A couple of weeks ago I received a letter from one of my friends and I’m still deeply confused by the words she used there. Her answer to my questions about poverty and social injustice was: “In my opinion I have the moral right to ignore that people die due to starvation”. I still can’t believe that I read these words and, what is more, I can’t stop thinking about them. They made me sick as I deeply disagree with this. Obviously many times I think that I can’t change the World as I’m powerless and nothing depends on me. Obviously many times I blindly follow a simple excuse: “what can we do” and I focus on my life, my reality, me. Fortunately, when I start to be selfish someone reminds me how lucky I am having everything I have, someone shows me that even if we have nothing to give we still have something to share with others: our compassion, our time and ourselves. When I start to believe that I’m unable to do anything someone says the words of “Grace”.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
How many of you know how this hymn was created? John Newton wrote the words during a storm on Atlantic, when he was engaged in the Atlantic Slave Trade. This practice was finally abolished in Britain in 1807. It couldn’t be done if one man - William Wilberforce – had thought one day: “I have a moral right to ignore…” but fortunately “his morality” didn’t give him this right…
William Wilberforce’s battle for the Slave Trade Act is shown beautifully in the “Amazing Grace” film. It tells the story about the passion and compassion, believing not only in God but, the first of all, in goodness and humanity. You will finish watching this film in tears… but also with a deep belief that you can see…
John Newton: "I once was blind but now I see". Didn't I write that?
William Wilberforce: Yes, you did.
John Newton: Now at last it's true.
Do you really think that you have any "moral right" to ignore…? If you see you can’t stay indifferent… you have to make a difference “with gentle drizzle, not storms. Drip. Drip. Drip”.
Look around. Think. Act.
