READER COMMENTARY: Bales' slavery talk affects students

The article "Modern-day emancipation" (Features, Sept. 8) about the recent lecture at Brandeis by contemporary abolitionist Dr. Kevin Bales captured well the power of the event. Along with the rest of the standing-room-only crowd in Rapaporte Treasure Hall, I listened raptly as Dr. Bales discussed the forms and methods of human bondage occurring both globally and within our own society today. I was heartened to hear that liberating and acclimating former slaves to freedom is quite possible. We, in this land of plenty, have a moral obligation to end slavery domestically and internationally, particularly given that, as Bales told us, the cost is a fraction of what we devote to, say, war efforts. We live in a country where our current president, merely by virtue of his skin color, could have been legally enslaved less than a century and a half ago; that attests to advances we have made toward outlawing slavery. But much remains to be done. I left the event moved by Bales' poignant recounting of his afternoon talking with female sex slaves in Southeast Asia, whom he could not liberate because doing so would result in someone else being killed-an experience that led Bales to help launch the Free the Slaves antislavery organization in the U.S. I am outraged that something as unconscionable as slavery persists on such a large scale and feel obligated to take some action, as I am sure others do as well.

Bales said throughout history, investigative reporters have been key to abolition movements. Maybe some of us will be investigative reporters, but many of us won't. Fortunately, there are outlets for us students to direct the righteous indignation, energy and commitment to social justice that are hallmarks of the Brandeis community.

Bales said that while it's not the most exciting action to take against slavery, the most valuable contribution students can make is to give regular donations, even $5 per month, to antislavery organizations like his (www.freetheslaves.net), which funds services to help enslaved people liberate themselves and start new self-supporting lives. Those who want to do more should visit Human Trafficking Students' Web site (www.humantraffickingstudents.webs.com). The new, quickly evolving, Boston-area organization connects students with local antislavery meetings, advocacy trainings, fundraising events and organizations. To get involved, contact humantraffickingstudents@gmail.com.

-Jonah Seligman '10

The writer is a research assistant at the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism, which brought Dr. Bales to Brandeis.