Human Trafficking in our own backyard...literally

as many of you know, i serve as chair for public awareness on the maryland human trafficking task force.

this week we got an indictment from a grand jury for sex trafficking by a network from ohio to here in maryland. in fact, it was literally in our backyard, as the central maryland vineyard gathers on sundays in millersville, and that is where this trafficking network had set up.

they are indicted for domestic minor sex trafficking of victims as young as 16 from ohio to maryland. in fact, the facilitator in maryland is a soldier stationed at fort meade.

here is the press release from the us attory and the maryland human trafficking task force:

U.S. ARMY PRIVATE AND THREE OTHER MEN INDICTED ON SEX TRAFFICKING AND DRUG CHARGES

Allegedly Recruited 16 Year Old Girl to Travel from Ohio to Maryland for Prostitution;Indictment Calls for Forfeiture of Property Used in Criminal Activity

Baltimore, Maryland - A federal grand jury has indicted a Millersville, Maryland man and three conspirators from Ohio on charges of running a sex trafficking business from an apartment in Millersville, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. The indictment was returned on September 24, 2009 and unsealed today upon the arrest of the defendants. The indictment calls for the forfeiture of all property used in the commission of the crimes, including financial proceeds and a 2006 Chrysler 300 registered in Ohio.

“This case demonstrates the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force’s policy of zero tolerance for child prostitution,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “Anyone who profits from sex with children should be on notice that law enforcement agents and prosecutors are standing by to send them to federal prison. Our goal is to prosecute the perpetrators and seize all profits generated by the criminal activity.”

“Protecting our communities from the threats and vulnerabilities posed by criminal organizations engaged in human trafficking is a top priority for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),” said William Winter, Special Agent in Charge for ICE in Baltimore. “As a member of the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, ICE is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate human trafficking, as well as working with our local non-governmental, community-based, and faith-based organizations to identify, rescue, and assist victims of trafficking.”

According to the indictment, Craig Allen Corey II, age 23, a resident at Fort George G. Meade Army installation in Anne Arundel County, is a private first class with the U.S. Army. From January to April, 2009, the indictment alleges that Corey conspired with Ohio residents Robert Harris, age 21, Richard Johnson, age 22 and Jacob Tyler, age 22, to operate a prostitution business at Corey’s former Millersville, Maryland apartment. The defendants are alleged to have used online classified ads and social networking websites to recruit females for prostitution and to advertise sexual services. They allegedly arranged for the travel of females, including one
girl who was 16 years old, from Ohio to Maryland to engage in prostitution. The defendants allegedly shared the cash proceeds of the prostitution and used the profits to purchase illegal drugs including ecstasy, which they then distributed to associates, prostitutes and customers.

Tyler is also alleged to have used a gun in a threatening manner against a sex customer and Harris allegedly assaulted an 18 year old female who had been brought from Ohio to Maryland to work as a prostitute.

All of the defendants face a maximum sentence of five years in prison for the prostitution conspiracy, 10 years in prison for transportation for prostitution, 20 years in prison for enticement and 20 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute ecstasy and BZP. Corey, Harris and Johnson also face a maximum sentence of life in prison for sex trafficking by force. Corey also faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for sex trafficking of a minor, 20 years in prison for distribution of child pornography and 20 years in prison for distribution of BZP. Corey is scheduled to have his initial appearance in federal court in Baltimore today at 2:00 p.m. Harris, Johnson and Tyler will have their initial appearances in federal court in Columbus, Ohio before their removal to Maryland.

The case was investigated by the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force formed in 2007 to discover and rescue victims of human trafficking while identifying and prosecuting offenders. Members include federal, state and local law enforcement, as well as victim service providers and local community members. For more information about the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, please visit http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/md/Human-Trafficking/index.html.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Anne Arundel County Police Department, Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command and the Chillicothe, Ohio Police Department for their assistance and investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Solette A. Magnelli, who is prosecuting the case.

conversation continues: re-imagining the Holy Spirit

as i mentioned last week, i am contributing (posting monday’s for the next 6 to 8 weeks) to a blog series on the Holy Spirit, hosted by jason clark (lead pastor at the vineyard church sutton in the uk) at the deep church blog…

the conversation has really been enriching with much more to come...

my post last week was entitled: Re-imagining the Holy Spirit: What is past is prologue

today, my post is entitled: Re-imagining the Holy Spirit: Butterfly effects...and all that jazz

guest-blogging: this is your brain on God

today i'm guest blogging at the not-the-religious-type blog with dave schmelzer (dave is also pastor of the greater boston vineyard)

my post today is about brain science and prayer and spiritual formation: this is your brain on God

recitare: rush through

O Elusive and Captivating Spirit
take hold of me
like a well-worn saxophone
press Your lips to me
play and moan
Your jazz and blues
embrace me, O Living Music
rush through
as i become your wind instrument
in both laughing song and sad lament
set us all up as Your
orchestra of delight
sparking to ignite
the grace
to embrace
a world curled in fright

Stop Child Trafficking Walk in DC this weekend

The Stop Child Trafficking Now WALK is an annual event to rally support, increase awareness and raise funds to stop child trafficking. Thousands of people will take to the streets in cities across the United States on the weekend of September 26-27 to advocate for those with no voice. Will you join us? Be a part of this nationwide event and the global fight to end the sale of innocent children into slavery around the world.

Proceeds from the DC Stop Child Trafficking Now WALK will benefit Stop Child Trafficking Now, DC Stop Modern Slavery and Courtney’s House, a restorative shelter for survivors of child sex trafficking set to open in early 2010. The walk will commence with an awareness rally featuring leaders from local and national organizations, including Linda Smith, President and Founder of Shared Hope International. The Shared Hope International team will be wearing our END DEMAND t-shirts, which will be available for purchase the day of the event.

Details on the DC Stop Child Trafficking Now Walk
Where: Meridian Hill Park, Washington, D.C.
Date: September 26, 2009
Starts: 9:00 AM Ends: 2:00 PM
Check-in Time: 8:00 AM until 10:30 AM
Registration Deadline: 12:00 PM on September 25 2009

Your participation is important because:
The bigger the turnout, the more attention we draw to the issue of child trafficking!
Proceeds from the walk benefit efforts to end child trafficking both nationally and in the DC Metropolitan area.

Most importantly, the donations from the DC Walk to Courtney’s House will add to the start-up funds donated by Shared Hope International to realize this critical service locally.

How to participate in the walk:
Go to the website: http://sctnow.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.eventList
On the left side under Participant/Organization Search, type SHARED HOPE INTERNATIONAL.

Under Participants, click the link to SHARED HOPE INTERNATIONAL and scroll down to click on JOIN THIS TEAM.

Fill out the necessary information. On the NEXT STEP page, sign up as a WALKER, then click on JOIN A TEAM. Scroll down to SHARED HOPE INTERNATIONAL, then click NEXT PAGE.
The first question will ask you: “SCTNow will donate 10% of your fundraising amount to a select Partner Organization. To participate in this program, enter the name of a participating partner organization from the Main Walk Page.” Type in DC STOP MODERN SLAVERY (This will ensure that 25% of money earned will benefit DC Stop Modern Slavery and Courtney’s House).
After completing the form, you will have access to the fundraising site that will enable you to raise money for the walk!

Use this flyer to recruit others to the SHI Team!
We look forward to seeing you at this important event as we walk together to raise awareness for child trafficking.

For more information, call Shared Hope International at 703-351-8062 or email amy@sharedhope.org.

guest blogging: re-imagining the holy spirit

i am contributing (posting monday’s for the next 6 to 8 weeks) to a blog series on the Holy Spirit beginning today, hosted by jason clark at the deep church blog…

the conversation will explore:

• who is the Holy Spirit with regards to our emerging and missional contexts?
• what does it mean to be involved in emerging and missional church and still be charismatic?
• how are spiritual gifts emerging in our contexts?

the format will be that i will post one item each week, then jason clark and steve burnhope, both in the UK, will post an item in response to those posts. This will go on for several weeks…

the three of us will also be commenting on each other’s posts, so join us for this conversation and exploration, comment and join in all the fun!

my post today is entitled: Re-Imagining the Holy Spirit: What is Past is Prologue

lectio: mark 8:27-38

Jesus went out, along with His disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He questioned His disciples, saying to them, "Who do people say that I am?" They told Him, saying, "John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; but others, one of the prophets." And He continued by questioning them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered and said to Him, "You are the Christ." And He warned them to tell no one about Him. )And He began to teach them that )the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And He was stating the matter plainly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind Me, adversary; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's." And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. "For )whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? "For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."

Mark 8:27-38

what a passage of revelation, rebuke, and a call to suffer together as we follow Jesus. this passage (especially for peter) seems like such the roller coaster ride of adventure-type faith...such a far cry from some boring old ancient text, it's familiarity resonates with how my life in Christ goes at-times.

verse 27 - the first thing that strikes me is that in my bible the inserted header focuses on peter's confession of Jesus as messiah and then peter being called Jesus' adversary, which often causes us to skip over the other portions of text here, instead of lingering on their place and meaning. so what is the context of this confession and revelation made by Jesus' students/learners/apprentices? it's missional. the disciples and Jesus are "on the way"...on the journey...in a missional context doing Kingdom ministry...it is the response to the declaration and demonstration of the Kingdom of God that the identity of Jesus is called forth and made known. it's missional.

verse 28 thru 30 - there are times in conversations with others when this comes up, and even as the speculation was rampant during the first century, the question and answers follow Him still: who do people say that Jesus is? today they say "a good teacher", "a wise sage", "just a prophet". too often it is easy for me to affirm others in these aspects of Jesus, but i - like peter - can avoid the difficulty of the good news of the cross, thus the significant issue and question then turns on me, as often it does in my conversations with others: who do i say that He is? Messiah, Son of God, Son of Man, the Way, Truth and Life. He is who I want to be like...He's my hero, the crucified and risen Lord...

verse 32 and 33 - as much as i identify with peter making a confession that Jesus is the Messiah, i think just as equally, i identify with this moment and becoming an adversary of Jesus...even as Jesus speaks plainly to me, too often through my words, my thoughts, my actions i can turn out to be His adversary based in my own interests and not in God's interests; which just puts me back in the place of needing Him to be my Saviour!

verse 34 thru 37 - the pericope actually rolls over into what we call chapter 9, verse 1. we tend to want to skip this part, because as we get inspired by Jesus predicting His passion, maybe we don't want to hear Him saying that we will suffer just as He suffered, and that we should be prepared to follow in His footsteps and lose our lives in order to gain it.

verse 38 - i wonder how shocking this was to those who heard it...consequences to our behavior: if i am ashamed of Him among my generation, He will be ashamed of me before His Father and His holy angels; this picture of victorious arrival and His reaction to me is dependent upon suffering in love presently as i take up the instrument of my death (which leads to Life) and follow Him in the hope of His eventual return.

++Christ Jesus, let us follow You, who we confess as the Messiah, who suffered and died for all. If we die, we die. Glory be to God. Amen.++

RE:FORM this week

it's almost here...the RE:FORM conference starts tomorrow...

while being the hosts for the conference this year, i think i mentioned before that john odean and i are doing one of the workshops...below is the full listing for the workshops at the RE:FORM conference (see the RE:FORM website for more information about the conference and registration)

WEDNESDAY
Wholly Jesus: Bringing Clarity to a Spiritually Confused World
Mark Foreman
In this workshop, Mark will share some of his insights as a pastor on how to talk to a growing segment of the population that is seeking wholeness in a broken world.

Seeing the Trees and the Forest
Rusty Pritchard
Flourish co-founder and president Rusty Pritchard will show how you can talk to a conservative congregation about the environment in a way that engages people to take action. Rusty’s fresh perspective brings a voice to the discussion on the environment that pastors wanting to engage their congregation in creation care must hear.

Taking it to the Streets
Steven Hamilton & John Odean
Steven Hamilton, formerly with the Department of Homeland Security and now serving on the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, and John Odean, senior pastor of the Central Maryland Vineyard Church, will help you move your church from awareness to taking action in becoming a solution for stopping human trafficking in your city.

THURSDAY :: SESSION ONE
Red State, Blue State—It’s Easy Being Green
Jason Chatraw
Jason Chatraw, director of the Let’s Tend the Garden ministries at the Vineyard Boise Church, share the successes and failures—along with some great ideas—on moving a churches from a conservative state to become green with gusto.

Simple Spirituality
Chris Heuertz
Chris Heuertz, who serves as the International Executive Director of Word Made Flesh and has traveled to nearly 70 countries working with some of the world’s most vulnerable people, examines five important virtues all Christians need and how those lead to us reaching out to the world around us in extraordinary ways.

A Home away from Home
Lynn Brown & Adam Hoyt
Lynn Brown, who leads the Vineyard Boise Church’s Love Justice ministry, and Adam Hoyt, who serves the Muslim refugee community in Clarkston, Ga. with his family, shares about how local churches in almost every community have an opportunity to reach out to other cultures without ever leaving town through ministry to refugees.

THURSDAY :: SESSION TWO
From Debate to Dialogue: How Christians and Seculars can get along
Ken Wilson
Ken Wilson, senior pastor of the Ann Arbor Vineyard and author of Jesus Brand Spirituality, explores how churches can engage the vast unchurched segment of the population through finding common ground and collaborating as opposed to finger pointing and isolation.

All Dressed Up with No Place to Go? : Engaging the Next Generation
Ben Lowe & Anna Jane Joyner
Ben and Anna Jane, who both work on the project Renewal: Students Caring for Creation, demonstrate how important it is for the church to provide training and opportunities for today’s young people to engage in issues of social justice.

Supply & Demand: Stopping the Demand for Sex Trafficking
Donny Pauling
Donny Pauling, a former producer of porn videos for Playboy and others in the adult entertainment industry, addresses the root of the demand in the supply-demand chain for sex trafficking—and what churches can do about it. He will be sharing part of his story that led him eventually out of the porn industry and into a relationship with Christ.

the embrace of a parent

wordcraft for the feast of st. cyprian:

like a lost child

crying over…so much

the ground drinking my tears

regret pours forth

with strong emotion

searching…with such sacred sorrow

waiting for the embrace of a Parent

whose Arms comfort and cover

a multitude of sin

___________________________________

"You cannot have God for your Father if you do not have the Church for your mother.... God is one and Christ is one, and his Church is one; one is the faith, and one is the people cemented together by harmony into the strong unity of a body.... If we are the heirs of Christ, let us abide in the peace of Christ; if we are the sons of God, let us be lovers of peace" (St. Cyprian, The Unity of the Catholic Church).

beyond insurgence...deep revolution

you say you want a revolution?

"repent and believe the good news! The kingdom of God is at hand..."

this is the revolution Jesus announced...challenging the status quo with a revolutionary counter-agenda: the Reign of God.

Jesus brought a revolution to the world with this kingdom-invitation He was issuing. of course, in the 21st century, people always want to 'revolutionize' something...they supposedly want radical change of this or that. has revolution even lost it's meaning? what was the revolution Jesus offered?

well...what does revolution mean?

[definition: revolution - a sudden or momentous change in a situation; fundamental, drastic or far-reaching change; activity or movement designed to effect fundamental changes.]

Jesus' radical, revolutionary message was the good news of the Kingdom of God in Christ Jesus.

the Kingdom of God is in opposition to this world's systems. this is the conflict that lead to the cross...Jesus being crucified as a revolutionary. and He was revolutionary: Jesus disturbed the status quo, but not for mere love of change...not as a rebel without a cause.

it was his commitment to shalom - to wholeness and right relationships promised and influenced by the Father - that make him a disturber of an unjust peace.

Jesus brought right relationships between men and women, between rich and poor by his radical challenge to the status quo.

yet Jesus' counteragenda was utterly risky...it was a revolutionary way of being. He countered the compromise of the sadducees; He went beyond the righteousness of the pharisees; He also countered the violence and armed insurrection of other jewish zealots.

His is the revolution against the powers-that-be by turning the other cheek...going the extra mile...losing your life to gain it...Jesus said: 'Love your enemies.'

radically subversive! this is a message and a call to action that although it began in ancient times, still echoes afresh today.

can we see the utterly risky way of Jesus in the heart of his 'Sermon on the Mount'...love your enemies? when was the last time we actually did that? or is that just too much to expect from people bound by their vested interests of an ever interconnected world in the 21st century?

do we have the courage and faithfulness to follow Jesus' revolutionary agenda:

• to lay down our rights and 'love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength'
• to seek first His Reign and His justice/righteousness
• to 'love our neighbors as ourselves'
• to 'love our enemies'?

the apostle paul echoes Jesus in Romans 12: overcome evil with good!

that's how we love our enemies...it is right in line with Jesus' sermon on the mount: love your enemies.

and paul echoes Jesus' agenda in other places too:

• bless those who hate you...
• pray for those who persecute you...
• do not repay anyone evil for evil...

this then is the revolutionary difference of following Jesus: loving one another.

alas, the misunderstandings and linkages of violence to revolution are strong, and there are those who can't quite bring themselves to actually do what Jesus did, even though they call themselves his representatives.

i'm fairly certain that Jesus and paul were not saying we should be saying prayers of imprecation for people we perceive as enemies...as some have become (in)famous for of late in the media for praying for the death of president obama:



is that really representative of Jesus Christ? no, of course not.

i like crispin schroeder's (who is planting a church down new orleans-way) response:

"I was saddened today to hear of a pastor in Tempe Arizona by the name of Steven Anderson who has reportedly preached against President Barack Obama even to the point of praying for his death by brain cancer so that he could die as Ted Kenedy last week (which he no doubt links to God's judgment)

While this kind of hate-speak would be disturbing from anyone, it is particularly disturbing to hear such talk from minister who identifies himself as a Christian. Though the words from this pastor present us with an extreme case of Christians opposed to Obama, they do raise the question of how Christ followers are supposed to treat enemies and furthermore who can even be considered an enemy. I suspect that most Christians in America would probably very much disagree with this pastor's rhetoric and yet many would still have absolutely no problem with associating Obama with the highest forms of evil and feeling very much justified in criticizing, opposing, and wishing ill to him.

It would do us good to remember as followers of Christ that no matter how much we may disagree with certain people, people are never the real enemy (no matter how much you may disagree with Obama he is not the true enemy). As Christ-followers we are to fight for people rather than against people, to love when hated, to bless when reviled, to return good for evil (Matt 5:43-48 , I Peter 3:8-9 , Romans 12:14 ). In this we reveal what God is like and overthrow evil. This doesn't mean that we need to completely discard any views on politics, religion, or morality but that we cannot ever let our views excuse hatred, a desire for revenge, or even our own self-righteousness.

The path of Jesus is not easy, nor popular for that matter, but it is the only true option for those of us who consider ourselves Christ-Followers. We must be diligent to remember that Jesus overcame the evil of the world not by force or violence but by loving people sacrificially even when it cost him his own life.

So perhaps we can take our lead from Jesus and instead of criticizing Obama for his beliefs and actions we can pray for him, asking God to grant him wisdom and understanding and to surround him with His Holy Spirit. Perhaps we can pray for God to bless him physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and to bless his relationship with his wife and children and even with his colleagues. Perhaps instead of slinging more mud we can choose to love instead.

A prayer for Obama
Father God,We thank you for President Obama
We ask that you would bless him right now Refresh him and renew him by Your Spirit
Let him feel Your grace and Your strength
We ask that even in this moment that You would lift the stress and anxiety from his mind and body.
Grant him the wisdom he needs for this day in all of the situations he is facing.
Let him sense Your presence
And let his ears be open to what You are saying
We pray that every spiritual attack directed against him would be thwarted
And that You would uphold him and protect him from those who would wish him harm.
In the name of Jesus
Amen"

amen...and again i say amen!

one week until RE:FORM...and counting

The Central Maryland Vineyard will be acting as the hosts for this year's RE:FORM conference at the Cedar Ridge Community Church just outside of Baltimore, MD on September 16-18.

Check out this month's edition of Charisma magazine to read a feature news story about the conference. This year's format will be more equipping and engaging than in year's past and will feature some great practitioners who are equally adept at imparting vision and inspiring you to take action in your church. The three crises of the RE:FORM conference this year will be:

• Environmental Decline
• Human Injustice
• Spiritual Confusion

Registration is now available at our new RE:FORM website, as is hotel and accommodations information. We'll be putting up more info as it is available. Be sure to sign up now to get the early bird special and pass this along to your network.

Main session speakers include:

• Mark Foreman (a simple man who is learning to follow Jesus wholly. He is the husband of Jan and father of Jon and Tim of the band Switchfoot. He is the lead pastor of North Coast Calvary Chapel—a “church without walls”—which has built its reputation by erasing the barriers of the church. Mark is a surfer and songwriter, and also serves as an associate professor at Bethel Seminary San Diego. He recently released his first book Wholly Jesus: His surprising approach to wholeness and why it matters today.)
• Leroy Barber (President of Mission Year, a national urban initiative introducing 18-29 year olds to missional and communal living in city centers for one year. Rev. Barber is the Pastor of a church plant, Community Fellowships Church. He was chosen as a contributor to UnChristian: What a New Generation Thinks About Christianity and Why It Matters and recently released his first book New Neighbor.)
• Tri Robinson (founding pastor of the Vineyard Boise Church in Boise, ID and Let’s Tend the Garden ministry and is one of the leading experts on creation care among evangelical churches. With a strong teaching background that includes a Masters degree in administrative education, he is a sought-after conference speaker and passionate about transferring his working insights and experience on church leadership to a wide spectrum of churches. Tri and his wife Nancy live in Sweet, ID, where they manage a nearly sustainable ranch.)
• Rob Morris (co-founder and the president of Love146. Prior to establishing Love146, Rob worked with Mercy Ships International directing training schools at the International Operations Center. Rob travels internationally to speak and teach on issues of justice, compassion and human rights. Learn more about what his organization does at http://www.love146.com/.).

the voice of God

I found I had less and less to say, until finally, I became silent, and began to listen. I discovered in the silence, the voice of God.

- Soren Kierkegaard

lectio: 2 corinthians 1:5-7

For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ. If we are being afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation; if we are being consoled, it is for your consolation, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we are also suffering. Our hope for you is unshaken; for we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our consolation.
- 2 Corinthians 1:5-7

i was reading this passage recently, and i think we don't often have this perspective;

maybe the fact that we will suffer was never taught to us or made clear, or maybe what was once so significant gets lost along the way.

verse 5: as i follow Christ, i will have sufferings...not just a few, not just a mere headache, but sufferings in abundance. this shouldn't shock me but it struck me today that in a culture of excessive entitlement to "my rights", i am called in Christ to lay them down and it says i will suffer, not i might. but the joy is that our consolations/comfort in Christ is abundant also.

verse 6: ...and here is where the rubber hits the road, as my mother used to say. i suffer...i am afflicted, so that others have consolation and salvation even. this calls for wisdom and endurance; this calls for maturity in the way of Jesus, because how we handle the sufferings will help those after us who will also suffer.

verse 7: hope is not just about my hope...i hope for others as well, as we all share in sufferings, we also will all share in the comfort/consolation of Christ.

++Christ Jesus, we come to You with our suffering, and Your grace is sufficient for us. Our hope is in You! Amen.++

the confusion of privilege

"Do not confuse your vested interests with ethics. Do not identify the enemies of your privilege with the enemies of humanity."

~Max Lerner, Actions and Passions

.