Reader's view: Prostitution column ignored available facts

I was shocked and outraged reading the column by Joseph Legueri, who was identified at the end as, among other things, an educator. I can only hope he never educated our children with his views on prostitution (An Iron Ranger’s view: “Let’s acknowledge some things are inevitable and move on,” June 29).

It never fails to amaze me when people use religion to justify their abominable actions. We are not animals, we are human beings. I personally know many men who are monogamous and who do not feel the need to “buy” sex.

I am not sure where Legueri gets his information, but the majority of prostitutes do not look at their actions as “consensual sex.” If these women had been given an equal chance in life — economically, socially, etc. — they never would have been put in the position of selling their bodies, and others never would have had the opportunity to lure them into prostitution and sex-trafficking.

The average age of entry into prostitution in the U.S. is 13. These are not women; they are children! These young girls are lured by “pimps” into a lifestyle they never would choose for themselves.

I challenge the writer to really take a look at human trafficking and its effects on women, children and families. There is so much information on trafficking and prostitution that there is no excuse not to have true facts. I have yet to read or hear that a child has “chosen” to have sex with an older educator, writer or Iron Ranger.

That last sentence may seem like a personal attack aimed at the column writer, but it is my opinion that if a person writes a commentary, he or she should be prepared to see and read other points of view.

Janis Greene

Duluth

Tags: readers views, opinion, editorials