Last weekend a performance by Shen Yun in Toronto was cancelled due to a bomb threat launched by those sympathetic to Communist China. Shen Yun is a dance troupe founded by Chinese ex-patriots in N.Y. in 2006 which seeks to represent the values of China before it succumbed to Communism. Five other performances scheduled in the Toronto area were also cancelled. Rather than granting them adequate police protection, the city’s authorities simply succumbed to the will of terrorists.
Shen Yun is affiliated with Falun Gong, a Chinese movement founded in the 1990s on the principles of Buddhism which it uses to validate its pursuit of a transcendent spirituality, of a lifestyle impervious to the allure of the material world. Demonized by some for its indifference to issues of Social Justice, the Shen Yun performances it inspires have been lauded by many for their beauty and inspirational impact. Surely one need not agree with the Falun Gong world view to admit that those performances are in no way worthy of disdain or cancellation. Yet here in “progressive” Canada, authorities quickly succumbed to threats lodged by Communists rather than defend the Freedom of Expression which is purportedly a fundamental aspect of all Democracies. And oh, by the way, several other scheduled Shen Yun appearances across this country have also been cancelled.
As I have said repeatedly, I know he can be obnoxious if not utterly irresponsible, but I wonder if Mr. Trump would passively allow threats from Communist terrorists to cancel the Rights of American citizens to express themselves. I think we all know the answer. Canada’s response to the Shen Yun issue is truly pathetic, yet an accurate indication of this country’s seeming indifference to the Freedoms absolutely essential to any functioning Democracy!