cd10980ec77/

I condemn China's human right violations. Does that mean that I have to accept Falun Gong's hateful message against atheism? Or their anti-science propaganda?

No, of course you don't have to accept it. I would go to the show and see it for what it is, however, I like that they use the money to further their cause which is resistance to the CCP. If you take the time to read a book like "Made in China" or "They have been harmonized," it may change your perspective. "Made in China" follows one Falun Gong member who is imprisoned, tortured, then freed, then most likely followed to another country and murdered. He explains why Falun Dafa appealed to him, and based on the repression of religion in China, I can understand this longing for some spirituality and Falun Gong was filling this role. I don't see any reason to be offended by the show; if anything it's a window into what is going on in another country.

I already got robbed when I paid for the Shen Yun show, why would I funnel extra money into the Falun Gong pockets by buying the book? I don't like that they use the money to further their hateful message against atheism and their anti-science propaganda. These are more important to me than their resistance to the CCP.

NP. Except what you're saying is a complete fabrication. The author of "Made in China" isn't in Falun Gong, the author is Uyghur, and an award winning journalist who wrote a book about China's human rights abuses (and the New York Times loved it). It does sound like you're unwilling to hear stories and experiences of those who are different from you and with whom you disagree regarding religion or politics. I think the correct term for this is close-minded.

I simply assumed that the book was published through Falun Gong. You cannot accuse me of being closed minded just because I am not interested in a cause that you seem to be very invested in. There is so much to read out there that I have to be selective with what I dedicate my time to. I will not apologize for not being willing to read about and sympathize with a fundamentalist religious sect that hates atheists and science.

You repeat your false narrative about the book, which you provide as your rationale for not reading it (or even just googling it). It's not about Falun Gong. But you won't read it because you assume it might possibly be about or sympathetic to someone from a persecuted religious group that has different beliefs than you. Yes, that makes you closed-minded.

https://www.amazon.com/Made-China-Prisoner-Letter-Americas/dp/1616209178

Anonymous wrote:I thought everyone knew this. It pays to google and actually read the results !

It is not hard to do better research than I did. I saw some advertisement and I looked up some more videos (which were well made, celebrity endorsements, nice music, colorful costumes, amazing dancers). I ended up reading a bunch of reviews on the Shen Yun website (now I know that I should have searched for an unbiased source of reviews). I asked my wife if she wanted to see the show - she didn't know either. We asked some friends if they were interested in seeing the show - they agreed because they were also not aware. There were several points where the truth about Shen Yun should have come to light if "everyone knew." People in our extended family knew, but we never consulted them before going to the show.

I thought everyone knew this. It pays to google and actually read the results !

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are members of Falun Gong. Tens of millions of people in China practiced Falun Gong until there was an incident where the leader of falun gong protested something the CCP did - which resulted in 10,000 people showing up to protest. The ability of Falun Gong to organize a protest like this scared the CCP and then Falun Gong was banned and then anyone that practices it is basically imprisoned, turned into slave labor, tortured and even killed - there is even organ harvesting. The same thing has happened to the Uyghurs. I know this group has some weird beliefs but I am glad they have survived the CCP's attempt to completely destroy them and still speak out. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1999/04/26/silent-protest-draws-thousands-to-beijing/e0b7ee29-eec6-48ba-b6a6-5cd10980ec77/

I condemn China's human right violations. Does that mean that I have to accept Falun Gong's hateful message against atheism? Or their anti-science propaganda?

No, of course you don't have to accept it. I would go to the show and see it for what it is, however, I like that they use the money to further their cause which is resistance to the CCP. If you take the time to read a book like "Made in China" or "They have been harmonized," it may change your perspective. "Made in China" follows one Falun Gong member who is imprisoned, tortured, then freed, then most likely followed to another country and murdered. He explains why Falun Dafa appealed to him, and based on the repression of religion in China, I can understand this longing for some spirituality and Falun Gong was filling this role. I don't see any reason to be offended by the show; if anything it's a window into what is going on in another country.

I already got robbed when I paid for the Shen Yun show, why would I funnel extra money into the Falun Gong pockets by buying the book? I don't like that they use the money to further their hateful message against atheism and their anti-science propaganda. These are more important to me than their resistance to the CCP.

NP. Except what you're saying is a complete fabrication. The author of "Made in China" isn't in Falun Gong, the author is Uyghur, and an award winning journalist who wrote a book about China's human rights abuses (and the New York Times loved it). It does sound like you're unwilling to hear stories and experiences of those who are different from you and with whom you disagree regarding religion or politics. I think the correct term for this is close-minded.

I simply assumed that the book was published through Falun Gong. You cannot accuse me of being closed minded just because I am not interested in a cause that you seem to be very invested in. There is so much to read out there that I have to be selective with what I dedicate my time to. I will not apologize for not being willing to read about and sympathize with a fundamentalist religious sect that hates atheists and science.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are members of Falun Gong. Tens of millions of people in China practiced Falun Gong until there was an incident where the leader of falun gong protested something the CCP did - which resulted in 10,000 people showing up to protest. The ability of Falun Gong to organize a protest like this scared the CCP and then Falun Gong was banned and then anyone that practices it is basically imprisoned, turned into slave labor, tortured and even killed - there is even organ harvesting. The same thing has happened to the Uyghurs. I know this group has some weird beliefs but I am glad they have survived the CCP's attempt to completely destroy them and still speak out. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1999/04/26/silent-protest-draws-thousands-to-beijing/e0b7ee29-eec6-48ba-b6a6-5cd10980ec77/

I condemn China's human right violations. Does that mean that I have to accept Falun Gong's hateful message against atheism? Or their anti-science propaganda?

No, of course you don't have to accept it. I would go to the show and see it for what it is, however, I like that they use the money to further their cause which is resistance to the CCP. If you take the time to read a book like "Made in China" or "They have been harmonized," it may change your perspective. "Made in China" follows one Falun Gong member who is imprisoned, tortured, then freed, then most likely followed to another country and murdered. He explains why Falun Dafa appealed to him, and based on the repression of religion in China, I can understand this longing for some spirituality and Falun Gong was filling this role. I don't see any reason to be offended by the show; if anything it's a window into what is going on in another country.

I already got robbed when I paid for the Shen Yun show, why would I funnel extra money into the Falun Gong pockets by buying the book? I don't like that they use the money to further their hateful message against atheism and their anti-science propaganda. These are more important to me than their resistance to the CCP.

NP. Except what you're saying is a complete fabrication. The author of "Made in China" isn't in Falun Gong, the author is Uyghur, and an award winning journalist who wrote a book about China's human rights abuses (and the New York Times loved it). It does sound like you're unwilling to hear stories and experiences of those who are different from you and with whom you disagree regarding religion or politics. I think the correct term for this is close-minded.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are members of Falun Gong. Tens of millions of people in China practiced Falun Gong until there was an incident where the leader of falun gong protested something the CCP did - which resulted in 10,000 people showing up to protest. The ability of Falun Gong to organize a protest like this scared the CCP and then Falun Gong was banned and then anyone that practices it is basically imprisoned, turned into slave labor, tortured and even killed - there is even organ harvesting. The same thing has happened to the Uyghurs. I know this group has some weird beliefs but I am glad they have survived the CCP's attempt to completely destroy them and still speak out. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1999/04/26/silent-protest-draws-thousands-to-beijing/e0b7ee29-eec6-48ba-b6a6-5cd10980ec77/

I condemn China's human right violations. Does that mean that I have to accept Falun Gong's hateful message against atheism? Or their anti-science propaganda?

No, of course you don't have to accept it. I would go to the show and see it for what it is, however, I like that they use the money to further their cause which is resistance to the CCP. If you take the time to read a book like "Made in China" or "They have been harmonized," it may change your perspective. "Made in China" follows one Falun Gong member who is imprisoned, tortured, then freed, then most likely followed to another country and murdered. He explains why Falun Dafa appealed to him, and based on the repression of religion in China, I can understand this longing for some spirituality and Falun Gong was filling this role. I don't see any reason to be offended by the show; if anything it's a window into what is going on in another country.

I already got robbed when I paid for the Shen Yun show, why would I funnel extra money into the Falun Gong pockets by buying the book? I don't like that they use the money to further their hateful message against atheism and their anti-science propaganda. These are more important to me than their resistance to the CCP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are members of Falun Gong. Tens of millions of people in China practiced Falun Gong until there was an incident where the leader of falun gong protested something the CCP did - which resulted in 10,000 people showing up to protest. The ability of Falun Gong to organize a protest like this scared the CCP and then Falun Gong was banned and then anyone that practices it is basically imprisoned, turned into slave labor, tortured and even killed - there is even organ harvesting. The same thing has happened to the Uyghurs. I know this group has some weird beliefs but I am glad they have survived the CCP's attempt to completely destroy them and still speak out. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1999/04/26/silent-protest-draws-thousands-to-beijing/e0b7ee29-eec6-48ba-b6a6-5cd10980ec77/

I condemn China's human right violations. Does that mean that I have to accept Falun Gong's hateful message against atheism? Or their anti-science propaganda?

+1. Like Christian Nationalism in the US, a religion/cult/movement can be protected and also toxic and dangerous. What I really take issue with is Falun Gong using Shen Yun to spread ultra conservatism and bias in the US, when the US already has enough of our own home grown right wing extremism to deal with.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are members of Falun Gong. Tens of millions of people in China practiced Falun Gong until there was an incident where the leader of falun gong protested something the CCP did - which resulted in 10,000 people showing up to protest. The ability of Falun Gong to organize a protest like this scared the CCP and then Falun Gong was banned and then anyone that practices it is basically imprisoned, turned into slave labor, tortured and even killed - there is even organ harvesting. The same thing has happened to the Uyghurs. I know this group has some weird beliefs but I am glad they have survived the CCP's attempt to completely destroy them and still speak out. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1999/04/26/silent-protest-draws-thousands-to-beijing/e0b7ee29-eec6-48ba-b6a6-5cd10980ec77/

I condemn China's human right violations. Does that mean that I have to accept Falun Gong's hateful message against atheism? Or their anti-science propaganda?

No, of course you don't have to accept it. I would go to the show and see it for what it is, however, I like that they use the money to further their cause which is resistance to the CCP. If you take the time to read a book like "Made in China" or "They have been harmonized," it may change your perspective. "Made in China" follows one Falun Gong member who is imprisoned, tortured, then freed, then most likely followed to another country and murdered. He explains why Falun Dafa appealed to him, and based on the repression of religion in China, I can understand this longing for some spirituality and Falun Gong was filling this role. I don't see any reason to be offended by the show; if anything it's a window into what is going on in another country.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You Googled it and didn't figure this out before you bought the tickets?!?!? I've often wondered who pays to see that.

It was a mistake to just skim the results without reading something more in-depth about the show (like the New Yorker piece). I never thought that Kennedy Center would put such a crap on one of its stages.

There are many "atheist" or "social justice" shows that are performed at the Kennedy Center. How about providing a variety of performances? Not all shows have to appeal to your personal tastes.

I agree. But Kennedy Center should be upfront that Shen Yun is a fundamentalist religious organization. I need the truth to make an informed decision on whether I want to support the artists.

Anonymous wrote:The shows are selling out fast. Can’t be that bad. Come on.

You say it cannot be that bad. I say they use deceptive advertisement and they don't allow real reviews on their website. I wanted to leave a bad review, but good luck finding any place to counterbalance the good "reviews".