(Clearwisdom.net) From March 7 to April 26, 2007, the "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" Art Exhibition is being held at the Saxon Federal State Parliament Hall in Dresden, Germany. At the opening ceremony on the afternoon of March 6, Mr. Ernst Iltgen, the President of Saxony's State Parliament, gave the inaugural speech. He commented emphatically on the unusual significance of the art exhibition. The following is part of his opening remarks:
Mr. Ernst Iltgen gave the opening speech and praised the unusual significance of the art exhibition
"The spiritual focus of the artists, who are mainly from China, and which gave this exhibition its theme, is called 'Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance.' These three principles, when looked at from our occidental perception, represent honesty and uprightness. These principles are taught today in the Buddha Falun Gong School. This practice, with its meditation exercises, first appeared in public in 1992.
"Principles such as Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance that are basic tenets of wisdom and religion are completely contrary to all forms of dictatorship and totalitarian ideologies. This truth has been made quite obvious to Germans in Europe and Europeans during the 20th century.
"Human individuality and dignity are usually destroyed by a dictatorship because it breaks the moral backbone of the people.
"The concept 'Truthfulness' has truly been lost in our society. Therefore it is of utmost importance to constantly remember that it is a value that gives humans, once they experience true truthfulness, the opportunity to live in freedom and experience personal satisfaction when they adhere to truthfulness. They can express what was given at birth, and that is individual freedom, which has nothing to do with coercion. We all realize that all totalitarian systems want to 're-educate' people.
"We have the freedom and the ability to follow our conscience--and for this we are greatly thankful--without being persecuted. At the same time we actively try to come closer to the realization of our ideals. But, returning to our introduction of the exhibition, the art displayed here expresses very clearly what it represents, and what energy is required to harmonize the individual and his/her surroundings, build up moral one's power of resistance and at the same time bring about justice.
"Because the intent of this exhibition is of the highest order, in that it addresses human rights and its defense, it goes without saying that the Saxon Parliament, as the highest constitutional entity, support the promoters of this event.
"What we see here are pictures that bring people's suffering to the forefront of one's conscience and document that human rights are ignored in other parts of this world and at times also violated by inhuman means.
"In China, Falun Gong adherents, as shown through international protests, have become the most talked about victims in the world. Protest solutions that address the persecution are not only a topic discussed and addressed by organizations, such as the International Society for Human Rights (ISHR) and other non-governmental organizations, but also, naming just two others, by the European Parliament and the U.S. Congress. Sad to say, all of it has so far been without any results.
"The stronger the moral and political responsibility, the more often an opportunity is used to publicly speak out against any suppression of freedom of faith, freedom of belief, freedom of assembly, and freedom of the press. Trade, the environment, and energy cooperation cannot absolve us from holding future human rights dialogs with our partners, in this case China. Just the opposite, such dialogs must be seen as highest priority if we do not wish to act against our own values and interests.
"With this exhibition, Saxon's Parliament of the Arts, who wants to bring to the forefront human rights and freedom of the human spirit and affect a breakthrough, is using this exhibition as its stage. In this way we are providing our support on the difficult path toward a more humane world."
