The STOPLight

This is your wake-up call

Now is the time for boldness; a time for love to move us to action.

Are we wringing our hands and bemoaning the sorry state of American society and American youth? For sure there is much to grumble about, much to complain about, much to fear. But consider this angle: what if what we have today is no surprise? It is exactly what we adults have caused. By our silence, resignation, cynicism, or active participation, we have fostered the situation we have today.

Not consciously or intentionally, to be sure! But without our noticing, others who are more intentional have taken advantage of our apathy and inaction for their own gain -- at the expense of our children. They are cunning people with the know-how to turn a young person's head. There is a lot of money to be made off kids. Pimps, pornographers, and gang leaders have excellent opportunity to take advantage of vulnerable youth. And they do -- daily.

We have allowed the sex industry -- pimps, madams, strip clubs, and pornographers -- to take our youth and devastate them. Mostly, we have chosen not to see what is going on and not to talk about it. Even though there are over a million people caught in the trap of prostitution in this country, we have decided not to address the issue in our schools, colleges or seminaries. Professionals who work with children and youth are basically ignorant about the issue of prostitution. As adults, we have chosen to believe people get into prostitution by choice -- in spite of evidence to the contrary. We would rather believe a Hollywood moviemaker (money-maker) than to be courageous enough to face the facts straight on.

What are the results of our decision to remain silent and timid? Abused children don't see a safe community to which they can turn for help. The entertainment industry pumps deceitful and disastrous messages into the minds of our children. Many youth are vulnerable to the ploys of anyone who says he or she loves them. Kids hang out in places where pimps have easy access to them, where they can start conversations and mind control games can begin to work. Even strong, stable kids have points of vulnerability. We should not assume that our own kids are safe or beyond the reach of pimps.

It is as if blindfolded youth are walking around surrounded by cliffs but nobody tells them the cliffs are there. No one warns them when they get too close to the edge. It is time to be straight with them and to discuss the dangers they face even though we don't know everything. It is time to let them know our concerns. It is an unspeakable tragedy that we are not talking about commercial sexual exploitation in our schools and in our homes.

Parents innocently allow their kids to hang out at shopping malls with no thought of the pimps lurking there, ready to make that child a sexual commodity. Most parents don't know about this danger because churches, schools, and media don't mention it as a problem.

Let us each choose to take responsibility for what is going on. To point the finger and blame others leaves us helpless. To own up to our own passive or active involvement in creating this situation where so many youth are at risk is powerful. It compels us to action.

We ask each one of you to take action today. It's not a moment too soon. Do it today to make the world a better, safer place for those you love -- and for future generations. Call the schools your kids or grandkids attend. Offer to bring them the latest educational materials available to teach kids about the dangers of sexual exploitation.

Some materials are available through the programs featured in this issue of STOPLight. This material warns youth about predators, their techniques, and the consequences of falling for their lines. The information may save some child from a life of degradation, addiction, disease and destruction.

If you want to learn more before you contact the school, STOPlight can mail you a packet of information. To cover the cost of copying and mailing, a $3 donation per packet is requested. A-STOP also offers a correspondence course. It consists of 25 self-paced hours of reading, audio tapes, watching a video and answering questions. It sells for $50 and rents for $25. Call or use the response coupon on page 7.

We would like to know about your action plan and work with you to see that it happens. Please send us your name, address and phone number and what school you have in mind. Tell us who you are thinking of working with or talking to to make this happen.

The old saying, "What you don't know can't hurt you," is wrong. Choose to be proactive for our youth.

Choose to get active and be energized. Be bold. Give your community's kids a chance.

by Al Erickson, an ELCA pastor. He is the founder and director of A-STOP

In 2002 our organization changed its name to Adults Saving Kids. Prior to that we were called A-STOP (Alliance for Speaking Truths On Prostitution), STOP (Speaking Truths On Prostitution), or Grassroots Ministry Alliance.