| White
Rose Projects
Slavery in the Sudan .......Revival of the Muslim slave trade is causing great suffering
Tens of thousands of Southern
Sudanese, most of whom are Christians or animists, are being kidnapped and sold into
slavery by northern Islamic militias funded by and loyal to the government of Sudan.
Forced Islamization, imposition of shari'a (Islamic religious law), destruction of homes
and crops, forced conscription of men and older boys, and selling of women and children as
slave laborers and concubines have become instruments of policy in the North's war on
the South.
Beyond the tragedy of slavery's
continued existence in this, the last decade of the Twentieth Century, there
is the tragedy of the West's near silence, despite its traditions of civil
rights and its own anguished divestiture of chattel slavery. And even more disturbing
has been the silence of Western churches over the enslavement of their fellow Christians.
White Rose International is
working, as are others, to publicize the plight of
those suffering the bonds of slavery in the Sudan,
to secure their release, and to engage the U.S. religious community on
their behalf.
The Religious Roots of Liberty ....Ideas have consequences
One of the primary, ongoing activities of White Rose International is researching
and reacquainting the public with the contributions of Protestant Reformation culture to
the development, establishment and defense of liberty in the modern era. Concepts of
limited government, orderly transfer of power, and the rule of law arose in cultures
influenced by Protestant Christianity. Their religious presuppositions and values made
liberty not only possible but necessary.
Reclaiming this heritage will be far more significant for Christians in the West
than succumbing to the many political temptations being dangled before them today.
Reformation culture was not about seizing power but about restraining it. That simple
paradigm not only tamed tyrants, it caused men to tame the totalitarian impulse within
their own natures. Nations of self-governing men have neither need nor desire for
despotism.
Building Institutions to
Advance the Cause of Liberty
Liberty does not just happen. The lessons of history are clear that while political and
religious liberty may be the right of men, it only becomes the possession
of men when pursued with vigilence and hard work and supported with the development of
institutions that preserve and pass liberty on to the next generation.
While there is much institution-building to be done, it is important to recognize
and praise the good work that has already been accomplished. To that end, White Rose
International, Inc., works to identify individuals, political parties, movements,
organizations and even governments that are making significant contributions to the
advancement of liberty.
White Rose also
seeks to influence political and governmental leaders to give greater weight and
significance to issues of religious liberty in their platforms, programs and policies.
Truth Without Fear ....Defending those who report the news
Liberty flourishes in the light, tyranny thrives in darkness. That is why the institution
of the free press is so vital to the development and preservation of free societies.
While journalists have often been unpopular with the powerful and arrogant who find
themselves pricked with their pens, of late, news reporters have been targeted for
intimidation, kidnapping, and even murder by both governments and
"revolutionary" forces who seek to shape the news we read by coercing the
messenger.
The Truth Without Fear Project is designed to alert members of the public to
incidents of violence or threats of violence against journalists around the world and to
enlist interested individuals in letter writing campaigns on their behalf. |