December 10, 2011 (Johanna Calfee)

Make no mistake, my friend. No one would choose the life of the girls I saw in the bars tonight. But for them, there is no choice in the matter (there by force) or no other choice (there by force of parents or poverty). The next time you think you’re life is unfair, shut your privileged American mouth and take a good look at this picture of a girl sitting outside a massage parlor, awaiting her first customer. And yes, it is that kind of massage parlor.

So, yeah, tonight I’m straight out of the red light district for the first time this go round, and I’m mad…really mad. Our lives, with all of their freedoms, are so, so good, even when they aren’t perfect. Any one of the hundreds of girls I saw at Soi Cowboy would gladly trade with you. But that’s not a choice they will likely ever get to make. I can only hope we can break through to a few, who will fight and/or flee for their freedom.