WASHINGTON—Annette Lantos Tillemann-Dick, daughter of former U.S. Representative Thomas Peter Lantos who passed away at the age of 80 in 2008, Holocaust survivor and defender of human rights, attended, on Aug. 25, the Shen Yun Performing Arts show at the Kennedy Center Opera House.

The Shen Yun Performing Arts’ colorful and exhilarating performance of classical Chinese dance and music is a study in grace, wisdom, and the virtues distilled from China’s five-millennia-old civilization,” according to its Website.

Following are excerpts of the speech Mrs. Tillemann-Dick gave during a reception held in honor of the Shen Yun performers and its guests.

Mrs. Tillemann-Dick said that the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, founded by Mr. Tom Lantos to further human rights and justice in every corner of the world through education and social action program, has been an advocate and supporter of Falun Gong, the spiritual practice that is banned in China and its adherents are persecuted.

“Well, it is a great honor for the Lantos Foundation, as it always has been, to both be associated with and to advocate for the rights of Falun Gong, and all people all over the world to freely worship and to practice the things that are important to them.”

She continued to speak of the difference in perception between those of the East and the West when it comes to spiritual leanings and practices.

She said “once you’ve seen it [the performance], there are no other words that one can use [to describe it.]”

The show provided her with a feeling of what can be accomplished, a feeling of what is possible to achieve on this earth.

“There’s a certain level of human perfection that feels truly like the divine coming here and joining us on Earth, at least for a moment when we watch these exquisite and marvelous creations, not only physical, but spiritual, that are presented by the very beautifully trained and clearly devoted dancers and artists, and all the others who helped make this show possible: the producers, and the publicists, and everyone!”

Ms. Tillemann-Dick ended by saying in her speech, “The Lantos Foundation for human rights and justice feels that Falun Gong both in its presentations and in its teachings does so much to promote good in the world, to promote transcending of the ugliness that they have been afflicted by, and rather sharing beauty with others, and we are deeply honored and deeply inspired by everything you do, and we’re so happy to be part of this exquisite and uplifting presentation every time that it comes.”

With reporting by Lisa Fan.

Shen Yun Performing Arts performs at the Washington D.C. Kennedy Center Opera House from Wednesday Aug. 25, to Sunday, Aug. 29. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org

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