Metaphorically speaking the definition of “to use your voice” is the way people express themselves. However there are many people who through their experiences, lack of support, abuse, or feeling defenceless do not have a voice. There is the voice of a child, the sick, the marginalised and those who lack the freedom, ability, confidence and courage to speak for themselves.
Which is why those of us who have the ability and resources to use our voices; those of us who are advantaged, educated, skilled and who have the freedom to speak; those of us who sing, paint, create, are visible, have a platform or pulpit, those who are in positions of power, influence and authority have a responsibility for the common good, for the voiceless and marginalised, for the silenced and the down trodden to speak…..and to speak up loud!
I’m talking about speaking up for the silenced voice of the millions of slaves in the world today – more than ever before in human history because human trafficking in the form of sex trafficking, forced labour, bonded labour, involuntary domestic servitude and child soldiers is the fastest-growing criminal industry in the world generating more than $150 billion US dollars every year.
Or for the prisoners who are having their organs harvested to sell as organ donations or the babies who are aborted by their thousands every single day and whose tiny little body parts are being bought by biotech companies.
I’m talking about the 1 in 4 woman who are victims of domestic violence and sexual assault – that 1 in 4 means someone is a victim living on your street, in your work place, school, church, sporting team or university.
Or the children who have not eaten a proper meal today in our nation or the predominately ignored cries of the homeless, the sick and the elderly who struggle to have a voice that is heard.
Isn’t it time we chose to look around us; to see what’s going on both behind closed doors and even blatantly right in front of us and we spoke up; we reached out in compassion, we lent a helping hand, we gave of our resources and our unique gifts and abilities to make a difference. That we choose to imagine, to pray, to act and to believe for a better world, because the fact is, “The world suffers a lot, not because of the violence of bad people, but because of the silence of good people.”
“Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world would do this, it would change the earth.” (William Faulkner)
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice” (Proverbs 31:8-9 NLT).
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