Monday, March 7, 2011

He Knows Her Name

Speak up for those who cannot speak themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.

This weekend, I was privileged to see the world premiere of “She Has a Name”, a play about human trafficking.

A teenage girl, known only as “18”, has been trafficked from her home in Cambodia and now works in a Bangkok brothel. When an international justice agency plans to bring a court case against traffickers and pimps, “18” is the only girl willing to talk, so she becomes their key witness. Her world is ruled by greed, ignorance, and fear, but I dared to hope we’d find out who “18” really was. I wanted to learn her name.

The night I saw the play was its second last in Calgary, before moving on to Red Deer, Alberta for several nights. After that, hopefully, it'll tour numerous North American cities. I hope many people will buy tickets, go to see it, and feel their hearts gripped by its message.

I must, however, issue this caution: She Has a Name is not for everyone. For many viewers, the play’s frank language and explicit scenes would be repulsive.

No, She Has a Name is not for everyone, but its message definitely is.

We who live in sheltered societies need to understand the pain people experience when their lives are dominated by poverty, desperation, greed, hunger, slavery.

We need to be aware. We need to act. We may be called to actions large or small, but I believe we all need to act in some way. (The websites listed below will offer suggestions.)

Every girl, woman, boy and man, every human being, who is sold and traded like nothing more than a money-making machine, has a name. The people who “buy” them don’t care about their names. Those who pay for their services don’t know their names. Perhaps it’s been so long that the victims themselves have forgotten their names.

But there is a God Who planned them and made them and loves them.

He knows their names.

And He calls those of us who are called by His Name to work to bring justice to those whose names no one else remembers...to give hope to people whose names He can never forget.

Speak up for those who cannot speak themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.

http://www.raisetheirvoice.com/
http://www.actalberta.org/
http://www.embracedignity.org/
http://www.wcacentre.org/
http://www.ijm.ca/

-- Reenie

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