When you hear the word trafficking, what do you think of? Maybe drugs….slavery….India….something overseas that doesn’t really directly affect us here in the U.S.? Before I started really studying and researching this very issue, those were the thoughts that ran through my mind, as well, when I heard the term. 
It wasn’t until I started to become more educated about this very topic that I realized how naive I had really been.
Trafficking is not something that is contained within the borders of one third world country overseas; it’s not just within the borders of African countries who are at war within themselves. It’s not just about drugs. It’s not something that only the poor are affiliated with. It’s not something that we really talk about either. My theory is that we don’t talk about it because it’s too hard to think about; we can’t imagine that this is going on all around us. We can’t imagine our own children being duped and fooled into such a thing. We can’t imagine that even in this country, someone would want to traffick a young girl….while all around pimps are selling, making deals….because in reality, even most prostitutes have been trafficked in one form or another.
All of the above and more is really why I’m so passionate about preventing and putting an end to this cruel and unjust atrocity that exists even here in our own country, our states, our local communities. We have one street here in our local community that I hate to drive down; this street is loaded with nothing but adult stores and strip clubs, one even being right next door to an elementary school. Every time I pass those places by, I can’t help but wonder if any of the women working inside have been duped….have they been coerced into this lifestyle? How many of them are underage? It strikes at my heart every single time. To see the words, “Now hiring” on one of the signs as we drive further into this college town….it sickens me for the young girls who may be fooled into thinking that this is the lifestyle for them, the only way they can make it financially. To think that even huge events like the Superbowl, meant to be a celebration, are turned into profit-making deals by trafficking rings, yet utter horror for the victims involved.
When I think of the many children who are being trafficked today, I see the faces of my own children. When I see a kidnapped child’s picture on a flyer at Walmart, I can’t help but wonder where that child is….are they suffering….have they been trafficked? It’s enough to make a mother want to take her children under her wing, per se, and do everything she can to protect those precious souls. My worst fear when I see the pictures of these children is not that they have been murdered….but that maybe they’ve been forced into a life that noone should have to endure, let alone a child or young adult. It’s something that I just can’t put to the back of my mind.
Rather than bore you with statistics, I wanted to share where my heart lies and why I feel so strongly about this very topic. Please don’t walk away from this post thinking that it could never happen here….because it is happening. Tonight as you put your children to bed, think about the mother who can no longer put her child to bed because that child has been taken from her….think about the young girl lying in a brothel somewhere, maybe even in the basement of your next door neighbor. It’s time to rise up and fight….it’s time to protect our children and grandchildren and generations to come. This is why I will continue to use my voice, as a blogger, to raise awareness.
