what power?

Embassy hosted International Justice Mission on campus last night. IGM is a Christian organization whose goal is to represent the poor and oppressed throughout the world, working on a legal and grassroots level. They focus on injustice in slavery, abuse and sexual exploitation, among other things.

There was one thing that really stuck out to me. The speaker said, "you are some of the richest, most privileged and powerful people on the planet. You have the power to stand up for those who have none." Or something like that. He was talking to a group of university students.

This seemed crazy to me at first. This guy just told me, an unemployed university student, whose money is running out as of next year's tuition, that I am both rich and powerful. This seems absurd, but when I thought about it, its so true. The fact that I live in Canada, am upper-middle class, and am receiving a university education puts me above most people on the planet.

The speaker pointed out that it is our buying power that the richest and most powerful corporations on the planet are targeting. We hold such an incredible power to demand change, but what are we doing with it? Its probably easiest to tell ourselves that there is nothing we can do, then we don't have to change anything. Change hurts.

The speaker told heartbreaking story after shocking detail and it was frustrating. What do we do? This was the question that I wanted the speaker to address. Tell me what to do! But he gave no easy answers. Maybe there is none. I think our culture demands a fast food solution. Tell me how to solve the world's injustice! Can I give $30 a month? Stop shopping at Wal-Mart? Go on a short-term missions’ trip? Just let me know.

It occurred to me that mindset is probably what has stunted any real change. Real action will change our lives, it can't not. I don't think any of us are willing for that to happen. Maybe the only solution to these problems is to go and dedicate your life to these causes, to forget about the suburban paradise, the two car garage. Maybe the only solution for others is to go and get the post-graduate job they've always wanted, but sacrifice the lifestyle it could provide and live in a small house in the bad side of town, and give most of their earnings to those who are working for justice.

I don't know, but I don't think its going to be as easy as we'd hoped. How bad do we want it?