United States: State Representative says "[Shen Yun] makes us want to know more about what's going on in [China]"

INDIANAPOLIS - Shen Yun had its final Indianapolis performance on March 10th.

In attendance were State Representative John Barns and his family. Mrs. Barns is an attorney, specialising in election law. Rep. Barns is the District 89 member of the House of Representatives for the state of Indiana.

Rep. Barns said the show increased his understanding of China: "Especially understanding that this is a cultural expression that doesn't actually get to be expressed in China these days, I think it makes us want to know more about what's going on in [China]. It's neat that there's an organisation [Shen Yun] like this."

Rep. Barns made clear that he absolutely wants to know more of the current situation in China, and that knowing these things openly "would affect attitudes across the stage." He was of the opinion that this would affect policy making.

Mrs. Barns heart was touched by the vignette, Nothing Can Block the Divine Path. "I think watching the little girl after her mother was beaten and killed, it was just touching," she said.

The vignette portrays the ongoing persecution of the Falun Dafa spiritual practice by the Chinese Communist government. Despite the ugliness of the persecution, the dance offers a message of hope that the divine is always watching and balancing things with justice.

The deeper understanding for Mrs. Barns was, "Just that the family wanted to live in peace, and the government didn't want them to. It was moving; it was touching, having a daughter of my own and trying to think of what it would be like to grow up without a mother."

Church Official: "[Shen Yun] has spoken to my heart"

David Bethuram, CSS Executive Director at Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indiana was also saw Shen Yun on March 10th and thoroughly enjoyed the performance.

"What I really like about it is the spiritual tones to everything, to all the dances to all the music," said Mr. Bethuram. Some of the performances depict heavenly beings and heavenly scenes touching people's hearts and inspiring them to become more moral in their lives.

"I think probably the whole show so far has spoken to my heart from the stand point of - one by one, each particular one, had a special message or insight, either something that is very common, turmoil, challenge, even the possibility of a greater insight into the life of China which I have not experienced. So from that standpoint I think it touched my heart."

Sources:

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/31215/

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/31138/