(Clearwisdom.net) When I was in college, one of the discussions that my classmates and I often had involved the debate on whether or not the Chinese people's servile nature is too strong. This led to the conclusion that this servility was caused by traditional culture. Many years later, I have come to realize that the Chinese people's servile nature is not caused by traditional Chinese culture, but by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Many people say that Chinese people are "low," but Chinese people are not born low: It is the CCP's tyrannical rule that has caused this. During many of the CCP's political movements, the CCP persecuted innocent people, forcing them to obediently admit that they were "guilty" and to thank the CCP for its "forgivingness." During the Great Cultural Revolution, many "anti-revolutionists" still shouted "Long Live Chairman Mao" [the Chinese communist dictator at that time] right before they were executed. The innocent survivors of this persecution were later "redressed" by the CCP, and they still expressed gratitude towards the CCP. The CCP needs this type of people, and over the years, the CCP has indeed turned the Chinese people, through enslavement, into this type of people, into "the Party's slaves." The servile nature of many Chinese people has become deeply-rooted, but they may not be aware of the fact that they are "the Party's slaves," who kneel down in front of the CCP.

It is very difficult to eradicate this servility. Recently, I talked about Falun Gong with a university professor. His reaction was typical: "If Falun Gong is good, one should just practice at home. Why do Falun Gong practitioners go out to give out flyers, clarify the facts, 'engage in politics,' or oppose the government? Furthermore, they also cause huge pressures for their family members."

I asked the professor, "The Chinese Constitution stipulates the freedom of belief. Do Falun Gong practitioners have the freedom of belief? Is it wrong to practice Falun Gong and believe in Truth-Compassion-Forbearance?" He answered, "There is nothing wrong with that." I asked him again, "Late in the night, the police have arrested many Falun Gong practitioners (many of them elderly), gave them some trumped-up charges and then sent them to labor camps, or prisons. A number of practitioners were even tortured to death. Is it right to act this way?" He quietly acknowledged that this is not right. I continued, "If this is not right, why don't Falun Gong practitioners have the right of free speech?" He replied that practitioners should have the right to speak out. I then asked him again, "If Falun Gong has the right of free speech, why don't people reexamine the incorrect policies of the CCP? Why do they, instead, reprimand Falun Gong practitioners for telling people the facts about the persecution?" By this time, the professor opened his eyes wide and did not say a word; he stared at me, shocked. I added, "The Falun Gong family members' sufferings are caused by incorrect government policies, not by the practitioners' practicing Falun Gong."

Indeed, both inside and outside China, for those who have been brainwashed by this "great, glorious, and right" Party, how could they doubt or dare to question the Party's wrong policies?! The Chinese people have been manipulated and forced to their knees by the Party for too long. They have not only gotten used to kneeling down, but also feel that this kneeling down is the most appropriate, ordained thing to do. They even do not have the thought of wanting to stand up, not to mention questioning if kneeling is reasonable and legitimate. They not only dare not stand up, but also oppose others who attempt to stand up.

On April 20, 2000, The Wall Street Journal published a long article entitled, "Practicing Falun Gong Was a Right, Ms. Chen Said, Up to Her Last Day" (http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2000/4/21/8441.html). The article was about 58-year-old Chen Zixiu, a Falun Gong practitioner from Weifang, Shandong Province, who died as a result of the persecution. The report captured the world's attention, and journalist Ian Johnson won a Pulitzer Prize for it.

Yet, when Falun Gong practitioners insist that "practicing Falun Gong is a right," the CCP used the tricks that it has often used to persecute people: It labeled Falun Gong as a group that attempted to "overthrow the government" or is "against the Party." This type of slander invokes those who are used to being servile to the Party to echo: "Falun Gong is involved in politics."

Through many of its political movements, the CCP has broken the backbone of the Chinese nation. However, the CCP's bloody suppression cannot shake Falun Gong practitioners, and this has only caused the CCP to become envious and frightened and has also made many people who are kneeling there falsely believe they have personal enmity with Falun Gong. It is simply because Falun Gong practitioners are different from those who are kneeling; they have been standing.

This character and courage of Falun Gong practitioners is precisely the valuable and noble morality that China needs to see more often. The CCP's politics has tamed the Chinese people to kneel as slaves. To be a man or a slave? If those who "insist on standing up for their rights" are said to be "involved in politics," isn't it right that China needs just this type of politics? It is those who have lost their character and courage who have caused Falun Gong practitioners to shoulder more suffering than that imposed on them by the CCP.

The unyielding and righteous character of Falun Gong practitioners is what present day China has lacked most. Chinese people should begin to reexamine their mentality of not having the courage to even want to stand up. Chinese people should feel more of a kinship with Falun Gong practitioners, learn the facts of the persecution, and become humans who stand between Heaven and Earth in a dignified way. Falun Gong practitioners' unyielding character is the new backbone of China.