Picket lines, lobby groups, and other democratic discomforts

I have never considered myself much of an activist. I would much rather keep the peace than make waves. I could blame my personality, the sometimes-bland political landscape of my country, and my Mennonite heritage (this isn't a judgment, just acknowledging that my ancestors were people who tended to relocate in pursuit of freedom rather than stay and fight for it), but the fact remains: I am uncomfortable with activism. Out of necessity, I joined a union when I was teaching, but I didn't know quite what to do with myself in strike seasons. So I didn't do much. My plea to the various sides in a conflict is usually this: Can't we all just get along?!

Pacifism, peace-keeping, consensus-seeking... These are all good things. But are they the right tools for every conflict?? The more I have learned about human trafficking and sex slavery, the more I have felt the need to rouse the sleeping activist/warrior within me. I picture myself face-to-face with a victim of human trafficking, offering excuses like, "I'm just not an activist" or "I didn't want to offend any of my friends by going all radical" or "I'm just one person - I honestly didn't think I could make a difference" and suddenly my excuses don't seem that solid.

One area in which I've been resisting the need to get involved is the political arena. Even the thought of emailing my MP or MLA seems daunting - I'm not really the type of person that emails the government, am I?! I'm thinking I need to be... There's currently a case before the Supreme Court of Canada seeking to challenge the prostitution laws in Canada. This is certainly a complex matter, but it seems to me that decriminalization will lead to increased exploitation. A lot of people with a lot more knowledge than me have written on this - check out http://www.defenddignity.ca/ for more information and resources on this issue, including how you can contact your Member of Parliament. Many people are lobbying our government to pass legislation similar to Sweden's law - read more about how Sweden approaches prostitution here: http://www.thesolutionsjournal.com/node/895.

http://www.defenddignity.ca/canada-can-do-better/ 

No matter how uncomfortable I feel, I can't just stick my head in the sand and hope for the best. It is absolutely vital that we stand up and advocate on behalf of those who are being exploited. Let's make the time to increase our awareness and send an email or two. On June 11th, join with a group of people at First Alliance Church who will be praying specifically about this issue. And let's ask God to align our hearts with His so we can start doing the important, uncomfortable, out-of-our-comfort-zones, life-changing work that needs doing.

Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. (Isaiah 58:6)