On October 24, 2005, the passing of Rosa Parks reminded America and the world of the power of civil protest, and that civil protest can glorify a nation with the positive changes it brings.

Fifty years ago, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus in Alabama to a white man. This act sparked the civil rights movement in America, helping to bring an end to segregation.

Another American instrumental in the civil rights movement was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who emphasized non-violent resistance in bringing about change to the segregation laws. Both Dr. King and Rosa Parks are celebrated as heroes in America for their great efforts in peacefully bringing about positive change to the country.

Nobody would consider what Dr. King and Rosa Parks did as bringing shame to the nation's image. Nor would anyone criticize them as being anti-American for standing up to the unjust laws of the time. Just the opposite, their peaceful resistance and roles in the civil rights movement are considered crucial actions in history that brought about fundamental changes to the rights of Americans.

By understanding Dr. King and Rosa Parks, perhaps we can more easily understand Falun Gong practitioners' peaceful resistance to the persecution by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and their revealing of the truth to the world. There is no excuse for accepting the persecution by the Chinese Communist Party that suppresses the rights of Falun Gong practitioners' freedom of belief. This is not just blatant discrimination, but also a form of genocide in that the CCP is trying to eliminate Falun Gong and Falun Gong practitioners. Though Falun Gong practitioners are faced with such horrific persecution, they still stand by their great principles of "Truth, Compassion, and Forbearance" and resist by using non-violent means. Falun Gong practitioners should receive our full support and respect in their grand efforts of resistance.

Just as Dr. King and Rosa Parks did not bring shame to America, Falun Gong and Falun Gong practitioners are not bringing shame to China. Dr. King and Rosa Parks are praised for bringing glory to the United States. Falun Gong and Falun Gong practitioners should also be praised for bringing glory to the great Chinese nation, and not labeled as "anti-Chinese" as the Chinese Communist Party tries to make the world believe. In the not-too-distant future, Chinese people will never again be persecuted or discriminated against for believing in "Truth, Compassion, and Forbearance." At that time, perhaps the world's people will be even clearer on the greatness of Falun Gong practitioners' resistance to the persecution by the Chinese Communist Party. They will also go down in history as the true heroes of China. These people standing up for "Truth, Compassion, and Forbearance" should receive our utmost respect.