Have you seen the movie Blood Diamond?
If you haven’t, it is based on true events surrounding the diamond industry and focuses on the concept of the injustice and oppression of some for the pleasure of others. This seems to be a recurring theme in history, the movie just gives it another face. Slavery for example, is an issue that has left a very deep stain on America.
At some point, though; people began to think; at what profit is the oppression of others acceptable. Did the color of skin determine the quality and value of life for certain people? Some believed that profit or pleasure outweighed justice. It started the civil war. Fortunately, Justice won out.
But what if I said the same thing happens today? And what if I went as far to say you are the oppressor? It takes a completely different form when we think that what we do, or purchase can cause the oppression of others.
Is this the same problem with a different face? Maybe it’s not owning a slave; maybe it’s owning a diamond. Or maybe your not exploiting the poor, but are the clothes your buying promoting it? Thankfully, Companies are taking action against exploitation of workers such as American Apparel. To read more check out:edu/labor/www/clothing.com
It’s hard to imagine what we do affects others in such a profound way, but after watching the movie, I realize it does. In comes a term called Systemic Evil. One understanding of systemic evil occurs when good people do good things with good intentions, but the long-term results end up being harmful. Also, it occurs when people aren’t doing anything wrong, but neither are they doing anything right.
Systemic evil is often the cause when someone has been wronged, but there is no one who is responsible. It is a system set in place that directly affects some in a negative way for the benefits of others. There are many examples of this in society, but the movie focuses on the issue of the diamond market. I’m pretty sure God is much more opposed to this than we could ever be. It has never been His intention for anyone to be oppressed or mistreated for someone else’s gain. Think about Egypt. Israel is under the rule of Pharaoh. He is making them work to build towers and temples which do not benefit anyone but Egypt. The Children of God are being oppressed, so God delivers them.
Why would we assume God would want any different today? You can argue that God wanted to deliver Israel b/c they were his chosen people, but the idea of being delivered infers there is an agenda in the heart of God who desires deliverance from evil.”The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed” Psalms 103:6It is His heart, and since we (The Church) are God’s chosen agents on earth shouldn’t we fight for freedom? It is not our choice sometimes who is oppressed, but it is our responsibility to do everything we can to stop it.
Oppression doesn’t fit into a nice picture; it’s much too ugly to hang in the living room. But may you see that all that ugliness was put on Jesus for their freedom, and may you find value in that truth.
May Truth comfort the afflicted, and may Truth afflict the comfortable.
Deuteronomy 27:19″Cursed is the man who withholds justice from the alien, the fatherless or the widow.”Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
