Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Healing a Broken World

I woke up this morning remembering that there are so many ways to repair our broken world and so many people who are doing their best to do so. I am deeply moved by Katrina Browne's documentary Traces of the Trade - A Story from the Deep North, which I watched on PBS last night. Watch Trailer


It is the compelling and honest story of nine members of a Rhode Island family who discover that their ancestors were the largest slave trading family in the history of the United States. As they revisit the sites of the trade route, they face extreme sadness, confusion, and anger. They ask many questions and look for ways to bring about reconciliation.  See Katrina's letter to viewers.


While the dialogue and the healing continue. I will continue to look for ways to make sure that I am not enriching myself at the expense of others. I don't want to buy products that are produced by those who work for next to nothing and can't  afford to feed their children. That's why I buy only Fair Trade coffee and gifts, and volunteer at the local fair trade store. Perhaps some of the daily choices we make might help promote the dignity of others.


And as Katrina said in a sermon in her church, if "we really show up for the conversation" and take each other's hurt to heart as much as our own, perhaps we can create a better world.  See how to get involved. 

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