“ 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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