Blissful ignorance; being responsible citizens.
So, I (Jason) went to a benefit concert in Boston this past Friday night featuring Caspian, a local band with an ever growing international following. Here’s a taste of what these guys do: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMdvdpHph9U.
The fundraiser was for the Amirah house, here in Boston. This new home will serve as a safe haven and recovery residence for female victims of sex trafficking, which is a bigger problem than most of us can grasp or would even like to acknowledge. One staggering piece of information we learned, is that at this given moment there are over 27 million people currently in slavery around the world. 27 million! In addition to that, we learned that Boston is a major “trade” port for human currency because of our geographic location and proximity to water routes.
Our hostess for the evening made the very valid point that we as American’s don’t really give a thought to this epidemic (and make no mistake, it is an epidemic) because we like to think we abolished slavery, and therefore that horrible part of our history is just that; history.
Regardless, the problem exists whether we would like to acknowledge it or not. Places like the Amirah house provide transitional help to women rescued from this life of brutality and disrespect by providing them rehabilitation both socially, psychologically, and emotionally. It’s not simply enough to break the chains of bondage that hold these people, as they need to be transitioned into a “normal” life with care. Read more about the Amirah house here: http://www.amirahboston.org/
So, what’s the take home point? I know, it’s pretty overwhelming. Just when you thought you had a grasp on our World’s issues and where you were in relation to it all, add one more thing to the pile. I write this post not to guilt you or promote an agenda. It’s actually more sharing with you the confusion of it all. These aren’t things that can be fixed with the purchase of a red ipod or a yellow rubber bracelet.
I think what struck me the most of all, was the responsibility we have to be global citizens. Get out of this bubble of “problems” that are most relevant in our daily lives and consider how much more suffering and injustice there really is out there. We can’t each be expected to fix all the major problems facing humanity; it’s just not reasonable, or even advisable I’d say. If we spread ourselves so thin amongst all these various causes, will we get anything done?
The take home point for me was to find some focus beyond what I see everyday, and do something about it. Find something that resonates with me and move to make a difference. Even if I only impact one or two through those efforts, isn’t that a good thing? Does that start a chain reaction?
The odds of accomplishment are certainly better than if I were to spend the day on my couch, reading Good magazine, wearing my (RED) shirt, in my Toms shoes.
How about we get out and do something?
~J
Tags: amirah, caspian, human slavery, sex trafficking
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