The synchrobloggers have decided to join this month with the Bloggers Unite for human rights project, the web-site says;
"While the words might change from country to country and are sometimes taken for granted, human rights represent one of the universally agreed upon ideas — that all people are born with basic rights and freedoms that include life, liberty, and justice. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations.
Bloggers Unite For Human Rights challenges bloggers everywhere to help elevate human rights by drawing attention to the challenges and successes of human rights issues on May 15. What those topics may include — the wrongful imprisonment of journalists covering assemblies, governments that ignore the plight of citizens, and censorship of the Internet. What is important is that on one day, thousands of bloggers unite and share their unified support of human rights everywhere."
There are lists of suggestions for topics to blog about, and a quick glimpse at the news this morning simply reveals more. Do I criticise the Burmese regimen for the way that aid is being refused, do I comment on the earthquake in China and question the Chinese governments response, do I write about Dafur, or Afghanistan, do I write about famines or wars.....Amnesty International offer us a range of issuses to pray over and act upon....
It would be easy to become completely overwhelmed, and so say nothing... I must speak out, and yet I wonder if my heart is truly in it.... Yesterday there was a knock at my door, the yearly Christian Aid collection was taking place, and like many people I scrapped around and managed to find £3.00 in change which I deposited in the envelope and handed to the collector. Christian Aid do a wonderful job working in many different countries and in many different situations, and I am forced to pause and to wonder at my attitude, is giving the leftovers enough? I have a comfortable lifestyle, and am not unable to give, and yet I battle with my own selfishness, like many people in the west I struggle on an almost daily basis being both a victim of and a participator in the affluenza epidemic! To quote from the affluenza web-site;
"To reform the world we must first reform ourselves."
To be reformed or transformed is an ongoing process for all of us, to become truly aware of those who suffer and struggle in the face of oppression and disaster I must lift my eyes from myself and my often small concerns. I must take God's "if seriously for he says:
6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
"If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.11 The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail .
Too often we speak out about human rights, we criticise and complain, too often we long to be like a well watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail, and yet we miss God's "if" we demand justice for others and yet at a deep level we are unwilling to be changed! What do our daily living habits have to say about our true attitude? Yes people in Darfur and Tibet, in Burma and China need justice and aid and basic human rights.....I can speak up, but words are often easy... do I live up to my words?
Juliet's comment brings the truth home:
"We can choose whether or not to blog about human rights today, we can say what we think, wrestle with our consciences in public without fear of persecution or imprisonment. We can set our own blog agenda. For some, the mere act of posting their views and beliefs in the blogosphere is a life-threatening choice".
I for one am challenged!
Other blogs you may want to check out are:
- Sonja Andrews on Human Wrongs
- Adam Gonnerman on Guantanamo Bay in the eyes of God
- Julie Clawson on Human rights and Christian comfort
- Steve Hayes on Human rights and Christian faith
- Sally Coleman on "If"
- Adam Gonerman on "My Charade is the event of the season"
- Janice Fowler on "Voice Overs Needed" (or "Wake up - Speak Up")
- Mike Bursell on Human rights (and Christian responsibilities)
