We saw the movie "Amazing Grace" last weekend. It is the story of William Wilburforce and his struggle to make slave trading illegal in Britain and on British ships. It was an arduous struggle against great odds but he persevered feeling God had called him to do this. People opposing him defended their positions to keep slavery legal because it would cause great hardship and financial ruin to many if slavery ceased. Where have we heard that argument before? We need to have the "freedom of choice" or we will be adversely effected? The movie hits you in the gut. How can we believe chosing a course that we see as beneficial to us but causes the death of another is just?
Today I began reading a book recommended by my sister. It has been on the NY Times bestseller list many weeks and is called "Left To Tell", by Immaculee Ilibagiza. She is a survivor of the genocidal holocaust in Rwanda in 1994. She tells her story gently and espouses love and forgiveness after enduring the madness that enveloped that country. She set a good example I feel for how we must proceed. We need to tell the truth with love. To call each other to be better. To treat each other as brothers and sisters. To seek just solutions for problems.
1 comment:
Jane, thanks for your post and your comment on my blog. I stumbled upon the information about the movie and Wilberforce while "investigating" his role in the abolition of the slave trade in England. I was overwhelmed with the information about the present day slave trade. I lead a small group here at the Seminary where I teach and we were asked to lead a chapel service this week. We focused on raising awareness about human trafficking and sang the song "Amazing Grace". Like Wilberforce, we want to turn away in despair because the task is so great but, like Wilberforce, we need to realize that we can make a change if we say the right thing at the right time and in the right way.
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