June 25, 2003

Dear ________________,

I would like to voice my opinion about a most important topic, which is Falun Dafa (Gong) and human rights. I am 58 years old, born in California, and a product of the 50's, with high morals and good family values. My parents were very strict Lutheran Christians who taught me a lot about faith and goodness. I was always a little of a rebel, trying to find my own truths. Throughout my life I've had my struggles and life lessons.

Like so many others, I have always searched to find truth and understandings about questions of this universe and beyond. I dabbled in many different understandings of truth, always growing and trying to be a better person.

Three and a half years ago I was introduced to Falun Dafa by an individual from our community. He taught many of us the four Qigong exercises and the meditation. It did seem a little foreign to me to start with. In fact for months I never completely committed to it but would just ask myself everyday if I wanted to practice, and the answer always came up yes. I really did take it a day at a time. Some of the understandings of the teachings were hard to grasp, but it seemed that deep down I knew them to be truth so I just kept reading with an open mind and heart. Little by little my life changed.

By actually practicing Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance in my daily life it has made me a different person. I must always be truthful in every situation. I came to realize that even little white lies that most in society think is okay, is not being truthful. To be totally truthful in every situation takes a long time. Also when I opened my heart I developed much more compassion for people. In our society it is sometimes difficult to think of others first as we seem to be a "me" society, always striving to gain more power and money even at the expense of others. Putting myself in other people's shoes to understand their side has helped me gain much compassion. I have also learned to be more tolerant of others, that my opinion is not always right and that everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and views and I should respect that.

Because of Falun Dafa my life has become so much more harmonious and peaceful. I don't immediately react and get angry like I used to. My husband is not a practitioner but through many conflicts and misunderstandings he now realizes what a better person I have become and how strong my faith is. He now respects me more and has even told others what a good change it is.

The reason I am telling you all this is to give you a little background of what this practice does for people. In addition there are a lot of health benefits. I used to have a chronic neck problem but it has gone away since starting this practice. I don't get sick and my attitude is always positive and upbeat. I strive to always think of others first and I feel I bring a positive attitude to our society.

As you probably know, practitioners in China have no hope for justice, being persecuted and killed for practicing Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance. The lawsuit currently against Jiang Zemin brings hope for justice to hundreds of millions of Chinese people, including the U.S. citizen Charles Li, who has been illegally detained since January, and who is being tortured and subjected to brainwashing for being a Falun Dafa practitioner.

I hope you will help to end these horrific human rights violations by supporting this lawsuit and to bring Jiang Zemin and his followers to justice so that we can end some of the suffering and human degradation in this world. When people are being tortured and killed, including children and the elderly for being good people, we must stop this evil with all our might.

Most respectfully,

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(Name withheld)