Feb 22, 2018 / Life
#enditmovement – what is one life worth?
Today is “Shine A Light On Slavery Day”. Maybe you knew that already. Maybe like me, you woke up and learned that by seeing it on your Facebook feed.
I don’t pretend to be actively involved in this movement, but I do believe that we all have a voice and today I choose to speak up about slavery.
For those of you who are unaware, this is the description for the #enditmovement on their website.
#enditmovement
Is a coalition of the leading organizations in the world in the fight for freedom. Each of our amazing coalition partners are doing the work, on the ground, everyday, to bring awareness, prevention, rescue, and restoration.
The hallmark of this movement is the red X that you’ll see many people draw on their hand today. The goal is to raise awareness, and in-turn to raise support for the organizations that fight against slavery.
I don’t know about you, but initially there’s something in me that questions the legitimacy and the effectiveness of these types of movements. If I draw a red X on my hand and tell a few friends why I did it, post something witty on Facebook, and donate $10 to their campaign…what difference does it really make?
We have to answer a broader question: “What is one life worth?”
You see, the campaign is about the 27 million people who still live in slavery in our world…and that’s appalling…but it’s a number to us. It’s just numbers…on the other side of the world…numbers in Africa…Asia…not people we can physically see.
And just so we’re clear, slavery isn’t just about manual labor for little or no pay anymore. In our modern day world, it’s about sex. Every day people are sold for sex…right here in the U.S.A…in Georgia…in Atlanta.
Did you know that the illegal sex industry in Atlanta alone brings in nearly $290,000,000 per year? (CNN)
This isn’t just happening overseas. Children, women, poor families, mentally challenged children, emotionally fragile ladies are all being sold for sex…in our backyard!
What if one of your neighbors, one of your kid’s friends, or one of your co-workers family members is the victim? Does awareness make a difference then? Does a red X change anything?
I came across this story today; “a young woman in Texas…was rescued from sex trafficking because someone who had heard about the END IT movement questioned whether she was in trouble.” (CNN)
How do you think the family of that woman in Texas feels about red Xs on people’s hands now? Maybe it makes a difference…
As I said earlier, I’m not an activist for this movement year round. But I’m going to draw a red X on my hand today…because one life matters!
I may meet someone who doesn’t know about sex slavery…
They may talk to their family about it…
They may warn their children about the dangers around them…
They may see something at the mall or the grocery that doesn’t quite seem right and let someone know…
They may rescue someone from slavery…
They may change one life…
Even if this movement saves just one person from slavery…it’s all worth it! Because each life is valuable…one life is valuable…
We all have a voice…
Resources
If you’d like to learn more I recommend checking out these websites:
- enditmovement.com – the worldwide movement against slavery.
- belovedatlanta.org – a community of women who have survived trafficking, prostitution, and addiction.
