Commodification of human beingsHuman beings have always been commodities in some cultures, and perhaps at various times in all cultures. We used to call them slaves, serfs, or many other euphemisms that really mean 'someone's property'. The human race, as a group, has never advanced past that. It always seems that the 'moneyed', the 'propertyed', the 'haves', have always felt that they can buy whatever they want, and have done so successfully through the ages. The only good thing we can say now is that we're aware of the mistreatment of people in this way to a greater extent than we have been. We recognize the issue and some people even try to deal with it.
The commodification of human beings exists for the same reason there will never be world peace, world justice, or anything like that - human greed. As long as humans are involved those with less personal greed can only work in the small area surrounding them and be effectual. My $.02...
(I sound a bit negative for a Franciscan, don't I? I have no answer to that.)
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