That's (l to r) Dave, Mark and Michelle, the morning team at WMBI.
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The book, its author and protagonist are anti-slavery. Mark and his employers are anti-slavery. I also, am anti-slavery. But Mark asked a provocative question, and paraphrasing, I hope to get it right.
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When learning to debate, one sometimes has to practice by defending an opposing side. Mark asked whether his guest had taken that step to really understand the pro-slavery position. In their discussion, they said that our contemporary Western society is not morally superior to our ancestors. It is easy for us to take a stand against slavery today, but would we really be so bold about it if we lived 200 years in the past? He said he made an earnest effort to understand the pro-slavery position.
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As they talked, I wondered how fair I am to carefully consider other peoples’ perspectives. Granted, nobody’s going to be correct who goes against what the Bible teaches, but am I always interpreting correctly? And even when I feel sure about myself, how well do I listen to the other side?
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20 comments:
"It is easy for us to take a stand against slavery today." But we still don't. It is easy to ignore the human trafficking--and the sex industry and pornography--that I hear about more and more.
I'm not downplaying our country's history of slavery. Nor am I ready to argue a pro-slavery position to support modern human trafficking.
But I do find myself acting as if the news I hear about modern slavery is completely outside my ability to change.
I agree (with both). Mr Goodyear (not to be confused with the Mark cited in this post), your point I think highlights the idea that "this generation is not morally superior to our ancestors." We're not even really all that different in some ways.
There's some info over on the amazinggracemovie site about trying to end slavery now.
It is hard to walk in someone else's moccasins if we don't take our own shoes off first.
That is strange my reading this post about such a subject, I have just finished watching the news about modern day slavery in India where children are sold to sweat shop factories to pay parents debts. One nine year old boy had to work 12 hours a day for seven days a week for 15 pence a day (8 cents?)
They are trapped and slaves for a never ending debt.
I suppose we do not help with our never ending demand for cheap imported good.
Thanks for popping by Craver!
This modern-day slavery topic has taken me by surprise. Actually, I wish I had thought of it. It's an important element in this discussion mix, and we should definitely continue to talk about it. If we don’t talk enough about it here, I’m sure it will come up again. At this point, I’m not sure whether to go with the flow or forge on ahead with my original topic.
Debating… I want to know if you think you have it in you, to believably portray the other side. Sure, you feel strongly about certain things, but if you had to play the role of one of your opponents, could you do so convincingly?
Human Trafficking: Have I been living under a rock? How prevalent is this? You guys got more info or links like the amazing change? Thanks Jenn, for that tip.
Okay, I’m going. You talk now...
How prevalent...
conservative estimates: 27 million slaves in the world right now.
A book that will take you out from under the rock (at least it did so for me):
Disposable People: Modern-Day Slavery in a Global Economy
sorry, the subtitle is New Slavery in a Global Economy
Not much time to post a comment, but enjoyed your topic. I'm in the middle of Velvet Elvis with my small group, and your question is relevant to one of the first chapters of Bell's book. I can't do it justice right now, but basically he talks about how we build brick walls with our beliefs which we then have to defend. Rather, we would be more inviting to non-Christians if we were willing to explore our faith with them, tackling some of the tough questions - rather than just saying "you have to have faith" or "the Bible says so."
While it's sometimes difficult for me to consider the other side since I'm prone to defensiveness, I try to do that by reading books (like Letter to a Christian Nation, which, did you notice, is addressed to us?) and entering into discussions - not debates - with other about tough topics.
Slavery will always be with us as long as there are people who "have" who are willing to take advantage of people who "have not". And I don't have the faintest idea what to do about it.
I wonder whether the evolutionary mind is generally more cruel to slaves.
Craver, yes, "survival of the fittest," social darwinism would seem to go hand in hand.
Now, about my moccasins. They've got shaving cream and peanut butter on them. Here... go ahead... you can walk in them. (Can I just say, I laughed so hard when I read your mischievous malfeance?)
You and me both, LL *grin*
Craver, I didn't mean to side track the discussion here. I hate it when people do that on my blog... : )
I'm trying to think about how I could argue for slavery. I can't argue for sex slaves. I just can't. I could pretend to rationalize, but we would all have to agree to be sexist pigs first.
For selling kids into slavery. Hmmm. I guess you could say we are taking them out of a bad family. (What kind of parents sell their kids into slavery?) Or we could say these kids are going to die of malnutrition and disease anyway. We might as well give their lives meaning by allowing them to work.
Ok, I'm stopping now. That felt dirty.
Mark, I can. You can too. Let me put it this way:
You're a homeschool dad, and you are training your son how to debate. He takes the righteous position for protecting the lives of unborn children, but in order to sharpen his debating skills, you must try to argue convincingly for abortion. Do you do a weak, sloppy job because you hate abortion? No, you try to come up with every angle to make him more prepared. Devil's advocate. You can do it for anything. (You might lose your lunch afterwards, but you can do it.) I hope you can see that sometimes it is wise, and yes, even good to do this.
Oh and Mark: Blogging Buddy Rule #319-a) You only hijack the blog of people you love, because b) blogjacking is a legitimate form of friendly banter.
Thanks for not deleting our silliness, Bro. Besides, somebody still smells like peanut butter; it was totally worth it.
Eau de peanut butter? Isn't that simply the new rave? I hear they are even going to make green goop hair stuff with peanut butter essence someday soon.
Craver
I hear what you're saying but my sentiments tend to be similar to Mark's. Some things are so morally or ethically reprehensible that it's hard to take an advocacy position...even if you're just pretending.
I wonder if there's a difference between your suggestion to Mark and what some of the original post and some of the subsequent comments are recommending. It seems that what's originally proposed is "walk in the other persons size 12 moccasins,keep an open mind and try to understand their point of view"
It seems like what you suggested in your debate example is - take the opposing position so that you can craft a better adversarial position. Is there a difference?
Thanks for provoking new ways of thinking.
Ephesians 5:11-13
11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
12For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
13But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
This verse came to mind about this whole subject. I mean, how far does "open-mindedness" really go?
I can understand why a frustrated mother would throw her child-but I would not agree, nor advocate it, nor think for a moment that it may have been the right thing for her at the time.
I think we can pause enough to look at the mocassins and see how much they reek without putting them on.
Great input, Friends. Eve, I'll look at those verses again later, especially, Eph. 5:12. Thanks a bunch!
Glad to read all of the comments.
On the bonded labor topic:
After spending some time in India, I have seen the face of poverty and desperation, of people longing for hope—like no other place I have ever been. I have also been witness to God's love can do and believe we can all touch a life in need far from our own village.
I worked with a couple who started a ministry two years ago specifically to help free children in bonded labor (and has expanded to help other credible smaller ministries raise funds.) You can find them at:http://www.goodmeasure.org/what-we-do
Thanks for letting me chime in!
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