Yesterday, for the entirety of America, it was our Independence Day. An anniversary for our nation’s sovereignty against the tyranny of a monarchy and the discarding of the shackles of servitude. In the Declaration of Independence our founders signed an oath. It read,
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
-Thomas Jefferson
Flash forward to the 21st century and, sadly, for many people in our country such words remain unattainable. Unheard of. Unbelievable. The cause: Human trafficking.
According to The National Human Trafficking Hotline, in 2021, 10,359 situations of human trafficking were reported to the hotline, involving 16,554 individual victims. This was in every U.S. state. Many of the victims were also children.
So, why am I mentioning this? On a fandom book blog no-less? Because it matters. Children matter. Freedom matters. Especially since this is a country built upon certain unalienable rights (such as the aforementioned pursuit of happiness).
During my 4th of July jubilee, I was reminded of what a privilege it is to be an American citizen as much as it is a responsibility. We are one of the richest nations; we also have a democratic government that allows its people to have a voice. Not everyone is allowed such luxuries, which is why a symbol of our nation is the Statute of Liberty. She is a beacon for the lost, hungry, hopeful, and rebellious masses reaching out for a home–for salvation. Inside a cool crowded theater I saw a film that whispered these sentiments. I saw the Sound Of Freedom.
Here is the trailer:
It is the true story of a former U.S. government agent, Tim Ballard who has devoted his life to rescuing children sold into human sex trafficking. He runs an organization called Operation Underground Railroad and the purpose of this film is to spotlight awareness about child abduction. The goal of the film is to spark a battle cry, much like Harriet Beecher Stowe’s story Uncle Tom’s Cabin did for slavery in the 1800’s.
If you are interested in seeing this film, I highly recommend it. It was a necessary movie to see. Eye opening and as inspiring as Schindler’s List was (and still is). For more information about Sound of Freedom, please read this link below. Thank you.