Neesa,
I hope this finds you in best of health and spirits. You don't know me and honestly I really don't know you. I was told about you and your story by someone here along with where you usually post. Before I say anything else I just wanted to mention I took some time to read through your posts and your blog and as horrific as your experiences have been I wish I could say that it isn't common but unfortunately it is. I think as a society we've debased ourselves by abasing 'our women' (and I do mean that in the non-patriarchally overbearing sense). They (you, women, etc) are the cornerstone of our societies, our mothers, our sisters, our daughters and our spouses.
You Might disagree with me (along with perhaps others on this board - which is expected because of the nature of this board) but debasing includes involvement in pornography, prostitution, stripping etc. things that I'm sure you are quite unfortunately familiar with. Not only that, physical abuse and marginalization both in the public arena and in our homes and families is part of this degradation. And to top it all off, 'you' (women in those circumstances) are blamed and abused further.
In reality the responsibility is on us and we are to blame. Whether we are the ones actively ruining the lives of these women (in most cases they are just girls and not even women) or if we are silent spectators too memorized by their beauty to realize these are real people and not 2-dinmentional posters. The $50, $500, $5000 or even $5 million (if it were) we pay to watch them abase themselves is not enough to compensate them for even a minute of stripping them of their dignity. We create the environment where they are left with no option but to involve themselves in such activities (I have yet to meet someone who has gone into prostitution/pornography/stripping for anything other than strong needs) and then we take advantage of them. We all should be ashamed of ourselves (and I say this first to myself then anyone else).
I apologize for my ramblings but this is a very important topic for me. So why am I blabbing? Well before I get to that let me start with my name; its Ali. Hi. I volunteer at an Islamic non-profit organization and part of what we do is provide services to battered women and women who are looking to make a positive change in their life and need support in doing so. We are an organization founded on religious beliefs HOWEVER part of our belief is our services are faith-blind so it doesn't matter to us what faith you do or do not subscribe to. Along with that, we also strongly believe the notion that we are not out to convert people (if you would like to find out more about our faith you are more than welcome to ask but our belief is that there is no compulsion in religion). We are here to simply help/support if you would like it. So what’s the catch? There always is one right? Ours is that some day when you are able that you perhaps help some other individual change their life.
I know you haven't asked for support and perhaps you don't need our help but in any case I would like to extend our services. In your posts you mentioned that you no longer wanted to perform at adult clubs and were planning on becoming a dental hygienist by June 2009. If it’s okay with you, how can we help you make that June 2008?
I do realize this is very unconventional and I would have preferred to keep this private however this was the only way I was told that I could reach you. If you would like you are more than welcome to PM instead of continuing the conversation on the board. Whatever you are most comfortable with. Also we are based in Southern California (and I’m not sure where you are) however it doesn’t really matter to us. We just prefer to work with those who are willing to make a positive change and have taken steps to show that.
In any case, I hope nothing I have said was offensive to you. I hope to live long enough to a day where our progress isn't measured by the speed of our cars, the megatons of our nuclear firepower or the size of our TV but instead the treatment of our women, our poor, our minorities and the disenfranchised.
If you've made it this far then thank you for listening, I appreciate it.