Sexual Abuse, Human Trafficking, And Forced Labor (How To And Not How To Address It)
These topics are very important real world issues that affect us all in the universal setting. Regardless of one's ethnicity, gender, national identity, political or religious affiliation, the effects of these topics are universal in scope. These are topics that demand a united, interfaith response as again, it's a universal issue that is of vital addressing. Those affected by it, along with those in the community, regardless of its location, are affected by it, regardless of background. There is a massive responsibility when addressing these topics.
In Regard To Forced Labor
Forced labor is a massive component of the issue too. Regardless of which part of the globe you're on, people have been exploited for either sexual or labor reasons. According to the U.S. Department of State, there have been an estimated 27 million people worldwide who are exploited at any given time (and that number could even be higher too).
This is a universal issue that is global in nature. Many have been made to do forced labor against their will. In China, the Uighur Muslims have been interned in labor/concentration camps in large numbers (estimates are between 1-3 million). Their only crime: being Muslim. This group rejected the violent ideas of Radical Islam. Yet, among the Chinese, any Muslim is a Radical Muslim. Thus, they used the excuses brought on by a few unfortunate acts of violence to intern an entire religion. Now one would probably think “why am I referencing this. How does this affect Christians?”. The reason why this affects Christians is because if the Chinese can do this to the Muslims there, they can do it to the Christians as well. The Chinese government has arrested Christians in massive numbers before, along with Buddhist as well and those who support the “Free Tibet'' movement. Thus, it’s not beyond China to do this. This is why awareness needs to be made for those suffering at the hands of a brutal government. A global issue requires a global, interfaith response. One can’t just tackle the issue alone as it affects everybody equally. We’re all in the same boat.
Growing Religious Persecution In China A Symptom Of Xi's Consolidation Of Power (FORBES) https://www.forbes.com/sites/oliviaenos/2018/03/28/growing-religious-persecution-in-china-a-symptom-of-xis-consolidation-of-power/?sh=74f76b673b8c
Religion in China (Council on Foreign Relations) https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/religion-china
China Must End Its Campaign of Religious Persecution (POLITICO) https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/10/25/china-must-end-its-campaign-of-religious-persecution-221910/
The reasons for human trafficking vary for many reasons. Either one is going through massive emotional or physiological reasons that are then exploited at the hands of those who selfishly use their pain for their own purpose. Those exploited are often in a very vulnerable position. Others are victims of massive political or social upheaval that made them susceptible to human trafficking. These exploiters take advantage of the situation for their own selfish pursuits. People have been exploited in remote parts of the world. Others have been exploited in our own backyard. People have been exploited by Hollywood. Others have been exploited in their own church as well. Those consumed with power and control, regardless of their social, political, racial, ethnic background, or economic standing, have exploited the vulnerable for their own purpose.
About Human Trafficking (U.S. Department Of State)
https://www.state.gov/humantrafficking-about-human-trafficking/
The reasons for human trafficking vary for many reasons. Either one is going through massive emotional or physiological reasons that are then exploited at the hands of those who selfishly use their pain for their own purpose. Those exploited are often in a very vulnerable position. Others are victims of massive political or social upheaval that made them susceptible to human trafficking. These exploiters take advantage of the situation for their own selfish pursuits. People have been exploited in remote parts of the world. Others have been exploited in our own backyard. People have been exploited by Hollywood. Others have been exploited in their own church as well. Those consumed with power and control, regardless of their social, political, racial, ethnic background, or economic standing, have exploited the vulnerable for their own purpose.
In Regard To Sexual Abuse/Assaults
As such, When making the case, one needs to resort to documented accounts that have been investigated professionally. It builds credibility for the topic while doing justice for those affected by it. When the Boston Globe did its investigation into the sex abuse scandals within the Catholic Church, it had credibility because those investigating the claims have poured their heart and soul into the investigation, turning every unturned stone along the way. As such, when the accounts break, they have massive credibility behind it.
It's vital that the topic of sexual abuse/assaults have to be brought up within the church setting. Many have turned away from God because they were exploited by the very institution that was supposed to protect them. While many will focus on the idea of Hollywood blood cults (which is an update to centuries old anti-Semantic tropes), many Christians have been blind to the sexual exploitations that occurred within its own setting. We Christians can be our own worst enemy when tackling the issue of human trafficking and sex abuse.
I understand that the Catholic church has done a lot of good for those who are in need of spiritual outreach. Me referencing the sex abuse scandal isn't there to demonize the church. However, it is the massive 800-pound gorilla in the room that one can’t ignore. The exploitation that was brought on by the hands of many Catholic priests has done massive, real-world harm to those who were in need of spiritual outreach. Are we supposed to just ignore the pain so that we can now get in good with the Catholic church? However, sex abuse within Christianity isn’t just restricted to the Catholic Church either. With the recent discovery of a cover-up within the Southern Baptist Convention in regard to the sex-abuse scandals there, along with Hillsong, sexual exploitation is a massive issue within the church. Yet addressing real-world examples of sexual abuse within the church is considered Christian-bashing in the eyes and ears of many. We can often be our own worst enemy.
Catholic Church sexual abuse cases (Wikipedia)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_sexual_abuse_cases
Southern Baptist leaders release a previously secret list of accused sexual abusers (NPR)
https://www.npr.org/2022/05/27/1101734793/southern-baptist-sexual-abuse-list-released
The DOJ is investigating Southern Baptists following sexual abuse crisis (NPR)
https://www.npr.org/2022/08/13/1117362904/southern-baptists-doj-investigation-sexual-abuse
Southern Baptist Convention Says It Faces Federal Investigation for Sexual Abuse (NYTimes)
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/12/us/southern-baptist-convention-sexual-abuse.html
Hillsong, Once a Leader of Christian Cool, Loses Footing in America (NYTimes)
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/29/us/hillsong-church-scandals.html
The Rise and Fall of Carl Lentz, the Celebrity Pastor of Hillsong Church (NYTimes)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/05/us/carl-lentz-hillsong-pastor.html
Jeffrey Epstein
To say that Jeffrey Epstein is a monster is an understatement. This horrible piece of crap escaped justice by his own hands as a coward because he didn’t have the will to see how his horrible actions affected those that he brought harm to. Jeffrey’s victims were constantly exploited while he was taking advantage of their vulnerability and manipulated for his own purpose.
The same thing that happened to the Catholic Church happened to Jeffery Epstein as well. He was exposed after an intensive investigation that went on for many years. Thus, when he was exposed, there was no way to refute the claims presented in regard to his lifestyle. Unfortunately, the conspiracy theories surrounding his death, along with his perceived connections, have completely overshadowed the real-world suffering of his victims.
Jeffrey Epstein (Wikipedia)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Epstein
When A Real-World Issue Turns To Mockery Instead
Thus, when awareness needs addressing, it has to be in a very responsible manner so as not to deceive people or make a mockery out of the very issue itself. However, when one makes a case for the topic based on sensationalist claims that have zero merit, then a massive disservice is done to the topic and while making a mockery of the horrific pain and suffering that one has endured throughout. Such banter completely undermines the whole effort and serves as a distraction from the real-world pain that many go through. If one builds their case not on real-world facts or documented reports, but sensationalist claims found on FB; then one’s confrontation to the issues are built on lies and misinformation.
Thus, when the references to the quote “secret” tunnels at the Disney themes are referenced, those claims completely undermine the whole issue. Those who reference these “secret” tunnels have a massive responsibility to research whether the claims presented are actually of substance or just sensationalist clickbait that was politically motivated by critics of Disney. Credibility of a real-world topic is damaged when one starts to make a case based on outlandish claims that have no merit, but yet presented as the gospel truth.
Are the claims of the Disney utilidor system being a Satanic practicing, mind-controlled depots for human trafficking presented as fact because there is evidence to back up the claim, or true become it aligns with one’s preconceived worldview, and thus, no evidence needed? Like any claims, I will believe them once there is actual evidence to support the claim. Thus, just because someone states it doesn’t become true until the claim in question becomes validated by experts and investigators.
Disney utilidor system (Wikipedia) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney_utilidor_system
Conspiracy theories about Disney abound after Florida law controversy (PolitiFact) https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2022/apr/28/viral-image/conspiracies-about-disney-abound-after-florida-law/
While Davos has always been fodder for conspiracy theories, such wild claims about it have entered the mainstream. Whatever legitimate complaints that many have about how the top 1% flaunts their wealth while the common man suffers in a massive economic inequality gap, such grievances get lost to “New World Order” banter about making people eat insects while using green tech to mind-control people or how Covid was manufactured to control the world’s population. Such banter serves as a massive distraction to the real-world issues of income inequality, which is one of the massive contributors to human trafficking.
As elites arrive in Davos, conspiracy theories thrive online (AP News) https://apnews.com/article/technology-pennsylvania-world-economic-forum-business-0193732c04074e595852c160d7ca1c86
The “secret” tunnels referenced at the Disney theme parks are actually the Disney utilidor system, which is very well-known and documented transit and utility infrastructure to handle the day-to-day operations of the park that are accessible to both employees and visitors too. Their use was very transparent. The claims of them being false claims were fabricated that were motivated for political reasons.
Conclusion
When real-world examples are ignored in place of sensationalist claims, then the victims of those who’ve gone through real trauma are made a joke by the very people who are supposed to be raising awareness to their suffering. Mockery is made out of a very serious, real-world issue. Great awareness has to be made when addressing a topic as sensitive as human trafficking.
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