Comments for dooce®

Comment on Some initial thoughts from a travel-addled brain by tami

tami — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 05:44:00 +0000

While I am willing to admit that there may be some sex workers somewhere who have agency and free will, it would be difficult to argue that the girls the Exodus Project aims to help are there because it’s their “dream job.” The question I always ask myself is, “what are we as a society doing that keeps creating people, mostly men, who need to buy these “services?” Also, do any of them really believe that the girls/children are happy “working?” What makes the men able to do this and want to do this? What should we be doing to as people, as a society, to change that?

Tami

Comment on Some initial thoughts from a travel-addled brain by Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 05:23:00 +0000

Thank you. Yes. Nothing coherent or intelligent to say comes to mind. But thank you for going and writing and being that kind of human being. I want to hear more and hear it often.

Comment on Some initial thoughts from a travel-addled brain by Jen Wilson

Jen Wilson — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 04:53:00 +0000

It’s NOT fair. None of it is. I worked in a safe house for girls who were trying to get off the streets. Prostitution was all they knew. They’d been sold at a young age by their parents/relatives to pay for drugs. The few who had children talked of one day getting their kids back. That was their one wish. One girl didn’t want to have any more babies because she didn’t want any more babies taken away from her. I quickly learned what the term “bad date” meant. We made dinner with them, trying to teach them simple life skills as much as we could. They didn’t even know that leftover food could be put in the fridge to be heated up at a later point. Their self-worth is so low that they can not even imagine they’d be able to do anything else. A friend of mine is a youth worker who is on-call 24/7. Among other things he picks up girls from johns, tries to find them a safe place even just for the night. Lets them sit in his car as long as they want, just to get out of the rain or the cold. To keep them safe for just a few hours. I can’t get out of my head the 14-year-old mom he mentioned who needed money for formula for her baby, and when welfare turned her down, and my friend was out of options for her, she showed up the next day “with a fist full of twenties and a dead look on her face.” It hurts to even think of what they’re going through, and hurts even more that we can’t just rescue them all, tell them they’re loved, and keep them safe.

Comment on Some initial thoughts from a travel-addled brain by michael from dadcation

michael from dadcation — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 02:08:00 +0000

When I was painting the inside of an old, refurbished house that would be used as a shelter and a schoolhouse for girls rescued from a life of slavery here in Atlanta, every time I’d let myself think about what this building I was helping to beautify would one day be used for, I’d start to cry and would be unable to push the paint roller up and down the drywall. I can’t imagine sitting face to face with one of them and asking such a question.

Comment on Some initial thoughts from a travel-addled brain by Teal

Teal — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 01:58:00 +0000

There but for the grace of God go I. I am unbelievably privileged to be an American woman in the 21st century. I am starkly aware of that and am thankful for it every day.

Comment on Some initial thoughts from a travel-addled brain by Carla

Carla — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 01:19:00 +0000

This is my most favorite blog post of yours ever, and I’ve been with you almost since the beginning.

Comment on Some initial thoughts from a travel-addled brain by Joanne z Filmlady

Joanne z Filmlady — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 01:14:00 +0000

I’m speechless and so sad for these girls. Thank you so much for the work you’re doing. You’re educating all of us.

Comment on Some initial thoughts from a travel-addled brain by michelle

michelle — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 00:36:00 +0000

Your last question so resonates with me. I have 16 year old twin boys and I spend a lot of time talking to them about how lucky they were to have been born to me and my husband and it has nothing to do with their efforts. Therefore, they need to look upon everyone less fortunate then them with compassion instead of arrogance and work to improve everyone’s life.

Comment on Some initial thoughts from a travel-addled brain by Anna Cabrera

Anna Cabrera — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 23:34:00 +0000

The best part of your birth right is that you choose to do for others. You choose … thanks for that and to all the others who choose to look horror in the face. Many shrink away — whether they call it fate, or feel to small to help, or misunderstand the privilege of living in a world with choice.

Comment on Some initial thoughts from a travel-addled brain by MazMonroe

MazMonroe — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 23:21:00 +0000

For me, it’s overwhelming to even try to begin to think about all that’s wrong in this world. There is just so much suffering. That you are willing to get up and leave your lovely family and comfortable life to go and attempt to help these people speaks volumes, Heather. I admire you so much.