Dear Erick,
I have to say your article on Amsterdam is so PC that I could hardly stand it. While I am an advocate of tolerance and kindness, there IS a time to exercise a sense of judgement. Just two nights ago I saw an expose on prostitution on a major news channel (can't remember which one now) where they interviewed numerous women in the trade, some recently out and some who have been out for a while now (10 yrs or more). The women were OVERWHELMINGLY of the same mind that being a prostitute had scarred them for life and everything about life since then had been very difficult. We're talking internal stuff- the ability to have normal relations with men, family, etc.....
Don't even get me started on the subject of drugs. Marijuana (and other drug usage) is simply an escape from reality. Which, I guess is good from what I gather?
Please spare everyone the twist on "objectiveness" that treats drugs and prostitution as positive things that hung-up "Puritanical" minds just cannot comprehend. It feels like you're so open minded that your brain leaked out.
Best,
S.S.
S.S.,
Thanks for your response. I do think perhaps you misunderstood the intent of the article. I think you'll find the majority of my statements are factual rather than opinion. In no way do I endorse either drug use or prostitution, rather the article is about our fascination, as US tourists, with the openness of the system. The fact of the matter is, the Dutch system is more open than ours and this fascinates tourists.
It is, however, my opinion that due to this openness the neighborhood is safe enough for tourist to visit. But you will also note the statement regarding legalized prostitution and tolerated drug use: "It is arguable whether this is positive on society as a whole, but it is hard to argue that in Holland these normally illegal activities seem to be carried out in far safer and healthier environments than in most other countries." So it doesn't endorse the activity, just notes that the environment is safer and healthier. Simply put, tourist don't fear for their safety in these neighborhoods, something very few big cities could boast of in their drug and prostitution centers--and if you think that there isn't one in every major city, you are kidding yourself.
I happen to agree with you, drugs only compound the flaws we all have in our emotional and physical well being. And certainly one is niave to think that there are not some serious inherent dangers and complications caused in a young woman's life when she enters prostitution. (Though the emotional scarring may not be as evident in a woman who doesn't feel her profession is "dirty" or wrong, so I'm not sure a show on prostitution in general applies equally to prostitution in all cultures.) However, what traveling is about is not condemning or making judgements about other cultures, but rather, understanding that they might not believe exactly the same things we believe in. From there we may have our own opinions, but the experiences can only broaden our understanding of the differences between us. And hopefully this will help us to be more knowledgeable about each other as we are forced to work together as the world becomes more interdependent.
And for these reasons, I am happy to present this information and suggest people see it for themselves. I'm not telling you what to think, just what unusual opportunities Amsterdam offers you to experience something very different from our culture. The adventure is in expanding these experiences beyond those of the typical traveler.
Thanks again for your feedback and I hope you'll visit again.
Erick Young
Editor
Passpoint.com - Discount & Adventure Travel
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