大象传媒

Good Morning.

A couple of months ago Brazil dispatched a military unit to a rural area to calm a violent dispute between indigenous people and farmers they accused of stealing their land.听听 Police evicted the people; the clashes left one indigenous person dead.听 Other indigenous people and some policemen were also reported to have been injured.听听 After generations of living on cramped reservations, some of Brazil鈥檚 largest indigenous tribes are attempting to take back the land their ancestors inhabited.听 As so often in such cases, the picture for the outside observer gets complicated when feelings run high and reactions overheat.

The Terena tribes believe they are fighting for their survival as a people.听听 The group leader says, 'We Indians were always treated with discrimination.听 Brazil's President says she wants negotiation, not confrontation.

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The United Nations has declared August 9th as the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, in a charter which aims to fight against myths and misconceptions, and affirms that indigenous people are equal to all.听听

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This is an aspiration shared by anyone who tries to follow the Gospel.听 Jesus acknowledged the humanity of every person.听听 In His day, this included tax collectors, a Roman soldier, Samaritans, children, women, those disabled and the poor.听听 He sat with them, spoke for them, respected and cared for them.

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Holy God,

hear the pain of Your people,

who cry for justice for all.

Lead us to a peace rooted in equality and dignity.

Amen.