Sex sells...you just won't find me buying

Craigslist was introduced to me years ago.

I have purchased a mini-trampoline, an ice machine, two baby cribs, a dog (from a very sketchy character), a crate for said dog, and sold a video game system (to someone, who coincidentally was a former neighbor of all things) ...but I did not know you could BUY & SELL Sex until this week. 

Maybe I live in a bubble or something ...under a rock in somewhere, Florida.  I don't know.

Thankfully I have people SHOUTING to me living under said ROCK telling me come out! and fight! There is a war going on people.  ...and it isn't about Craigslist.

  ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.   
(Ephesians 6:11-13, New King James Version)

I am now Boycotting.  WHAT?!?  Ugh! I know! Very inconvenient since my husband really wants to buy P90X and the first place we would look would be Craigs List.  In fact he already did so right in front of me knowing I was boycotting.  Nice!

Will me BOYCOTTING make a difference?  Will it CHANGE the world?  Maybe not THE world but MY world. So, if you see #BoycottCraigslist in my posts this POST explains the reason (a little).



Wednesday is my ifast58 day. I spend my day fasting & praying; battling in prayer for the hungry, the orphan & widow, the oppressed. Fighting for justice on my knees.

Yesterday was spent on those involved in the sex-trade.  Specifically, yesterday CRAIGSLIST (CL).


So, if you have never heard about it let's start here:

Mostly I share this "first" because you "recognize" the Today Show:

WARNING: Graphic images of women (no nudity-but nearly)

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

My husband was very concerned annoyed about my boycott and wanted me to check out CL and see if that is really going on.

So, I logged on...clicked on the "Adult" section under Services...

Unless all of the following points are true, please use your "back" button to exit this part of craigslist:

1. I am at least 18 years old. (yeah right--thinking of my 16 year old son and countless others)
2. I understand "adult services" may include adult content.(Understatement!)
3. I understand that my use of craigslist is governed by the Terms of Use.
4. I agree to report suspected exploitation of minors and/or human trafficking to the appropriate authorities.(this must be them doing their part...effective...probably not)
5. By clicking on the links below, I release craigslist from any liability that may arise from my use of this site.

I will tell you what I saw broke my heart! I didn't "see" any children.  Who knows though. I know it goes on.  I wept. I prayed. My son (who wasn't around while I was exploring) wanted to know if I was okay.  I wasn't but I couldn't explain to him why. 


Today, I am still shaken.  Thinking about those woman (and girls, boys, and men) that are giving themselves away by choice (some by force) are LOVED by God! are LOVED by me.  

If CL shuts down their adult services section (which is ultimately what I have to fight for!) they will find another way to peddle their wares.   There will always be prostitution.

Then...
I read a blog about "Why Christians Shouldn't Boycott Craigslist" 

In the comments section--it gets REAL good.  By good I mean-each side has valid points! and it's GOOD!

I repeated the sentiment yesterday in my response to Anne's post:

Like Brandi said I would not stay in a hotel that got 1/3 of their income from prostitution…would Jesus be there…most likely…but not me. Does that mean I am not a respectable believer? Tough question…

Anne, wrote to me in her comments section; she wanted to know "articles" that explain the "facts" of some of the claims about finances and children for sale.  I posted.  I will put the links below for you to explore if you desire.  I explained that I went on CL and looked at the adds...and prayed over the women giving themselves away. She agreed that PRAYER was the right action. 

Today, Tom Davis (you have heard me speak of him before if you have been following for anytime-he wrote Red Letters: Living a Faith the Bleeds which is the book Hunter read that he started Heart 4 Homeless Ministry), wrote this post: Praying for the Victims of Sex Trafficking it sums it up.

We need to PRAY!!!

TODAY is the NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER! Join my in praying that CraigsList would be forced to take down their Adult Services Section to eliminate illegal prostitution and child-sex-trafficking.

My good friend, Melanie said yesterday:

What if other patrons raped little girls one aisle over while I shopped & the store owners didn’t do anything about it...

Anne, said:

Kids also get sold at hotels, gas stations, truck stops, and cafes. Should we also boycott these places?

Geesh!...but link the two together...Melanie & Anne's comments---IF I KNEW! Yes! ...and so I KNOW! So, I am Boycotting. 

It's great because in my house we have me, boycotting.

and my hubby who thinks boycotting is utterly ridiculous. (and he makes VERY good points)

 Our attempt at looking like we are fighting :)

It makes for great debate.  Hubby loves it! He hasn't had time to look at all these links and ultimately I don't care if I win him (or you) over because THAT is NOT the point. 

 ¹⁰ If you extend your soul to the hungry   
      And satisfy the afflicted soul, 
      Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, 
      And your darkness shall be as the noonday. 
       (Isaiah 58:10, New King James Version)

So, I know my time is not wasted.  My light will shine as bright as the noonday sun!  I will fight! and shout! and most importantly PRAY!  and the "least important" thing I will do is not use the service of an organization that facilitates illegal prostitution and child-sex-trade.


____UPDATE___

A friend on FaceBook just sent me a link to this video.  While it does not specifically refer to CL it is about child exploitation in AMERICA!


Watch!  http://www.playgroundproject.com/index.pg?loband=true

Back to our previously scheduled post
______________________________________________

Articles:
About the sale of a child:
Letter to CL about a 12yr old girl who was sold
Child Sex Trafficking Growing in US and mentions CL

About profiting from sex adds:
NY Times
More from NY TImes
1/3 of Revenue from Sex Ads
Human Rights Advocates decline donation from CL

A PETITION to sign:
 Make a Change in Adult Services Section

What Craigslist says about it: 
http://blog.craigslist.org/2010/04/sad-state-of-affairs-at-the-new-york-times/

http://blog.craigslist.org/2010/04/misdirected-outrage/

Bloggers:
Vince: 
http://vincegiordano.blogspot.com/2010/05/im-outraged.html

http://vincegiordano.blogspot.com/2010/05/i-hate-boycottswill-you-join-me.html

Sarah:

http://threetimeslife.blogspot.com/2010/05/scream-for-innocent.html

Brandi:

http://www.brandilea.com/2010/05/craiglists-blog-craziness.html

Tom:

http://tomdavis.typepad.com/tom_daviss_blog/2010/05/shutting-down-americas-online-sex-cafe.html

http://tomdavis.typepad.com/tom_daviss_blog/2010/05/craigslist-supports-sex-trafficking.html

 (also shared earlier in post)
 http://tomdavis.typepad.com/tom_daviss_blog/2010/05/praying-for-the-victims-of-sex-trafficking.html

Anne: (also shared earlier in post)

http://flowerdust.net/2010/05/05/why-christians-shouldnt-boycott-craigslist/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+flowerdust%2FaILX+%28FlowerDust.net%29