Walnut Moon Festival; California Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff joins An Era of Conscience

Reporter Emmy Shih, Los Angeles

The Folk Dance Club performers of a traditional Chinese folk dance promoting An Era of Conscience

The Chinese American Association of Walnut and the Folk Dance Club of Walnut co-organized a moon festival event on the evening of Saturday, September 13. The celebration consisted of a potluck dinner, karaoke, dance performances, and many other entertainments. The event was graced by many honored guests, including Senator Bob Huff, Senate Republican Leader for the California State Senate, Mrs. Huff, Mayor Pro Tem Eric Ching of Walnut, Mrs. Ching, and Councilman Antonio “Tony” Cartagena. During the festival, Senator Huff sang a classic Chinese song “The Moon Represents My Heart,” which was perfectly in tune with the festivities and the audience broke into a big round of applause.  Other performances included a traditional Chinese folk dance of the Dai people, given by members of the Folk Dance Club of Walnut dressed in beautiful Dai costumes, and a funny “yin yang dance” performed by men dressing as half woman and half man to tell a love story. The Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy also presented an inspirational and heart-warming song entitled “An Era of Conscience” to encourage people to speak kind words and do good deeds and the academy’s youth members brought an energetic dance called “Power of Love” that electrified the audience. The academy also promoted the movement of “An Era of Conscience” and invited participants to join the on-line endorsement for the Declaration for the Movement of An Era of Conscience.

The guests of the festival performing the “conscience gesture” to promote An Era of Conscience

The guests of the festival joined the movement of An Era of Conscience; they performed the signature hand gesture of the movement by closing the right hand in front of the chest and covering it with the left hand, symbolizing: “protect the conscience in our hearts; create an era of love and peace.”

Mayor Pro Tem Eric Ching stated that conscience is actually the best choice because as long as we act acting to our conscience, whatever we do will go smoothly.  He also said that he will promote this movement at the city council meeting and invite more people to join the movement. He added that he is very thankful for Tai Ji Men to promote this meaningful movement and congratulated the academy on its upcoming 14 year anniversary in Los Angeles that will be celebrated on September 21^st at the academy’s 385 S. Lemon Ave address in Walnut.

Senator Bob Huff and his wife (right4, right3) promoting An Era of Conscience

Senator Bob Huff remarked that we need to take more responsibility for our community. He added that the things we do impact the world, so we shall not quarrel with one another but shall help one another.  He is thankful for what Tai Ji Men has been doing and for its setting a good example in our community, said Senator Huff.

Since the movement of “An Era of Conscience,” started in the beginning of this year, it has been promoted in many places in Southern California and around the world. Many community leaders have joined the movement, including Congressman Edward R. Royce, Senator Bob Huff, the mayor of Azusa Joseph Rocha, the mayor of Torrance Patrick J. Furey, the mayor of Walnut Nancy Tragarz, the Mayor Pro of Walnut Tem Eric Ching, and councilmen of Walnut Antonio “Tony” Cartagena, schools in Arcadia and Diamond Bar, and other organizations. Dr. Hong Tao-Tze, the initiator of the movement said, “With conscience comes a peaceful world; with happiness comes a joyful family.” Your words of conscience and deeds of conscience will help people from all over the world and from all walks of life. People from 184 countries and over 1900 organizations have participated in the movement. The movement’s website has received over 1.55 million visits. You are cordially invited to go on to the website of the movement at www.aneoc.org and endorse the Declaration for the Movement of An Era of Conscience; submit to the website an article of 100-300 words to share your words, thoughts, or actions of conscience along with a picture of you performing the conscience hand gesture; send your recording of a 30-second video of your words of conscience or comic or art regarding your conscience to info.aneoc@gmail.com. Groups are also welcome to become joint promoters of An Era of Conscience through the website to create an era of love and peace together.