Software Engineer: 'I Feel Proud to Be Chinese'

Randall Yang talks to a reporter after attending the Chinese New Year Spectacular in Ottawa. (Sun Thaili/The Epoch Times)

"This show really lets Chinese people 'gain face,'" said Randall Yang after seeing the Divine Performing Arts Chinese New Year Spectacular at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa on January 13.

"As a Chinese, we say that China has 5,000 years of culture, yet I have never seen the true traditional Chinese culture," said Yang, a software engineer originally from Beijing.

"Yet this show let me experience what exactly is traditional Chinese culture. This is something I have never seen before. I feel proud to be Chinese."

Yang noted that throughout the Spectacular the audience "expressed a great deal of enthusiasm" for every performance. "After the hosts introduced each segment, everyone waited with anticipation, and afterwards they applauded wholeheartedly to show their appreciation."

Yang said the performance he enjoyed the most was the story about Falun Gong practitioners who were imprisoned and persecuted for persevering in their belief. As a result of their determination, they received divine help in the end.

"This gave me a very deep impression. I believe that, as long as what we persevere in is kind and good, good and evil will eventually have their just return."

As someone who participated in the Tiananmen Square student demonstrations in1989 in Beijing, — which was brutally crushed by the communist authorities — Yang said he was not surprised that the Chinese communist regime would attempt to stop the Divine Performing Arts shows overseas.

"This is because communist theory is antithetical to the principals of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance," said Yang.

The Chinese consulates' attempts to interfere with Divine Performing Arts Holiday Wonders shows this year in the United States recently made headlines. In December, New York Assemblyman Michael Benjamin made public a letter warning him not to send congratulatory greetings or to attend the shows in New York.

Last year, the Chinese embassy in Ottawa went so far as to issue a statement saying it disapproved of "the participation in the 'New Year Spectacular' by the officials of any country in any form."

In addition, the embassy and consulates made many efforts to urge Canadian officials and the general public not to attend the show.

Falun Gong, a meditation practice and spiritual discipline, is repressed in China and a state-sanctioned persecution against its adherents has been taking place since 1999.

"The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has always told lies — this is the opposite of truthfulness; the CCP has always used violence to suppress dissent — this is the opposite of compassion; the CCP does not allow people to express opposing views — this is the opposite of tolerance," said Yang.

Epochtimes is Chinese New Year Spectacular's media partner.