more on the topic of “say it”

Earlier this week I posted about a new ad campaign, Say It (or in Czech, “Řekni To”), that is running here in Prague to help individuals caught in the epidemic, known as Sex Trafficking. This morning when I was working through my daily blog roll, I read an article at the Prague Post entitled, Crackdown: New law aims to limit prostitution in public places . Some interesting stuff in the article. It was good to hear a Czech public official say this,

“Municipalities should not have to tolerate these activities, which threaten general good manners and affect the moral upbringing of youth, in public areas,” says Prague Deputy Mayor Rudolf Blažek.

“Affect the moral upbringing of youth.” This was very interesting and refreshing! This week when Ernie, my roommate, were heading to class we began talking about what children over here are used to seeing from a young age. From prostitutes on the streets to newspapers that can be bought at any news stand that have nude pictures all over them. Kids here definitely see more than they do in the States, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have our own issues in this arena. Needless to say, seeing things like this passed is good, but there is more to it.

As these laws are passed and enforced it is good for the public not having to see this, but it is detrimental to the woman in this industry because it forces it underground.

“If these limitations are imposed, the trade will go underground, which will create illegal sex rings and heighten the [prostitutes’] dependence on organized crime,” says Petra Hamerníková, assistant director of Rozkoš bez rizika (Bliss Without Risk), a nongovernmental organization providing health and other services to prostitutes. By restricting the activity, the new ordinance essentially forces prostitutes to lead a life of crime, heightening the risk of abuse. “I don’t think that any regulation will stop our clients from doing what they do,” Hamerníková says. “They will simply hide away in private bars and apartments, where we cannot save them from extortion.”

Tough. How does this problem get solved? What is best for all involved? Will governments programs, laws, restrictions and etc. solve this problem. I would say they are nothing more than I band-aid on the problem What needs to be seen is what we see in John 8:1-11:

But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

May love, grace, and truth of Christ flood the streets of Prague and Czech!