William Wilberforce Honored by Senator Brownback

A resolution honoring the life of William Wilberforce, who was instrumental in
the abolition of slavery in Britain, will be considered in the U.S.
Senate.
"Wilberforce's passion and commitment to end the British slave trade
and renew the culture solidified the inherency of human dignity and sanctity of
human life," said Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., a co-sponsor of the resolution.
"As the 200th anniversary of British slave-trade abolition approaches, we should
celebrate Wilberforce's victories and use his legacy as an inspiration to renew
our culture."
Wilberforce spent 20 years the British House of Commons
fighting slavery. On Feb. 23, 1807, Parliament banned the slave
trade.
"William Wilberforce's unmatched determination to end the British
slave-trade practice continues to inspire leaders and communities throughout the
world," said Sen. Mark Pryor, R-Ark., also a co-sponsor. "However, we
cannot turn a blind eye to how the slave trade has evolved into trafficking of
women and children."
The U.S. State Department estimated 600,000 to 800,000
people were trafficked internationally in 2006, Brownback noted.
"We must continue to follow Wilberforce's example and fight for the dignity and freedom of every person," he said. "It is intolerable that 200 years after Britain
banned its slave trade, there are still hundreds of thousands of victims of
human trafficking who are used as bonded laborers, sex slaves, and in other
horrifying capacities."
The story of William Wilberforce is told in the motion picture Amazing Grace, which opens in theaters Friday. The film, produced by Walden Media and The Samuel Goldwyn Company, focuses on the lives of Wilberforce and slave-ship-captain-turned-pastor John Newton, who wrote the hymn "Amazing Grace".
Abraham Lincoln is quoted as saying that evey American schoolboy knows of William Wilberforce. I hope, with the release of this movie, this becomes true again. This generation needs true heroes. Senator Sam Brownback has been compared with William Wilberforce, not only for his opposition to human trafficking, but for his desire to serve God through his elected office.