(Minghui.org) Over 30 years have passed, but my hometown's pond story is still vividly clear in my mind. I remember the harm that was done because of a wrong decision.
The pond, surrounded by willow trees on three sides, used to be a beautiful place. It was connected to the village by a path. The pond, filled with reeds, was clear and one could see fish swimming in it. Although there were not many fish, several pounds per family were harvested in August every year.
Residents in nearby villages said we were lucky. With food scarcity in those years, eating fish once a year was considered a luxury.
The Pond Turns into a Cesspit
However, the pleasure brought by the pool came to an end when the party secretary returned from a county meeting and told the village residents, “Tomorrow we will remove all the reeds from the pond, fill it with manure, and turn it into the biggest cesspit in the county.”
The water was no longer clear after the reeds were burnt and the fish had died. The elderly shook their head and sighed in frustration and sadness, seeing the devastation of their beloved pond.
The smell was also hard to tolerate. The people who used to visit the pond on summer evenings stayed away as far as possible. The laughter once heard from children and adults alike was no longer heard in that area.
Ill Fortune
The pond used to be a safe place. Even during heavy rains when the water reached the road, neither child nor poultry or other livestock drowned. After being turned into a cesspit, accidents occurred almost every day and poultry and livestock were frequently lost.
Once, the party secretary's grandson was walking with his grandmother near the pond. She tried to steer clear of the pond, but the child ran towards it and jumped into the water.
Fortunately, someone was close enough to save the boy. Nevertheless, he was covered with feces. Afterwards, he became ill, but no doctor nor prayers at temples could help him. He grew up into a troubled youth and adult.
Refusal to Heed Warning
A sudden rainstorm filled up the pond one early September, and someone spotted fish in the pond. Word went out, and most of the villagers hurried to the pond to fish.
The oldest person in the village, Uncle Fuhong, warned them that the fish were not edible because they were poisoned. Because of his experience and knowledge, he was respected. But seeing the fish going to other families, few listened to him.
Uncle Fuhong tried to warn the villagers over and over again, but people either ignored him or made fun of him. Some villagers even thought that he'd lost his mind and his grandson dragged him back home.
The people who ate those fish became ill, with severe vomiting and diarrhea. They were taken to a hospital and one child and two elderly people died.
Those who had gone to the pond to catch the fish came down with a skin disease. They visited doctors, took medication, and some were hospitalized. Because the disease was so severe, several families had to sell their livestock to pay for their medical bills.
Many people held regret for not having heeded Uncle Fuhong's advice. Because my father always respected the elderly, he had heeded the warning and had gone home and cleaned himself. Our family did not eat the fish.
Consequences from Wrong Decisions
A wrong decision turned a clean and beautiful pond into a cesspit. By not heeding the advice about the cesspit, people suffered illness, injury, and even death. When humans do not respect nature and do not listen to wise people's advice, there will be unfortunate consequences.
A wrong decision by the leaders of a country will have dire consequences. If people no longer respect traditional Chinese culture and no longer value virtue, but instead follow the Communist Party's dictates, society will suffer.
Millions of people have lost their lives due to the Party's political campaigns. And the harm has not come to an end, as the Party continues to persecute Falun Gong practitioners for their belief in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
It is up to everyone to walk their path well and decide whether one wants to help the innocent, remain indifferent, or bring harm.
