by JD Russell

Created on: December 25, 2007

Showing an arrested prostitute's name and address in a local newspaper or on the evening news is one of the most cruel punishments taking place in society today to try to stop a practice that has been on going and unstoppable since the beginning of civilization.

Putting a prostitute's picture in the newspaper may give some public official zealot a personal self satisfaction in helping to further destroy a woman's life but this cruel community enforcement tool hurts other members of the prostitute's family especially the children of these women.

What child should hear from their peers at school that his or her mom was seen in the newspaper or on TV and now she is being called a "ho" on the playground? The children of these prostitutes are hardened and branded in the community at a young age which is a great recipe for a life of crime due to the anger and hurt felt by these young victims.

These unforgiving community leaders and police along with the newspaper and TV media should be ashamed of themselves for helping to further destroy the prostitutes and especially be ashamed of the damage inflicted on their innocent children and other family members.

The religious connotations of this measure used by community leaders today reminds one of the scarlet letter used by religious leaders back in early America to control and persecute women.

Self righteous religious leaders and their church members in these communities should be the ones at the front of the line demanding this practice be stopped in their community instead of being at the head of the line helping to publicly persecute the prostitute, her children and other family members who are ostracized by name association only.

Jesus would not condone this public persecution and humility. Neither should you as a true Christian.

These women need help and not the modern day equivalent of being stoned.

Instead of having a morning of cup of coffee while gloating over the damage inflicted by using this cruel approach, I challenge the community leaders, police and religious leaders to come up with a better plan to deal with this unstoppable practice.

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