“ Beginning to recognize and appreciate the value of each and every person we see is absolutely crucial.”
else to blame. Really, I am not so bad. Yes, I have said some mean things, made some mistakes, but the cause of slavery? No. It could not be me.
What happens, though, if it is all of us? An issue as pervasive as slavery does not crop up over night, nor is it stopped over night. It begins with identifying the causes, and facing the hard truth that … it could be us.
How, though? I have never purchased nor sold another human being, and I could never imagine myself doing such a thing. No one I know personally has ever been involved in such activities; some of them are actively involved in efforts to raise awareness about it and bring an end to slavery.
But the issue of slavery does not begin at the moment someone is purchased or sold, or even the moment the decision is made to do such a thing. There is something insidious at work in the hearts and minds of those who engage in such practices, and those around them who encourage or allow it.
Really though, the same insidious thing is in me, in you, in all of us. Every time I choose to look the other way when I see a homeless person, get frustrated with the clerk at the grocery store and snap at them, or judge someone before getting to know them— I contribute to the problem. Though we may not be able to see immediate effects of such actions, these are the types of things that slowly break people down, causing them to lose sight of the goodness of the ordinary and instead tilt towards the darkness. We ourselves fail to recognize and appreciate the value of simply being human, thinking we are better than others and treating them as such.
It is idealistic to think that being kind to the grouchy lady at the bank will stop slavery. To think that smiling at the homeless man I pass on my way to class will stop slavery. To think that taking the time to really listen to the way my waitress answers the question,“ How are you?” will stop slavery. These things alone will not stop slavery. But maybe, just maybe, taking the time to genuinely care about the people we come in contact with each day, however briefly, can have a ripple effect that we will never know about.
Being involved in organizations that actively work to bring about an end to slavery is important. Raising awareness
“ Beginning to recognize and appreciate the value of each and every person we see is absolutely crucial.”
of other contributing factors, such as poverty and injustice, and working to end those things, is necessary. But beginning to recognize and appreciate the value of each and every person we see is absolutely crucial.
Prevention starts not just with awareness; it starts with action. It starts with us.
Unbound Fall 2012
The next edition of Unbound Magazine will be released on October 1, 2012. We’ re asking for submissions until August 17, 2012. Guidelines are available at www. MichiganAbolitionistProject. org.
Theme: Victims of Modern-day Slavery Submissions for Fall 2012 edition should reflect the theme of Victims of Modern Slavery.
The U. S. State Department estimates there are anywhere from 12.5 to 27 million slaves in the world today. This is an unacceptable atrocity around the world and in our own backyards. The victims in this horrific crime are plentiful. In this edition, we’ re seeking to give victims a voice through the written word and artistic responses.
Who are the victims of modern slavery?
The obvious answer is those being held against their will, forced to do things that are inhumane. But what about the perpetrators and traffickers; are they victims too? We invite you to explore the complexity of modern slavery and the various people affected – from those enslaved to the traffickers themselves, from the“ clients” soliciting sex to the business owners who are selling products made by slaves.
In the Fall 2012 edition, we invite you to submit work that helps others understand the victims of modern slavery.
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