LEGALIZATION IS NOT THE RIGHT ANSWER

Editor: I am writing in response a letter I read written by a Mr. John
Manos of Langley (The Times, Sunday, March 20) concerning prostitution.

Mr. Manos believes that the way to solve the problem of prostitution is to
legalize it. I disagree. Prostitution is a difficult thing to make
disappear since it is a last-resort option for some women, and also for
some men. Often, the person felt they had no other option and were
pressured into it.

The writer seemed to think that all the problems would be easily solved by
legalizing it.

It may look like legalizing prostitution will get rid of everything bad
that surrounds the sex trade, such as pimps, drugs, and all the dangers,
but it will not.

I do not feel it is right that a person has no other option but to sell
their body to get by in the world.

By legalizing prostitution, Mr. Manos believes that it will provide a safe
environment and induce health checks. I believe that we should be trying to
create these things, not by legalizing it but by caring about it.

He talks about the dignity and self-esteem that the sex trade workers will
have once it is legalized. Legalizing it does not change the action that
occurs which creates the feelings of low self-esteem and lack of dignity.

Mr. Manos also mentioned the concept of receiving T4s and being eligible
for benefits. There are many other jobs in the world that can do this
without selling their bodies, and these could even create a much better
life for these people.

Manos made the claim that "police would be able to concentrate on crime and
other policing issues." He also informs us that all this tax money that the
government has been spending on missing women would be "eliminated," and
eliminated is the word that Mr. Manos used.

Although lately in the news it may seem like the only women that go missing
are the sex trade workers, but there are other cases of missing women that
are not connected to prostitution. There is also the question of how these
women go missing. It is usually in relation to foul play, kidnapping or murder.

Some people disappear because they feel ashamed that they have come to
prostitution as their last resort, so how can Mr. Manos say that women
would, "enter the occuption willingly," if it were legalized. Should we
legalize prostitution? No.

Should we think about more effective ways to help these people into a safer
environment? Yes.

Erinn Riley

Langley