DAVE’S WORLD BEHIND THE BARBWIRE
In memory of Hells Angel Steve Tausan AFFA Brother
Not much new to report this week here in Bastrop, Texas. I couldn’t ask for better weather. And I just started teaching another six week “Foundations For Freedom” class this past Wednesday. And I am seriously thinking about taking a refresher typing class too. (The last time I took a typing class I was in the 8th grade back somewhere around 1966 or 67?)
Next weekend I will be sharing one of my own original “true” stories with you. It will be just right as a Halloween story, so don’t miss it. But this week I want to continue sharing another true “Covenant House” story with you. “Covenant House” is a homeless shelter and outreach facility set up in cities around the world for homeless, desperate, and unwanted children. These stories come from personal letters and the diary of Sister Mary Rose McGeady. Sister Mary Rose was one of the pioneers of the “Covenant House.” I pray these stories help you re-think your relationship with your own children and also get you thinking about the well being of all the children in your neighborhood.
Now for the story: “I’m a Little Short of Cash Today”
It all began in Chicago when Cindy a 17 year old met “Slim” at a party. He didn’t look like a pimp at all when I first met him at the party,” she said. “He was dressed real nice and he was very friendly, and he had fancy business business cards. He said he was a big music promoter who made music videos with groups like _____ and _____. He said he liked the way Cindy danced and he could make her a star. “Just come back to New York with me, he said. “I’ll take care of the rest.”
Cindy said she had to check with her mother first. Slim said, “You do that, here is my card.” Cindy’s mom checked everything out. Slim had an office in New York City and everything seemed to be on the up & up. Slim talked to Cindy’s mom on the phone and promised her everything would be alright. So Cindy got on a bus and headed for New York City and her new life.
As Cindy told this story to the folks at Covenant House, she shook her head slowly trying to pull off a smile, but the anger and embarrassment and hurt kept pouring out instead. Cindy told the counselor that as soon as she got to the city, Slim picked her up and took her to a hotel room, he started acting different. “We’re not going to be doing any music videos today,” Slim told her. He was kind of laughing this really sickening laugh, Cindy said. She also said she started crying and told him she wanted to go back home. Cindy told the counselor that Slim had sex with her and put her in a room with three other girls and locked the door.
“I’m a little short of cash today,” Slim told the girls. “I need for you to go out and earn your keep before I can make you a star.” So he forced all the girls to get dressed up in cheap clothes to work the streets. Slim told the girls that he owned them now and that they had better get out there and make some money or he would hurt them. Cindy said she was scared to death, but decided to act real cool and pretend to do what he wanted. She got dressed and went out and began to walk the streets with the other girls. Cindy said Slim was watching them like a hawk except for one minute and that is when she ran. Cindy ran to a payphone around the corner and called 911. The operator said the police would be right there and to wait. Then Slim saw her. He ran over to the payphone and started kicking Cindy. Then he heard the siren and ran away.
When the police got to Cindy, she was down on the ground bleeding from the lip with multiple contusions all over her body. In the ambulance on the way to the hospital Cindy kept saying one thing, “I want to get that guy for doing this to me and all of the others.” The next morning the police arrested Slim and brought Cindy to Covenant House so she would have a safe place to stay while she decided what to do.
Cindy did decide to go through with her plan to get the pimp who tried to force her into illegal street prostitution by threats of death. Knowing that he did force many other young naive teenage girls into the street life, Cindy was very brave for what she thought she must do to save other young girls from that fate. Slim was eventually found guilty of assault, sex with a minor and trafficking in underage prostitution. As of the writing of this diary entry, Slim has not yet been sentenced, but Cindy has gone back home to school and is trying to put this almost lethal lesson behind her. Ok folks, that’s it for this evening’s “true” story.
Now for another truth: MY PERSONAL NOTE ON THE SUBJECT OF PROSTITUTION: As most, if not all of you already know, I was in the legal prostitution industry in the state of Nevada for more than 30 years. Even though it is not my intention here to defend the legal prostitution industry, I can tell you that “legal prostitution” is nothing like street prostitution. I know of no brothel owners who ever forced a girl into prostitution, or forced her to stay in the business against her own will. Professional prostitutes in the state of Nevada are professionals in their trade and are licensed by the county they work in and are checked weekly by state certified medical examiners.
As the former general manager of the world famous Mustang Ranch brothel (10 Years) and a former brothel owner myself, (I owned and operated the Old Bridge Ranch brothel in Mustang Nevada for more then 20 years) I believe my professional opinion on this subject is as close to the truth on the subject as you will ever find.
I wish we lived in a world where prostitution did not exist. But until we “society” can make a world where men (and woman) will not seek out the service that prostitution offers, then we must make it safe for those who choose to work in the industry, and make it safe for those who wish to use the services that legal prostitution offers.
If you would ask me, do I think prostitution is an industry that a young woman should pursue? I say absolutely not. The money may be “quick money,” but it is not easy money. The negative physical and mental health consequences as well as the stress, far out weight any money that may be made. There is really no future for most prostitutes. I say most, because out of the thousands of legal prostitutes I have met over my many years in the industry, there are a small hand full who have survived in the industry for many years. Those prostitutes I have come to know as “angels of mercy.” It seems they stayed in the business because they know that their services seemed to help manage the stress of others. To those woman I say thank you for your commitment and your personal sacrifice. But for the large majority, I saw no good come of their time in the business.
The bottom line is, it is up to you parents to raise your children in an environment where prostitution is not an option, legal or otherwise. If you raise your children in a household with low or no morals, chances are your children will never get to a line they will not cross. Do you want to be part of the solution to this growing world problem or are you only willing to just sit back and try to make excuses for your own immoral behavior. The choice is yours. Your children’s future as well as the future of all mankind sits squarely in your lap.
You do have easy access to the best known builder of morals, as well as a guide to the daily problems of family life. It is called the Bible. There is just no other way to build morals in your children. If you have had problems with organized religion in the past, that is not the Bible’s fault. It is the fault of the many generations of so called “bible thumpers.” It is time to put all of that behind you. It is time to use the Bible for what it was originally designed for. And that is to assure your children’s as well as your own salvation. And to assure the safety of all society.
ONE FINAL WORD FOR THIS EVENING …well, maybe a few final words 🙂 They come from the Bible, Proverbs 2 Verses 1 through 11
My sons and daughters, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,
and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as if silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.
He holds victory in store for the upright, he is the shield to those whose walk is blameless,
for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of the faithful ones.
Then you will understand what is right and just and fair — every good path.
For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
Discretion will protect you , and understanding will guard you.
Ok everyone, that is my story and my sermon for the evening. I will continue to make the best of everyday. All of you do the best you can with what life offers you. God Bless you All, David somewhere in Texas.
p.s. Don’t forget, next Saturday night is my own non-fiction “Halloween” story from a time I spent in Europe.
Behind The Barbwire 