“I want to know why you have permitted this abominable and unnatural traffic of slaves to grow up here, contrary to the ancient custom and usage of our dominions.” This is Caspian’s question to Gumpas, the guy in charge of governing the island Felimath.
This question makes me itch. I believe Jesus asks this same question; why have you allowed this to happen? This is not how we (I and my followers) are supposed to live. I gave you all authority in heaven and on earth …
Oh sure, I don’t have slaves living in my house. But slavery does still exist, in our world, in our country, in our city. Why have we allowed this to happen?
The sad part is I don’t even know how much I personally profit from slave labor. Did slaves make my shirt before it was sold to Old Navy? Did slaves pick my dinner vegetables before being packaged and shipped to Price Chopper?
Here’s the response from Gumpas; “Necessary, unavoidable … an essential part of the economic development … I assure you. Our present burst of prosperity depends on it.”
Because I’d rather pay $9.99 for a pair of shoes made in (pick a country) instead of paying much more by being made in slave free trade, does this justify my frugality? Or because I desire ‘affordable’ fresh fruit grown in
“Does your good majesty mean to beggar me?”
I cringe at how Pug’s reply seems to mirror my own.
But Caspian pursues him, “You have lived on broken hearts all your life – and if you are beggared, it is better to be a beggar than a slave.”
In our world, where we now know how things are made and sold, where injustice is exposed, we are responsible. We are the wealthy. How many broken hearts have I/we lived on?
I leave you to wrestle with this … As kings and queens of Narnia, how should we live?
