Have you ever wondered what Forever Stamps are? Basically, the United States Postal Service created stamps that never lose their value. If the postage rate goes up, then the stamp value also goes up. The beauty of this is if you purchase postage and then the rate of a stamp increases, you don’t have to go replace your postage.
Yesterday, I addressing my Father’s Day card for my daddy and reached in the drawer to pull out a stamp. I looked down and saw the stamp had the word freedom on it. But, because it was a forever stamp, it said so below the word freedom. The American flag was above the words and it struck me.
USA…. Freedom…. FOREVER.
It should be the case for all people in this country unless they commit a crime of their own choosing to change their circumstances. However, it isn’t true. President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and the 13th Amendment passed on December 6, 1865; yet it is estimated there are more known slaves in the United States today than any other time in history.
Galatians 5:1 says,
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
As a nation that professes freedom, that promotes itself as the land of the free and the home of the brave, we need to do all that we can to ensure that ALL PEOPLE in the nation are free.
The Justice Department estimates there are 100,000 victims of sex trafficking in our nation every year. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children stated there are approximately 300,000 children at risk of being trafficked each year. These children are being bought and sold for one person’s twisted pleasure and another’s financial gain. That’s not freedom. That’s slavery.
Several states across the nation have initiated a Safe Harbor Law, yet there needs to be a national safe harbor law protecting our children. According to the Polaris Project, two elements are required in a safe harbor law. The law must:
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Prevent minor victims of sex trafficking from being prosecuted for prostitution.
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Protect child victims of sex trafficking by providing them with specialized services.
I’m asking you to do your part in making this a reality. Write to your elected officials and let them know this is important to you and you’d like to see it happen in their next session. You can find your state representative here. You can find your state senator here. And you can address letters to the President of the United States and mail them to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500.
To take this step will cost you. It will cost you a few minutes of your time to sit down and thoughtfully craft a letter asking them to take a stand on behalf of the children in this nation. It will cost you a few postage stamps. Are you willing to make the investment?
Our armed forces pay a high price to protect our freedom every day. Are you willing to be inconvenienced a little to protect the freedom of a child?
Thank you for this post, Susan. I wrote letters to the POTUS, my representative, and my two senators. I also looked up safe harbor laws in Tennessee and was pleased to see that Tennessee has some good laws on the books already.
On another note, I received your book in the mail and read it. It made me physically sick, but I am glad to be aware of this horrific situation in our nation and around the world so that I can add my voice to those who are trying to end this terrible, sick crime. Thank you for posting today’s simple action that we can take to help out even if we do not live in a city or near a counseling center to help out by volunteering.
Susie,
Thank you for taking a step to make a difference. Every step we take in the fight is advancement. You mentioned Tennessee. Do you live there? If so, there are some fabulous organizations based in the state that you could look into, such as Abolition International, started by Natalie Grant and run by Stacia Freeman.
Thank you for your encouragement regarding Rescuing Hope. Sometimes we have to look at evil straight in the face to know how to fight it. I know it was a hard read, but thank you for investing your time. Please share what you’ve learned with others. This issue in taking place all across our nation and it will take an army to shut it down.
Blessings,
Susan