LOS ANGELES—This year marked the fourth time Ms. Sherman, a retired art and history teacher from Los Angeles, has seen the Divine Performing Arts show. Ms. Sherman, who visited China in 1980, keeps up on conditions in the country by reading The Epoch Times. She was also a participant in last year’s Los Angles leg of the Human Rights Torch Relay.
Ms. Sherman was “very impressed” with this year’s performance.
“Each year it becomes finer and finer,” she told a reporter. “Visually it’s superb, and the message is very inspiring. Visually, it’s a masterpiece.”
Ms. Sherman was enthusiastic about the message of hope and change the show offers: “I’ve invited two friends the past two years, and they were both very impressed. Today, my friend said it was a wonderful message in the year that were facing. Since the past year was such a challenge economically and socially, we need to have an uplift, something positive to get us to transition. So, this production is outstanding.
“It shows other people in the world that are going through trying times that they can focus and realize that everything doesn’t stay stagnant. Change takes place all the time.”
As a fan of traditional Chinese culture, with an interest in the changes taken place within China, Ms. Sherman was glad to see Chinese culture displayed to the West; she feels that the whole world can learn from traditional Chinese ways.
“In the transition of time there hasn’t been a lot of reflection—let’s say 15 years ago—about the glory of the Chinese culture. And being one of the oldest, and one that really respects education and educators, it is just very, very enlightening to see that this art form is being used—the stage performance is being used—to remind all of us about the glory of the Chinese culture.”
Ms. Sherman spoke briefly with a reporter about how the standards of beauty have changed in Western culture—how children now port skulls and demonic images on their clothing.
“We need to see this, because in our own culture, too, there’s too much negativity. I had the same reactions when I saw a lot of these kids walking around with these shirts. I asked somebody, ‘Why are you wearing a skull?’ He said, ‘Well, I’m remembering my forbearers.’ What an empty statement. So, one part of survival is regeneration and reflection, and this performance helps us realize that.”
Ms. Sherman feels that too much of the best of past generations has been lost, and that children need to be taught the good ideas and positive values that Chinese traditional culture is based in.
“[The kids] are lost and they need to be revived and exposed to the past. They don’t think there’s relevance to the past, but this is where I certainly think our educational system is sort of retreating, where it’s not keeping the past alive. By reflecting on the past, we can deal with the present. There’s a need for education and people’s commitments to keep alive; and also, to reflect on what’s going on China.”
Discussing her visit to China, Ms. Sherman pointed out that it is the current communist regime that has been trying to erase China’s traditions.
“The Chinese government is trying to rewrite history. There is a lot of thought control, and a lot of censorship.”
Ms. Sherman made a clear distinction between the people of China and the communist regime. “The people were friendly. They wanted to experience the West and learn from the West."
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Divine Performing Arts. For information about schedules and tickets, please visit the Divine Performing Arts website.