To Hell with Human Trafficking. There, I Said It.

The lack of public financing of American political campaigns is not preventing people from giving money to just causes such as those that work to eliminate slavery. It's about priorities. People <i<choose political donations over other donations. Imagine if every American gave up the money they spend every year on bottled water (something that's available for free in just about every location in the country) and gave it to a worthy cause...

Thanks to Eugene for raising awareness of this issue. It's something that all Christians should be concerned about. Unfortunately (or fortunately) most of us are so far removed from the realities of slavery that it doesn't cross our conscientiousness enough.

There is human trafficking being done right here in the US. I'm talking about companies (and people) who traffick in the labor of so-called "illegal" immigrants. On one hand, companies and people exloit those who are desperate to feed their families by offering them jobs at less-than-minimum wage with no benefits, no protection, no Social Security. These workers cannot complain because o the fears of being deported.

And then we get the anti-immigrant people who lodlyly complain about "illegals" coming here, "breaking hte law" and "taking our jobs" which very few Americans will perform -- especially at the wages which these employers offer. Some of the arguments I've read and heard against "illegal immigration" border on the recist: i.e. "they only want welfare," "they are taking over our 'pristine' American culture," "they don't want to learn English." And the usual, "they are lazy and dirty." I've heard it all. There was a recent hate crime I've read about where a Hispanic was beaten and murdered just for being Histpanic; tthe murderers surmised that he was an "illegal" but they didn't really care -- he was a "Mexican" and that's all they cared about.

In this sort of atmosphere, our country can never get decent immigration reform. You have the employers who like just the way that it is -- so they can continue to exploit with impunityh. And we have the anti-"illegal" people continuing to blame the citims for this traavesty of human traficking.

Seriously? You spend more time blaming persons who opposed ILLEGAL immigration for human trafficking done by coyotes and employers?

I blame the entire range of people involved: the employers who exploit immigrants who are "illegal" and the people who would rather blame the victims of this form of human trafficking for political/racial purposes. Because of all of the anti-immigrant backlash, we set up a system where employers can easily take advantage of people desperate to support their familes.

It's much easier to express support for victims of human trafficking who are in far-away lands. It's more difficult to express support for victims who are in our own front yard.

When we stop looking at persons as individuals created in the image of God, we stop seeing the injustices that face certain persons throughout the world. We see "those people" (not derogatory) as "over there," and "our people" as "here," and so it's difficult to personally see the personal value in a single individual that's "over there."

I've been to developing countries, most recently Cambodia. The human trafficking that was evident and rampant made me sick. It "hits home," so to speak, when we come face to face with such things. Unfortunately, most of us are not face to face with these things on a daily basis.

I agree with WaveTossed that we should be very concerned with the injustices that are going on here in the United States, particularly with regards to illegal immigration. There is much injustice going on because of the legal framework which permits (sometimes encourages) many employers to commit illegal but profitable acts with regards to hiring people. Ironically, such "illegal acts" were made voluntarily by the immigrants who crossed the border and sought "better work."

As far as immigration, "illegal" or not: read what the Cato Institute has to say on the subject.

http://www.freetrade.org/node/333

Great point. We've seen slave labor brothels right here in Minnesota. The young ladies are been illegal immigrants who are intimidated and forced into prostitution. When one such brothel was busted the "progressive community" was more concerned with the fact that ICE and the local police were both called in. Not much concern voiced for these young women who were serving 50 men a day and sometimes more.

Hi Everyone!
I'd like to share that the women of our denomination - American Baptist Women's Ministries - pledged to raise $250,000 two years ago for grants to "start-up" ministries that work with women and girls involved in the sex trafficking industry. To day we've raised over $319,000 and counting! Our project is also call "Break the Chains: Slavery in the 21st Century". We've given 12 grants so far - 6 to ministries in the US and 6 to global ministries. We plan to give 6 more this year - 3 and 3. God is moving. God cares about all people. Everyone - please keep up the good work!

Unfortunately, I have found out that there is still some anti-immigrant feeling among so-called "progressives." I remember advocating for immigration reform in another forum. I was attacked for "supporting law-breakers" and "illegals" both from those who considered themselves "liberal" as well as those who considered themselves "conservatives." The strong support I've seen for true immigration reform comes from libertarians.

The brothel case in Minneapolis showed me that the progressives here were more concerned about the Issue than the people. This could be said also of people who hold the view closer to mine (I think we should start by enforcing the laws we have, then make fixes from there).

This is a topic that many on this sight have chosen not to engage because of accusations of racism.

" This could be said also of people who hold the view closer to mine (I think we should start by enforcing the laws we have, then make fixes from there)."

I beg to disagree with you. Many libertarians believe that we need to fix the system. In that way, you will have a lot less "illegals" coming in because then most of the immigrants will be able to come here legally. Then this problem won't be nearly the problem that it is. And actually, it's not an "illegal immigrant" problem, it is a problem of too many people (from all sorts of political spectrums) who are xenophobic.

"This is a topic that many on this sight have chosen not to engage because of accusations of racism."

Yes, I've noticed that. However, when I've been on other forums discussing this topic, sooner or later the anti-Mexican racism begins to emerge. However anti-Mexican prejudice (unlike anti-Gay prejudice) is not "politically correct" among most of the people who post here. So they simply avoid this topic of exploitation and human trafficking that is occuring right here in the U.S.

" This could be said also of people who hold the view closer to mine (I think we should start by enforcing the laws we have, then make fixes from there)."

I beg to disagree with you. Many libertarians believe that we need to fix the system. In that way, you will have a lot less "illegals" coming in because then most of the immigrants will be able to come here legally. Then this problem won't be nearly the problem that it is. And actually, it's not an "illegal immigrant" problem, it is a problem of too many people (from all sorts of political spectrums) who are xenophobic.

"This is a topic that many on this sight have chosen not to engage because of accusations of racism."

Yes, I've noticed that. However, when I've been on other forums discussing this topic, sooner or later the anti-Mexican racism begins to emerge. However anti-Mexican prejudice (unlike anti-Gay prejudice) is not "politically correct" among most of the people who post here. So they simply avoid this topic of exploitation and human trafficking that is occuring right here in the U.S.