Saturday might be the day I lost hope. Perhaps the future will be new and different, like the mercies of God. Let’s hope so.
My last blog detailed some things that I had been praying about changing in my life (more details on that to come this week). One of the things I wrote about possibly changing was my relationship to the technology I use. I am not sure that my Iphone is the best thing for me. I find myself distracted with its limitless games, and I have found that I am now anxious when I can’t check my email every 2 minutes. So I decided to look around for a simpler phone. My research led me to discover something called Coltan.
Coltan, in short, is an ore that is used in nearly all of our electronics these days. Especially our computers, cell phones, and gaming consoles. I found out that 80% of coltan comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is mined there mostly by children, who can fit more easily between the trenches dug to mine it. The substance is toxic, and the children are forced labor, or paid less than $1/day. Coltan is sold for an incredible profit because of its myriad uses in American and European electronics. The biggest hit was when I saw that the Coltan trade is the biggest funding source for the Congolese war, which has now claimed 6.9 million lives.
I saw pictures like this one. I remembered the words of Christ, “love your neighbor as yourself,” and “whatever you have done to the least of my brothers, you have done unto me.” Would I allow my son or daughter to work in these conditions? If so, what kind of father would I be? If I wouldn’t let my own son or daughter work there, why is it ok for them to? Then I thought a second time. What if I couldn’t stop my son or daughter from working in these coltan mines? Would I still feel the same about my cell phone? I believe I would not. I believe that every time I played a PS2, logged on to my computer, or made a cell call, I would think of my child and the forced labor, lack of childhood, and inhumanity they are experiencing, only to know that I played a part in it, and the funding of a war, by my technology purchase. When I looked at the pictures again, I started to cry, thinking of my children in their place.
I began to question the other things I consumed as well, food, clothing, etc… Where did it come from? It took me a long time to find out the ingredients and origins of even one product, and when I did, it seems as if the same principles were in operation. People getting paid less than a living wage, by some company that forcefully took over their land (usually an American company), so I could eat something or buy something cheap. But it isn’t cheap, I thought. It costs the childhood and lives of people I would never know. People I would never care about. People I would never thank. People that God loves. People that Christ died for.
It was overwhelming for me.
I realized that this problem wouldn’t go away. I thought about why people don’t get more upset about this. I remembered something I learned about in class. Bread and Circus. Roman emperors used to pacify the citizens of Rome by giving bread and circus events at a regular interval. This meant that the emperor could do whatever they wanted, any depravity, any hurt, any poor political choice, and the people would accept it because they were fed and entertained.
I felt sick to my stomach. This is the story of my life. All of the times I was told not to lie as 
a child, only to watch my parents lie (“tell them I’m not home,” “Santa is SO real,” “everything is fine”), and be forced to repeat the lies in order to get the benefits of family life. All of the times growing up that I threw myself into the mythology of sports (my favorite team was the Dallas Cowboys – America’s team, the Cowgirls, big star symbolism) in order to feel a sense of belonging. All of the television I watched, even the contradictions that I lived with (Captain Planet – seriously? how much plastic was used in those action figures?) that numbed me to the wold around me. And I still do it today.
I thought about my role in other problems – war, sex trade, oppression, greed, and most of all, the part I play in the indifference of the church. I thought about all of the times that I attended worship and had emotional experiences, and I still love those experiences. But I can’t help hearing the words of the prophets speaking to me from the Hebrew Bible that God is ok with worship, but begins to resent it if injustice isn’t addressed first. How might a first century Roman citizen have felt? A Greek in the 2nd century B.C.E.? How might A Babylonian or Assyrian have felt during the crushing of Israel? How might an Israelite have felt during the reign of powerful kings? How might a typical Egyptian be expected to react when they saw Moses telling Pharaoh to let his people go? I wanted to sympathize with these people, but how could I when God felt fit to judge them (either for their lifestyles or indifference to oppression – either way, I felt more like them than Israel)
It appeared that, if I were to not partake in products and services that hurt others, the only reasonable thing to do is practice a form of separation from the world, a bit like the Amish. Is that possible? Is it desirable? I don’t think that disengagement from the world is the answer either, as it doesn’t make anything better, just removes you as part of the problem.
I was, and still am, overwhelmed. I must admit, I lost hope in that moment. I can’t see around the corner. I can’t see how myself as an individual or the churches that I see are able in any way to address these problems. I feel like I am too complicit to even see my role. I actually became very angry. I suppose that is natural when faced with such overwhelming injustice. I looked for people to blame. I started pointing fingers. I wrote an angry blog, spiritually blasting myself, my family, my friends, and anyone else I could point my finger at. Then I erased it. I need those people in my life if I am going to try and struggle on, even in a small way.
Thanks to everyone who gets it. Thanks for encouraging me. This stuff is still bugging me, days later. In fact, it led to a bit of renegotiating of my faith, which has been difficult, and I am blessed that my friends and family can help in their way (here’s looking at you, Christina, Rachel, Sunday night crew, Cass, Jason). If anyone has any insight or wants to start a revolution or get arrested, I am officially a man interested.
Well, sir Chad. Sometimes I feel that I am too complacent about the world and the things that go on in it. However, as many people have told me, there is only so much one person can do. I guess what I am trying to say is that if our Lord wanted us to change the whole world, He would have given us this amazing power that could only come from Him. So all we can do, as human, is try to change the world 1 person at a time. I know it doesn’t sound right, but would he have given us the things that we get if he didn’t want us to have them? I believe that as long as the things we get are gotten legally and morally right, then we should continue to use them and hopefully get across to others(as you are doing) how we feel.
I know that you are right on some level, but I also hold a theology that makes it necessary for disciples to make a difference in the world for the better. It is that balance that is hard to strike. Between knowing that we can’t do enough, and actually doing what we can.
I know exactly how you feel. When I was in Denmark I took a class on Human Trafficking. It was beyond depressing and it made me feel as if there was nothing we could do to stop it. It was especially hard when we had someone from the Red Cross come talk to our class about what you are talking about- the fact that everything we buy/use is made with slave labor at some point. The best advice he gave us was to question the companies- to make them accountable for how their raw materials are gathered. It sounds horrible, but I really think the only way corporations will start having higher standards is if we make them. Corporate Social Responsibility is growing, however, and I think in 10-15 years the mass public will be more aware of the current situation. More colleges are educating their students and more shareholders/investors are demanding for their companies to be responsible. It is definitely an uphill battle, but I personally do not think that cutting yourself off from society will be beneficial at all because the problem will continue to exist. I think supporting “Fair Trade” products is definitely a start, but it will take time because people don’t want to spend the extra money, which is really what all of this boils down to…money.
As to what God thinks about all of this? I haven’t got a clue. I’d like to think that He would understand the limitations that one person has. I think right now the most important thing to do is spread the word so that people who have the power to enact change are motivated to do so. So if you do the best you can with the cards you are dealt, I don’t think anyone can fault you for it.
I am confident that God is not going to be mad at me or punish me for my actions/lack of action. However, since I have committed to following Christ, I would like to do so with a clean conscience that I gave it my all. Let the record show that I like the cards I have been dealt, and I like the God that made it possible. Now I want others to have a winning hand too.
This is a great example of why I don’t go to church or believe in God anymore. I looked up coltan, and guess what? There are some heavy implications that US corporations are involved in illegal coltan traffic. What a surprise.
A revolution you say? I am wary of these since they usually entail the bourgeois using the lower class to give themselves more power, but I don’t think you are that kind of revolutionary. I feel safe saying I would be on-board with any revolution you come up with. I want to make good change in this world too.
Thanks for the support, Thomas. I am curious as to the first sentence of your reply. The reason I happen to care about others is mostly due to my faith in God, but it seems rather opposite for you. I would love to know more about that.
I’m not really sure why I care. All I know is that I do. Maybe it’s because what I really want is a unified human race/planet and child labor is no way to get there. Maybe it’s because I know all humans have the same spark of self-awareness that is precious to them and should not be taken away by anybody. Maybe it’s because Jesus was a cool dude, fact or fiction, and he had the right plan for humanity, to make heaven on earth. I like to believe in ideals, not idols. So, in a sense I could be classified as a Christian since I wish (in most ways, I dunno about the whole demons being cast out and walking on water. I’ll just leave that in the Bible where it belongs) to be Christ-like but I don’t believe in God which I’m sure doesn’t make sense to most people.
Also, I’ve been thinking about it, and right now is not a great time for a religious, spiritual, or philosophical revolution. Now is a great time for a political revolution, but it is hard for people to care about kids in africa when they are having trouble paying the bills. Just my opinion, I still got your back.
A revolution?
I have some ideas on a revolution; but, I think some of the hippies of the 60′s were closer to having it right, than are some of the “fair trade” proponents of our generation. In reality, where I buy my coffee will have little impact on the world. However, if I were part of a true demonstration, a lasting demonstration, a demonstration that made headlines…and it was done intelligently…that could raise awareness. Once awareness is raised, and an audience is willing to listen…then the opportunity for true impact exists….
Of course, you can’t fix all the problems in the world at once; but, you could identify one problem, a high profile problem, and focus on it. The war, perhaps? It may seem cliche; but, I think it legitimate. I grew up during an era when the US was not involved in active warfare…yet my children do not remember a world where the US was not involved in war…. This sickens me. For my children, war has become the “norm” rather than something to be in shock of..as I was when the first Gulf War erupted. Want to organize a peace demonstration…one that continues until it draws attention to the cause?
One must choose carefully, for taking a stand generally will create enemies along with allies….
i am confident in my ability to make enemies. I know I am good at that.
Excellent post, Chad. Welcome to the Plain world. We live in two kingdoms – the kingdom of Christ, and the world controlled by Satan. Thanks for the alert to coltan. I don’t plan to buy any new electronics anyway! (We share a computer – an older one – and we don’t use a cell phone.)