For those who may not be regular readers, I thought I would share the recent writings of New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof. His most recent article can be found here. (Warning: It's a painful read).
For his past three or four columns, he has been writing about conditions surrounding the trafficking of young girls in Cambodia. It began with an article about the school his family has built there, and has henceforth branched out to explore brothels and prostitution in Cambodia, most especially reflecting upon young girls kept as slaves.
I may need to climb up on my soapbox for a moment here.
We here in the west have just celebrated our main holiday season. There was Christmas, a time to reflect on the idea of God becoming Man, or a time to reconnect with the things that are most important in our lives. Hanukkah, a remembrance of God's goodness and provision. Kwanzaa, a celebration of culture and thanksgiving.
And yet, we were encouraged to buy televisions, video game systems, new cars, ipods, ugly and mass-produced jewelry. It's as if our language of love has been tainted and reduced to the crude exchange of material goods as a substitute for what truly matters. And we pat ourselves on the back for "doing something good" for others during the holidays-- like emptying out our overstocked pantries and donated the almost-expired items to the local food bank, like cleaning out our closets of the crap we got last year to make room for the crap that will come from this year.
"Christmas costs less at Walmart." As if Christmas is a commodity I must purchase before enjoying.
"Chase What Matters," says a credit card company, reducing the things that matter to those which can be bought and sold.
I feel ill. I literally feel sick to my stomach, and I can feel the back of my throat tightening.
Why are we not outraged by this? Why are mothers and fathers with daughters sitting still on a mass scale? Why is it okay that these horrors can happen to other people's daughters but not our own?
We have so sadly forgotten that we belong to one another. That what affects my brother or my sister affects me and my world.
I feel so helpless in my anger. I feel as if I am beating against a glass box, that the sound cannot escape, that I am trapped alone with this rage against injustice, stupidity, and disrespect for the divinity of the human soul.
We have forgotten that we belong to one another.
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I used to share your outrage, and I hope you don't become as jaded, apathetic, and cynical as I am. Then again; if you do, you'll probably be happier.
I hope you stay angry, and stay out of Wal-mart. We live in a materialistic, commercial and consumer driven society, so you have to participate to some extent. But you can decide how MUCH you want to participate.
My advice: Do the best you can. Give a little money to good causes when you can. Buy from local businesses that give a damn and stay away from supporting the big corporations that perpetuate an unhealthy paradigm. Stay angry, but only enough, so its a well-kindled little flame that motivates you, not some California wildfire that leaves you a charred and cynical shell of your former self. Well-reigned social outrage, especially when coupled with intelligence and motivation, is a powerful tool for good.
And pin this above your desk:
"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in perfect harmony" - Mahatma Ghandi.
The story goes that it starts with a village.
My personal view is that the world is a village and we all have a vested interest in every life, in every home, in every piece of land in that village.
I know your anger - and believe me its a good thing! They say that if you're not angry, you're not paying attention, and that's probably one of the truest phrases I have ever heard. If you don't care then nothing can ever change, the world can never progress, we as individuals can never progress.
Imagine if every one on earth cared only for material goods, for their own gains and for their own pleasure? Not that hard to imagine really since we are getting close! I guess the econimic crisis has it's upside - maybe we will learn a little about greed.
The other posters a right though. Don't let it eat you alive, you are no good to the world that way! Spread the word, give back what you can, lead by example. The very fact you care so much is a shining example to others, don't let your passion go to waste!
I feel the same way; it outrages me that people are consumed with consumerism. What consumerism is doing is helping to normalized sexually explicit material, increasing the demand for the sex industry. It absolutely bothers me people don't realize that the sex industry in happening in the US; children are specifically being brought here only for the use of their bodies. Americans need to wake up and look at what is happening; quit being sheep and conforming and turning blind eyes to major crisis!