In my own back yard.

Yesterday, I learned about 52 child prostitutes who were rescued from a life of degradation. For now. Not in Asia, Africa or even Mexico. In these United States. Four of them were in the Portland area. As saddening and disgusting as this is, it is not surprising. Anybody who has been downtown knows that there are a lot of street kids in Portland. Most of them are not runaways, though. They are throw aways (victims of abuse and neglect), and it is heartbreaking because over the years, my interactions with them have revealed very intelligent and creative young people who could contribute greatly to our community and world. According to an article in the New York Times, nearly a third of the kids forced to live on the street eventually engage in prostitution in exchange for food, drugs or a place to stay. Our government will ship off tons of aid across the world at a moment’s notice (and there is nothing wrong with that), but so much more needs to be done for these boys and girls. Right here. In my own back yard.