Your strip club conversation will get no sympathy from me

Today we drove from Newark, NJ to Washington DC with lots of interesting twists and turns in between (some intentional - some not!)

Here it is 11:35 at night and I’m fighting to stay awake long enough to tell you about my most recent anti-trafficking adventure. I didn’t even get to tell you about yesterday’s awesome rally yet, but rest assured I will. I just think today’s story is shorter and powerfully relevant, so hold on for that awesome post I’ve promised!

Tonight I got into the Holiday Inn at about 10:00 and carried my sleeping girls up to bed before hurrying down to find some food to fill the empty stomachs of those for whome food means more than sleep.

While waiting for my food, I overheard some guys in a conversation about strip clubs in the area and it sounded like they knew enough to compare the options. I was especially disgusted when the first guy mentioned being away from the wife and kids.

After a few minutes of listening to their talk, I had this pit in my stomach, the one that comes from knowing you have to do something you don’t want to but that you know you have to.  I mean if I run 250 miles in chains, surely I can muster up enough courage to  approach  a group of all-American, macho guys who by this late hour had been watching "the game" (whichever sport/team that may be) and could probably sweat beer and testosterone - I had to approach them and fill them in on some of the realities of modern day slavery. Like the fact that 80% of modern slavery is sexual slavery and that many of the girls in strip clubs all across America are not there to make a quick buck - they are held against their desires as slaves - to help fill the demand of lusty guys for whom sex has lost the meaning of love. These girls are kept imprisoned by fear, beatings, rape, and other sadistic devices to make sure their owners turn a profit in this burgeoning business of the lust market.

I can’t think of a more oxymoronic statement than "Gentleman’s Club" in reference to strip clubs. I’ve seen so many on this Run 4 The Rescue - they make me sick.

"Hey Guys" I broke in with a smile as I tried to cross the entire length of the restaurant trying to act natural. I was met with complete silence and a circle of stares from the unbelieving group, it got even worse after  I pulled out some info sheets on modern day slavery and started handing them out.

In the end we  (I) had a great discussion about strip clubs and what it really means to support them. One of the group then admitted that he was actually in town for a conference on human trafficking. Unbelievable!

I am glad that I swallowed my pride, and glad that they were polite enough to listen!