What if…
There is a subtle myth that slavery was vanquished in the 19th century. In reality it hasn’t been defeated and there are more slaves today than any other time of human history. In fact, everyday, there are thousands of slaves across the United States. Thousands brought in and sold for sex and labor. In my years on this globe I have witnessed and/or read about numerous horrific events; however, I cannot fathom that humanity has created a crime more heinous than enslaving children in a system of rape for profit.
Sadly, there is an astonishing, well organized network of criminals victimizing women and children every day. I have wondered why we, those fighting for justice, are unable to network with similar ferocity. Why do criminals have structured systems and networks reaping havoc, while we continue creating “solutions” and systems that remain autonomous of one another? Why can we not network? What if different sectors of society could begin working together to break the chains of modern day slavery? What if churches could unite and lead the charge against this heinous injustice? What if a duplicable model of collaboration developed that became an example to other cities in our nation and around the world of the enormous potential when government and market place leaders, young people, churches, and thousands of modern day abolitionists wrestled, fought, and prayed against child sex slavery? What if….
Over 40 years ago Martin Luther King Jr. painted a poignant vision with his “I have a dream” monologue. What if today, in our continued struggle against slavery, we carried on his dream of abolishing slavery and created a UNITED effort working together to bring justice? What if…
What if…
Blog by Pat McCalla
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[...] What if… The Just Life | Dec 01, 2009 | 0 comments [...]
Great article, touch upon on of the least publically talk about issues facing the world today. Hopefully with greater exposure we, united as one will vanquish this evil.
I ask myself that question every day. And I’m only a teenager! Whenever I tell my friends about modern day slavery they look at me like I’m crazy. But I still talk about it. I feel like God put me on this earth to make a difference. He’s put a passion in my heart to do something about some of the world’s problems. I don’t know what yet, but I do know that I feel very strongly about the issue of modern day slavery. Why others don’t even realize it’s happening confounds me. We HAVE to do something about this!
This haunts me continuously, Pat. There are pockets of abolitionists working together everywhere…But no one “umbrella” organization that we unite under, therefore we lose the full impact of what’s possible with unified strength.
I couldn’t agree more. How do we get started?
This haunts me, because I lived it and I had a mom who was strong enough to keep me out of the industry as I lost friends due to the industry…It isn’t like a pimp just walks up and naps the girl…They create a relationship with her, make her believe that life is so much greener with them…These girls are from every kind of family imaginable…money and creed have nothing to do with it. I watched with my sheltered, rosy tinted glasses on…the emptiness that these girls feel towards everyone and everything around them. I watched and was victim to the silent persecution that faces girls and boys even in the church, at school, and at home…victims are victims, and when they feel they have nowhere to run….they will go with the person promising them a life better than the one they are currently in…EVERYBODY has their price….Thank GOD you guys do what you do everyday. Thank God for the people God is using everyday to find these girls and get them the help they need. It is the young girl next door or on the street behind you…It is the young ladies your daughter’s and your son’s are hanging out with. This is real and it is present we all just need to stop ignoring it and hold ourselves and the people victimizing these ladies and in some cases gentlemen accountable. Again thanks for everything you guys are doing…Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Finally something bigger than me and my family to be passionate about!!!