Green Shoots: The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice

How do we remember to stay involved in the struggles of those who bear the brunt of suffering in the world today? That’s the problem with having a heart that can feel, and a brain that can think. They can never be at rest for as long as suffering and injustice exist. Of course, there are many who simply throw their hands in the air and give in, claiming that little people like ourselves cannot change the world. They also cannot alter the evil machinations of those who control militaries and economies and arms manufacturers, and the resources of entire governments.  This approach allows us to carry on with our lives, putting aside the horror of what is happening in places to which we don’t go. It might be the genocide in Gaza, the civil war in Sudan, the failure of governance in South Sudan, or the gangster violence in Cape Town, the water crises in Johannesburg and Knysna, or the unrelenting poverty in townships, informal settlements, and rural areas.

At the very least, we have to remain interested and informed about what is happening in places where life is not as it should be. By doing this, we play a small part in limiting the ability of those rich and power-hungry men to carry on their destructive agenda. It was because ordinary people refused to be ignorant about apartheid that international solidarity was built to bring down the regime. 

So what should we be aware of right now? The humanitarian crisis in Sudan continues. The World Council of Churches last month reminded us that 150 000 people have been killed because of the war that has been raging for three and a half years. More than 13 million people have been displaced. Sudan has become the battleground for competing geopolitical agendas involving the US and the West, the United Arab Emirates and its buying of influence in the region, Turkey and Saudi interests, and of those keen to see the reestablishment of an Islamic theocracy. 

Just next door and both the government and opposition in South Sudan have been slammed by the Catholic bishops of that country for disregarding peace agreements. The assault on civilians in places like Jonglei State is being stoked by army officials, and is raising the spectre of genocide.  

In Gaza and the West Bank, Israel continues its assault on the Palestinian people. They’ve thrown whatever ceasefire agreement existed out of the window. Israel’s genocidal fervour is fanned by a US administration happily driven by an evangelical Christian fundamentalism that would see its enemies – usually black or brown and Muslim – bombed out of existence. They bombed Nigeria with this motivation, kidnapped Maduro for his oil, and are revving up to interfere with Cuba. 

Closer to home our ministers and mayors and premiers were scrambling this week to head off public discontent over the absence of water in Joburg pipes. Heaven forbid that the President be embarrassed by such governance failures on the eve of the opening of parliament. The rot in our police and their capture by criminals is being laid bare at the Madlanga Commission and the Ad Hoc Committee, and former presidents Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma are being chastised by the families of the Cradock Four for attempting to block the work of the Khampepe Inquiry set up to investigate why there has been no prosecution of apartheid-era crimes.

In all these, the demand of us is to remain interested and informed, and to not be made despondent by the seemingly insurmountable odds against justice. If we can’t become active in the solidarity marches and the advocacy work that many are doing, we can still educate ourselves about what is happening. In all our areas of influence – work, family, faith space, even our local community association or ward – we can help the resistance against false information, the currency for reactionary behaviour in our world today. You’ll be amazed what power lies in our little interactions and encounters, where we can speak of truth and compassion. If we don’t stay the course, those ugly orange people and their ilk will have free rein, and you know we can’t have that, can we?