Andrew Smith's Blog

Book, Music, and Movie Reviews

Showing posts with label human. Show all posts
Showing posts with label human. Show all posts

Classified Ads Escalates Human Trafficking

Classifieds ads in the newspaper are a popular way to advertise for help wanted ads or items that you wanted to sell. The classified ads now have spread to the internet in another way. Now users can post information about what they would like to sell or offer services to people online. Popular classified ads websites include Craigslist and Backpage that allow human trafficking and prostitution to be offered on their sites. Craigslist “adult services” section on their site permits users to post ads offering to meet each other for sexual intercourse. More specifically, a human trafficking victim can be sold for sex a lot quicker and can go unnoticed by the police. Little children from all ages and women are being sold into human trafficking. Victims are held against their own will and technology and sites allow it to happen. Human trafficking victims are being forced to offer sex to make predators more money by using Craigslist and Backpage. The predators charge people who response to the adult services ads, but they fail to pay the victims any money for their part in the “services”. The predators continue to post the adult services ads on the sites over and over again. They are not going to stop selling human trafficking victims for sex, unless we put tougher internet laws into place. Another example is prostitution has become an easier way to make money by using the new technology out there. Prostitutes don’t have to secretly hide in the dark alleys to offer prostitution to people anymore. They can use Craigslist and post an ad to make money by selling their bodies. Classified ads like Craigslist and Backpage refuse to take down the adult services ads. With technology changing rapidly, no one knows how to handle the increasing sites or how to monitor everything on the internet. There are no government amendments on how to handle the increasing internet problems.

Living as a Human

I was up late last night and I heard this new song. Natalie Grant and Jordin Sparks opened the 41st Annual Dove Awards with this song called, “Human”. The chorus of the song, “Human” is this, “We gotta to better than this! Cause we only got one chance. To make a difference. Gotta do better than this. Cause we only got one life that we been given. A little love a little kindness. A little light in this time of darkness. It will be what makes us different. It will be what makes us human.” Natalie Grant and Jordin Sparks




This song speaks to me in so many different ways. We have to make a difference in this life for other people. You might think you’re not ready to help people. But you could be more ready than you think. Love starts in small ways. You love by holding open a door for someone else, helping the homeless, using your gifts to help on another, or just by smiling. There really are so many ways to help one another. Listen to people tell you their stories. I know time is tough for everyone right now. There is not a single person not affected. Let’s not use the excuse and blame it on times are too hard to help. We only get one life to lend a helping hand to one another. God is bigger than the whole economy problem! He is bigger than any problem you’re going through!



What do you want to be remembered for?



1. Being stuck up and not talking to one another



2. Carrying around hurt and unforgiveness



3. Saying hurtful and negative things



4. Tearing people down to feel better about yourself



5. Prideful- I’m too good for you



6. Pity Party



7. Listening to people’s approval



8. Making excuses on why you can’t



9. Feeling like you can’t help



10. Don’t know how too



11. Why should I help? They don’t help me.



12. Too busy to slow down



13. Holding on to money- never giving

14. Fearful - maybe people scare you



If you turn on the TV, you hear a lot more negative stories than positive ones. Where have all the loving people gone? We have become selfish, never wanting to go out of our way for someone else. We have got to start loving people again. Don’t you dare sit there for a second and say, “I love everyone”? Cause, do you really. God knows your hearts are you being honest? We have to really love them not just say that we do. We have to show love!







“Clothe yourselves therefore, as God's own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper]. Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive]. And above all these [put on] love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds everything together completely in ideal harmony].” Colossians 3:12-14 (Amplified Bible)







Now some people do really love their neighbors, friends, strangers, and family. Yes, we are human and we are fallible. But we have to start doing things for one another. Look at how older adults look at some teens. Most adults don’t believe that teenagers can make a difference. We think oh well, they don’t have my knowledge. I want you to just look at the movies, Hollywood makes for teenagers and college level adults. What are in most of them? If you watch one for long, you will hear a sexual joke or scene. How about the language? You don’t have to look just watch a movie there in a Reality TV Show too. What happened to the good people helping and loving? Teenagers are being stereotyped as a drinking, irresponsible, rebellious, sex controlled, and partying loving. Yes, it’s okay to party but now they think we have to have a keg party. I got news for you. You don’t have to drink to have a “good time”.



Next, I want you to look at some adults. Why do some get nicer with old age and some get plain mean? Maybe they went through things. But it’s not an excuse to stay bitter and angry at everyone. You have got to heal from the pain. God will love and accept you and help you. He has helped me.



We have got to rise up and change the way the world looks at us. Christians, the world is watching us. They are seeing how you react to certain situations. You can choose to change with God’s help or not. It’s your choice on what you want your life to be and what you want to be remembered for. No one else can tell you to love one another. Yes, God does say it in his word. But you can choose to act out of love or not too. You can choose to let go off the past and move into the future. It is never too late to start helping out each other. Even if you don’t know where to start, let the creator lead you. Start smiling more at each other! As the song, “Human” says, “We have gotta to do better than this.” Get out there and make someone’s life better!