China's persecution violates own law

To the editor: In response to the recent column "China is not our enemy": Indeed, China is not the enemy. In my experience, I have found the Chinese people to be wonderfully kind and traditional Chinese culture to be exceptionally rich. So much so, in fact, that several years ago I began practicing Falun Gong, the meditation practice being persecuted by Chinese authorities.

Through practicing this ancient discipline to improve the body and heart, my appreciation for China only grew. It is out of this love for China, not out of resentment, that I do everything in my power to end China's persecution of Falun Gong.

Ron Winstead points out that Falun Gong violates Chinese law. I challenge him to find a single law that Falun Gong violates. It is simply a meditation practice whose adherents strive to be good, honest people in all that they do. In fact, it is the Chinese government that has violated its own laws -- as well as international laws -- in persecuting Falun Gong.

I must agree with Mr. Winstead that when a religion grows, it invariably encounters opposition. I agree too that those who chose to live a "Godly life" meet with persecution. Yet this absolutely cannot be used as justification for the torture and killing of men, women and children.

For its own sake, I hope the Chinese government will end its violent and torturous campaign against Falun Gong. I hope the Chinese authorities will not continue on their current path of destroying the beauty and virtue of their 5,000-year-old culture in the name of politics and power.

CAYLAN FORD, Calgary, Alberta