Dear Pen-lers
This is my last post. I tried to send this directly to Ms Quan and
Harry Cleaver but my mail was returned. I'll use this medium for the
last time on this issue. Notice, I sent a response and got something
immediately back. Why? What do my views matter? This cover I could be
working with prostitutes and doing damage has attracted their
attention--really. There are all kinds of market-niches and interest
groups pretending to have contituencies and mandates far beyond their
numbers.
Anyway, I have tried to answer with counter-reasoning and counter-
evidence. These frequent missives do nothing for anybody really. But
in any case, I don't know why I would be of consequence to these
forces and their patron guru and superstar Cleaver; they certainly
are of no consequence to me--perhaps that along with the congnitive
dissonance is what is bothering them.
Please. Attack me all you want, just don't send me more of your stuff
personaly as these folks are just not worth my time.
Jim
> Your response is very long and I appreciate the time you have put into
> thinking about this issue.
>
> I'll just say a few things here, and perhaps elaborate later on other
> points.
>
> You asked why I wrote to you. I was insulted by the generalizations being
> made, and I felt that you had a right to know how one prostitute feels
> about your comments. I don't think I can speak for all the hookers in the
> world, by the way. That is not how I operate. I just wanted you to know
> that prostitutes are keeping track of what is being done to us and said
> about us in various environments -- and that we aren't going to let
> academics and researchers ignore our full humanity.
Response: Look at what you say above. "...prostitutes are keeping
track of what is being done to us..." OK, what is being done? Again
you have no concept of what I have done or am doing, the conditions,
the terms or what the prostitutes I know say. I am going back to do
some work in Montana, I will make a copy of your comments unedited
and pass them along to some women who have STDs and AIDS from
husbands who visited prostitutes and/or have been in prostitution
themselves. "We" aren't going to let academics and researchers
ignore our full humanity?" Who exactly is "we"? And you can assert
that I have somehow denied your "full" humanity but assertions are
just that--assertions--and just as Harry Cleaver speaks for his tiny
clique of admirers and himself--and not for all of academia--who are
you to use the "we" prostitutes implying what? that you speak for all
or even a significant section of prostitutes? You know, just because
anyone summarily creates an interest group or organization and even
gathers a few members, that is a far cry from mass-based or even
invited representation. Real leadership comes from bottom-up not
summarily declaring the top and then handing it down.
As for your interest in "me", well I'm really not important enough
to worry about. I suspect that the real basis for your--and Cleaver's-
-interest is that a raw and very uncomfortable nerve has been hit.
That's OK, I'm used to it. But frankly speaking, in the scheme of
things, e.g. serious life-threatening conditions and challenges on
an Indian reservation (some even related to the other sides of
prostitution that you and Cleaver summarily dismiss because they
don't fit your paradigm) and ongoing genocide against American
Indians is simply much more important and of consequence than how a
few "high-class" prostitutes or some self-obsessed academic feel,
assert or whatever.
Good luck
Jim
> Why are you so cheesed off when real prostitutes take issue with your
> views? While you make some valid points about human suffering, your note
> indicates that prostitutes who have it better than others are viewed as
> whores who have not "suffered enough." Call girls are frequently attacked
> by the left for having it too easy -- this is nothing new to me. It is,
> however, not my style to dredge up every bad thing that ever happened to
> me in order to cultivate sympathy.
>
> You may find this insufficiently analytical on my part, but I'm not really
> interested in scientific socialism. The theories underlying your comments
> aren't as important to me as what you practice. I worry that you will end
> up in a job where you can do real harm to prostitutes and their families.
> *That* is why you have attracted the attention of activist whores. We make
> it our business to learn about people who have professional contact
> with sex workers. Since you mentioned your work with the PR government,
> your comments cannot be ignored.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Tracy Quan
>
>
>
> =========================================================================
> Tracy Quan
> e-mail: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> voice mail: (212) 969-0931
>
>
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*-------------------------------------------------------------------*
* "Those who take the most from the table,*
* James Craven teach contentment. *
* Dept of Economics Those for whom the taxes are destined, *
* Clark College demand sacrifice. *
* 1800 E. Mc Loughlin Blvd. Those who eat their fill, *
* Vancouver, Wa. 98663 speak to the hungry, *
* (360) 992-2283 of wonderful times to come. *
* Fax: (360) 992-2863 Those who lead the country into the abyss,*
* [EMAIL PROTECTED] call ruling difficult, *
* for ordinary folk." (Bertolt Brecht) *
* MY EMPLOYER HAS NO ASSOCIATION WITH MY PRIVATE/PROTECTED OPINION *
