and the Need for Greater Intolerance!
Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzai were both honored with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014.
In doing so the Noble Commission in Norway honored: A
Victim who would #NotBeSilenced and a #GlobalVictimsAdvocate .
It has been estimated that 90% of any population group can be controlled by a 10% minority that is willing to organize and intimidate their neighbors.
Simply said: The two honored prize winners chose not to be intimidated, but rather to work to organize the 90%.
In America during the Civil Rights Movement the, "Freedom Riders," did a similar thing. They immersed themselves into the conflict. They became witnesses, and companions to the suffering. Their presence brought the struggle to the homes of everyday America, black and white. Their presence ensured social awareness and highlighted the injustice of segregation, exposing a system that could no longer be tolerated. Below is an intro to an excellent PBS special, "The Freedom Riders," that is no longer available on the web
Salmaan Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti also worked to change the 90%. Taseer a Muslim and Bhatti Christian stepped forward and worked together in Pakistan to expose injustice, but few in Pakistan were able to follow, and their culture could not respond.
In 1989, 25 years earlier, the Students of Tiananmen Square in China stepped forward as well, but the people of China were not free to respond.
One year earlier in 1988, The Singing Revolution occurred in the Baltic states. It was successful and the Tank Commanders joined the protesters in, "Freedom Rider," type activities, and together they broke free from the Communist System.
So, why such dramatically different outcomes?
I suggest that the, "Judeo-Christian Culture had a huge effect; that as the population of the Established Power Structure had a strong Cultural Identification with the values of, "Christianity," peaceful Protestantism was much more likely to be effective.
Why?... because of the values? .....the challenging nature of, "Protestantism"?... or the fear of God? I think Lincoln would say the Fear of God. (see Lincoln's 2nd inaugural Address)
Today our culture has redefined it's values along humanistic lines and all but abandoned ideas of, "Fearing God," but we continue to honor the, "Challenging Nature of, Protestantism" as displayed in modern time by the acts Mandela and Gandhi in British controlled South Africa, and India and Dr Martin Luther King Jr in America. Both with great success I might add.
And yet, the protests of the Arab Spring failed to bring movement toward resolution, but rather the destruction of order and devolution into greater factitious fighting. Hopefully theses will also resolve toward a better future. Lord Knows, there was great turmoil at the time of Gandhi and King. Turmoil that took both or their lives.
The playlist below suggests truths that transcend national, cultural and religious mandate. Some examine conflicts and responses both positive and negative.
Click the link directly below for Playlist, then Play All.
But back to slavery.... and Kailash and Malala.
The children of the world are needed to feed our appetites, and our appetites enslave the children of the world.
#Cheaplabor, #CheapPornography and #Sexualenslavement are only a few of the appetites driving demand for the young as we in the west grow the demand for cheap merchandise and surrender to habits of personal corruption. But this is not a problem of the west alone. In the East these practices occur without shame. In many parts of the "Non-Christian" world young women are expected to work as prostitutes for a period of time to pay back their parents for the cost of raising them, often starting as young as age 8. Their culture sees it as their duty, and so escape is next to impossible.
Sadly: This is a global and historical characteristic of humankind.
Corrupting our future sells, and when it does, the younger generations pay a huge price.
The Clips in Play List below are focused on education and exposing or escaping from various forms of slavery, and organizations committed to bringing restoration.
The 5th clip is an excellent speech given by #KailashSatyarthi several years ago on his work to free enslaved children and end the #cyclethatentraps their families.
Click the link below and click Play all to view.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc7nB8Z7S2L-tkJK4oU_fyY14bO4-gdNY&spfreload=10
