The Silent Chains We Still Wear

Anytime we hear about slavery or someone mention it beside us, we often do a memory flashback or where we picture someone or groups of people in bondages or chains tied around their necks and legs as they are being moved accordingly the basic ocean through the land of no return. Though we might have been taught in classes that there is nothing like slavery again, however, if we take a close look at our surroundings, we will discover that there is still space trade, just that it took a new form as the shape of our modern life.

Being a slave has advanced far above being wrapped around physical chains. The slavery of today stir us in the eyes everyday that is has become part of us because it is no longer hidden. Imagine a worker working from 7 to 5, and at the end of the month, they are being paid half salary. Imagine a labourer doing morning to night job but his daily pay can barely feed him talkless of his family. Imagine a young girl with a bright future that is been trafficked to another country because of the promise of a better tomorrow but at the end of the day, she was forced to do some unexpected things. Look at thousands of people in debt paying unending interest because of the money they owed. Are those things not chains if we think about it?

Traditionally, we constantly celebrate the grind and the hustle, but at times our traditions and beliefs cover our face from the truth of the matter because a lot of individuals are working day in and day out under a system that camouflages itself as a big opportunity. A bike man risking his precious life daily on a busy road where anything can happen just for that daily dough, a house help treated as trash in the house she works, an immigrant in another country trying to find a better life whose passport is seized by his boss—are these not slavery without physical chains being practiced under the legal system in our modern world today.

Like I said earlier, the type of slavery we are in today is right in front of us, not hidden, which makes it more dangerous than we can ever imagine. A lot of people have this thought that as long as they have a job, they do not care if the job is stressing their mental health or making them suffer, all in the name of "I have a job," even if that thing they call work is taking away their dignity, peace of mind, and respect. This thing eats the human spirit slowly, and a lot of people do not pay attention to it because a chain is not tied around their necks and legs.

But the truth of the matter now is there's a big silence around it, which is a big problem. Our society sees this injustice but turns a blind eye to it all in the name of "it is none of my concern." We see different rules being made by our government every day, but they hardly enforce any of it, so the exploitation thrives. Even we, the people, have decided to always go for a cheaper service, ignoring the fact that there's someone suffering to make those things.

Though it might be something very different for her to get rid of this modern slave, it is somewhat achievable. The first thing is to address it by its real name, 'Slavery in broad daylight.' The next thing is that everyone must be held accountable as the government passes a fair labor law in the bill and enforces it. And we should always look out for each other as we choose to be compassionate over convenience.

Even though there is no more slavery where chains are tied around someone, the modern-day slavery of greed, silence, and poverty must be interchanged with opportunity, fairness, and living in dignity. We must first know them to break them down, then we must stand together as one as we reject them from defining our humanity.

Thank you for reading.

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