What if everyone really cared?
Hello readers,
As the holiday to give thanks approaches, it reminds me how fortunate my life has been and how difficult others’ lives have been. I wonder why does it have to be that way? Why can’t we all live fortunate lives?
I’ve been distressed about the young women and children forced into sex slavery. Big subjects speak to me. I don’t care about some jacket going on sale at The Mall, I care about humans made to do horrible things against their will. It’s a growing, very profitable “industry.”
It took me a good year of reading books, watching movies, reading articles, but I finally had my newspaper column published, The Sex Slave Next Door. Please consider checking it out. Some folks won’t read it because they say it’s too hard to read.
I say, imagine living it. Imagine being sold by your parents or your boyfriend. It’s a disturbing subject, yet one that folks need to hear about so it can be stopped. If we keep turning away, how can we stop this sexual holocaust?
I’m convinced these things happen because we are not raised to care, we just give lip service to it. We are raised to compete, to make as much money as possible. That’s the sign of success – individual materialistic gain. Why can’t success being working with others to live a great life, too?
I was raised not to care about others. It took me a long time to understand that other people do matter and that they have a right to live a life of dignity.
If you’ve got the courage to read my column that would be a great gift for the folks who suffer in this way. Light may be at the end of their dark tunnel, if each person who isn’t enslaved helps open the door to their freedom a little bit wider.
The writer George Eliot said, “What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult to each other?”
Have a wonderful day of thanks and giving.
Giulietta
RSS
The sex slave trade is a terrible and terrifying subject and I applaud your decision to research and write about it. I have seen documentaries about sex slaves, but I think that the real truth is what should hit home: the extraordinary numbers involved, the fact that this can be going on near where you live, that people you know may be involved or have used these women, children or boys is beyond belief.
Writers, well-known activists, celebrities, politicians, pundits, etc. – everyone who has a public voice should get involved in trying to demonize and erase this enslavement of human beings from the face of the earth. You mention imagining a group of teens in the mall kidnapped and in this situation. Go one step further and imagine what may have happened to many of the missing children and teens in this country whose disappearance, unless the media makes a big hoo-ha,usually goes unnoticed except for those directly related to them.
Unfortunately, as long as there are both slave profit mongers, sadists, and degenerates who seek these services, as well as an uncaring public, this kind of slavery will continue as greed and sex often go hand in hand.
Hi Penelope,
Yes, it’s first and foremost a demand issue. Stop the demand and we stop most of the problem.
Then it’s a poverty issue.
Two days ago I read a CNN article where this village in Cambodia sells 5/6 year old girls for sex. Are they doing this because it’s the only way for them to make money? That’s another way to stop it, understand why they do it and show them other ways to make money.
We need to lead ourselves out of this worldwide slavery mess. No one leader can do it.
I appreciate your thoughtful comment. G.
> make life less difficult to each other
I like that and it’s a great mission.
It seems like the more we learn, the more complex life gets, and the World keeps changing, and throwing new challenges are way.
Hi J.D.,
I agree with you that life is complex and that there’s always a new challenge.
If we made job creation about solving world challenges — making life less difficult for each other, I doubt there would ever be a shortage of jobs. We’ve got our eyes on the wrong prize.
Maybe we can change that one person at a time?
Good to see you hear! G.
Giulietta,
It’s easy for me to sit here in the comfort of my home – starting the day with my family (including my 14 year old daughter) and think life is pretty good. And yet…probably not that far away, someone is suffering unimaginable things (it’s hard to even think about).
And it all makes me question – am I “seeing” what I want to see…and not “seeing” what doesn’t make life good and wonderful? (that’s a hard thought to think, too).
Thank you, dear friend, for writing this – for being a voice for those who suffer things I can’t even imagine.
Hi Lance!
You bring up a stellar point. Do we see what we want to see to make ourselves feel comfortable?
I wonder more and more, what is my real civic duty as a citizen of the earth? Is it to shop for stuff I don’t need or is to bring dignity to all?
According to articles I’ve been reading, there’s a lot of depression in the US. I keep thinking it’s because our real mission may be to to support not hurt each other.
They say we’re supposed to be happy with all our stuff (I like your article topic and will check it out.), yet it never made me happy.
I found happiness contributing to the plight of others and want to do even more of it.
A treat to read our comment. Welcome back! G.
Hi Giulietta
I have just found your blog and enjoyed your thought provoking post. I will read the article on sex slavery and I will probably want to do something but not be sure what could help.
I look forward to reading more from your blog
Hi Nikki,
Glad you found the blog. Just spreading the awareness of the sex slavery problem is a big help. Most people don’t realize children are subjected to such horrors. Will check our your site. Thanks! g.