friday i had the chance to hang out via conference call with some of the staff of the international justice mission, including their president and CEO gary haugen, and euphrony from the blog inspired to action.
i have a lot to write about this (after i process through the three pages of notes i typed), but i wanted to throw you this quote that stands out to me and get your thoughts.
“the oppression of the poor isn’t driven by the power of the oppressor but the vulnerability of the oppressed.” – gary haugen
discuss.
what does this mean to you?
Comments
14 responses to “opportunity”
this should be quite interesting indeed…..
If we see ourselves as powerless, unloved, and defenseless, others will take advantage of the opportunity to confirm our fears…
Perhaps this is part of the gospel’s power — knowing that God truly is with us? And giving those who feel hopeless reason to believe this as well…
You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more. Ps 10:17-18
The hope for the poor lies within them, not with the rich. Revolution comes not from the rich mellowing out, but from the poor standing up. You can actually start making choices to make you less vulenerable. Hopelessness kills.
Eugene Cho said in a blog comment on the oppression of women when asked why men had done this historically “Because we can”. (not a personal we obviously)
I think that sort of goes along with this idea but I’m still trying to wrap my mind around it. I think any weakness and vulnerability can be seen as an opportunity for power grabbing or oppression. The gain of Power and the lure of Pride and Greed are powerful motivators.
As a woman in the US I have never TRULY been oppressed, but I have encountered sexism which certainly can lead to oppression, even within the church or should I say particularly within the church. Sometimes I have thought that the reason it continues and can seem to even be sanctioned by the church is because no one speaks up. Not ,many will speak up and say “hey, your attitude is not right!”. I’m told alot that I “rock the boat” and “push the envelope” because I do tend to speak up about things that we have grown comfortable with in this area. It’s an issue we are afraid to confront, and so the beautiful women of God that work so diligently in churches and on the mission field are left vulnerable to attitudes that are not Christlike or Godhonoring.
Not an international justice issue, but I think that the idea of confrontation is similar. Silence breeds vulnerability. Advocacy leads to accountability and freedom.
It’s deeper than this and I truly believe sinful patterns handed down through the ages contribute as well. But this is what I thought of – silence equals shame; confrontation leads to advocacy and accountability and freedom.
i realize that comment wasn’t about the poor, it’s just what popped into my head. With the poor, vulnerability can be lowered through education and opportunity and a change of how they see themselves. I think this is true of anyone who is oppressed. My train of thought was probably not clear to anyone but me. Sorry!
I find this comment rather paradoxical since the vulnerability of the oppressed is like a fragrance that attracts the power of the oppressor. In a manner of speaking, it isn’t entirely different from hunting lions going after the weakest of their prey. It may well be said that the vulnerability of the weakest link forms a powerful aphrodisiac, but it cannot be disputed that the “oppressor” takes full advantage of this.
i think that it means that there may always be people who will use power to oppress others and the way to fight that is to empower the oppressed, not dethrone the oppressors. in that case, i think that this is a good idea. however, if it means something more along the lines of making the oppressed and powerless the powerful so that the oppressors can now become the oppressed, well, then, that would be a bad idea, i think.
Saw an interesting documentary last night, from the “Hillbilly” series, I think on N.Geo channel, about coal miners in W. Virginia in early 20th century. The big coal companies oppressed them while they could. Long story short–the unions started, violence ensued, but the miners finally earned better wages and safer conditions. When the oppressed caught a vision of a better life, cast their vulnerability to the wind (were willing to die), things changed.
I’m not advocating violence, but the oppressed didn’t start the violence there. As stated above, opressors oppress because they can; when the oppressed take a stand they can make progress. At a cost, often. Again, if there is no vision of hope, the oppressed don’t rise.
It is SO SO easy to accept the status quo and not even see the injustice happening around us. We have the power to change something, to agree or disagree, yet we don’t always really see that the small things we do may be leading to further the oppression. I have thought a LOT about this. The new neighborhoods going up around the corner from my mom’s house? Placed there so immigrants and minorities would not move in to the nearby houses quickly becoming affordable to lower socio-economic classes. How many people said a word? The people who complain about the tax for public transportation going up for bigger routes when they do not ride, yet in the same breath complain that certain people never work. Well….if you are poor, how do you get to work? There are so so many ways that oppressed people, no matter where or what kind, feel they have no power over these things because other people and groups (oppressors) are constantly making decisions for oppressed. Or rather, in spite of them. What about making some decisions FOR them, or rather, for the betterment of humanity in general. What is good for many is better than what is good for one. It’s an easy logic.
@daveallen – “I?m not advocating violence, but the oppressed didn?t start the violence there. As stated above, opressors oppress because they can; when the oppressed take a stand they can make progress. At a cost, often. Again, if there is no vision of hope, the oppressed don?t rise.”
well said..especially the part about the oppressed taking a stand. i like that, and my personal thought on this whole issue is that Christians should most definitely help the oppressed take a stand in any way they can. IJM seems to do this thru an interesting venue
we must help the oppressed take a stand and give them the true Hope so they can see things they may never see if we don’t help
i’m not for ‘violence for violence sake’ either but when God calls to overthrow an oppressive kingdom or dictator, i have absolutely no problems at all with it – it’s quite Biblical in my opinion
That was one of my favorite quotes from the conversation, as well. Also, when he described the “city of brothels” in Cambodia as the worst place he had ever seen, behind Rwanda after the genocide was impacting to me, just really providing a picture of the condition there before IJM began their work there.
I think you took better notes than me – can’t wait to hear your thoughts. I’m processing my notes and will post more in a day r two. I did post an audio of some rambling thoughts I recorded just after the phone call, on both my blog and Inspired to Action. I don’t know how coherent it is, but . . .
I’m looking forward to more of these chats.
I took a 4 month class on human trafficking at our church called Women and Children in Crisis, We then went to Thailand this summer, working with ministries who focus on the sex trade industry. I found that statement to be true everywhere we went. Our pastor started something in our church he calls Reform. He talks about seven areas that can lead to vulnerability in people?s lives. Here is the link to the website. http://www.reform-now.org
Wow. This quote has gripped me in more ways than one.
Going to think on it some more this week.
I’m about 85% in agreement with it.
Just believe the lens of vulnerability may differ depending on who you ask.
Good post Anne.
“IT TAKES TWO (2)” In order to be oppressed you have to have an oppressor. The Bible is still true “As a man (person) thinks in his heart so is he” If you think you are worthless you will find ways to validate that thought and actions will prove you are right. If on the other hand you think you are superior you will like wise find ways to validate that and action to prove you are right. But remember it always takes two. If you are sick you need a healer, if you are a healer you need someone to be sick. So it is a 50/50 deal. You can not have an oppressor without the oppressed.
The beautiy of being born again is I get to choose. And if I have chosen incorrectly in the past I get to make a new choice today. Praise the Lord. In my early years I was one of the oppressed but as I learned about the Kingdom of God I begain to gain my freedom. It is being in the Kingdom of God (not the church for the church was one of the oppressors) that I discovered who I am. It is difficult to oppress one who knows who they really are. Not that they can not be put into oppressive situations for it is not our situations that oppress us they only contribut to the oppression. There are men and wemon behind bars that are more free than some who walk the streets every day. There are some whos body is racked with pain but their minds and hearts are whole and healthy. There are many who live in poverty but are rich in so many other ways than the almight dollar, get my point. As a man or woman thinks in their heart so are they.
Be Blessed
LadyJay