Slavery

Dear Victorious,

You blogged recently about human slavery and cited the high level of sexual and domestic slavery in the world today. Aren't you exaggerating this issue just a bit? I mean, aren't most of the people in the sex trade industry in it because they made that choice?

Jahn L. - Red Oak, TX

Dear Jahn,

No, I don't believe I'm exaggerating the issue at all. If it were being exaggerated, it would be done by our State Department, the media that report on it, the organizations that fight it, etc. Google human trafficking, or do a news search on the topic and you'll find plenty of recent reports. It isn't even just the U.S. government hyping this. It is a real problem.

You have to remember a couple of things here.

First, you don't have to drag someone off in chains in order to enslave them. It can often be done through intimidation, brain washing, preying on their desperation, threatening them in order to secure their cooperation, etc.

Second, more than half of those enslaved today are women and children. And some of them were dragged off in chains! Many with brute force.

As for your last remark, even if someone in the sex trade industry made that choice, many are enslaved today - based on studies that have been done through organizations that work to rehabilitate women coming out of the sex trade industry. Said differently, even if someone made a conscious choice to get into the sex trade industry, or the domestic services industry ... the fact that they now cannot make a conscious choice to get out of it is the best proof of their enslavement.