ANYTHING GOES!
No common-interest group is without its own seamy side! Let’s begin with our legislative bodies and their recent indiscreetly misdirected efforts. This reference is tied to Wall Street and Corporate American greed. It addresses an inordinate number of previously ultra-successful brokerage houses as well as other huge companies on the big board with regard to their misuse of government bailout funds for executive bonuses. Allow me next to descend upon the sports scene and the continuing revelation of the use of steroids and other illegally used strength-enhancing drugs by our record-shattering sports idols — not to glide over unnoticed the rumored underage competitors in the recent Olympics. Striking closer to home, how about the cheating (both here and abroad) in our own game and the personal administrative agendas — doing whatever is needed to float their own boat. Another even sadder issue is the abuse of youth by trusted elected officials in our nation’s capitol, and comparable misbehavior of some respected scoutmasters and even the untouchable divine clergy. Perhaps much of this has been in existence longer than we care to admit — but with the growing popularity and accessibility of cyberspace and the no-bars-held policy of the newspaper industry — our motto seems to be “Let it all hang out!”
This blog was prompted by a brazen eye-opening front page headline in my local SUNDAY LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL yesterday. The New York Times does not have the monopoly on sensationalism. This is neither an endorsement nor criticism of the announcement — but rather a startling reaction by this reader, a relatively new resident of Sin City — which serves as one of our country’s largest tourist attractions. Don’t misunderstand me, we love it here. Perhaps we have been sheltered by indulging in our own golden age lifestyle — since our dailiness consists of commuting biweekly between our home and the bridge club, occasional jaunts to a local casino blackjack table and enjoying their restaurants whenever the spirit moves us. It is a relaxing, carefree atmosphere — far from the bustling and sometimes maddening aura of the Strip. So — living within the confines of our own little world, sent my mind reeling from the following:
What immediately caught my eye (in bold black one-inch high letters) were the words WORKING GIRLS and beneath the caption there appeared a quarter inch subtitle LAS VEGAS’ 50 MOST PROLIFIC PROSTITUTES (accompanied by photos of 24 of the 50, with names, ages ranging from 20-41 and detailing their arrest charges — mostly trespassing — with a few charged for solicitation). I found the inclusion of photographs amusingly reminiscent of the words from Easter Parade (about finding that you’re in the rotogravure). In fact, if I hadn’t seen the caption, at a glance from afar my conjecture would have been they were Miss America contestants or Academy Award Nominees. It just appeared so nonchalant in nature.
Immediately, I headed for my Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary as I never heard the word ‘prolific‘ associated with that profession. I always thought it meant productive (in a positive sense). The first listed definition was fruitful (and indeed they could be if by some chance they weren’t careful); the second definition was archaic; and the third explanation alluded to inventiveness or productivity (like a prolific composer or literary artist). Somehow Mozart or Shakespeare didn’t fill the bill. Enough of the English lesson. On to the article!
It was entitled “Police Crack Down on Solicitation,” and the opening line was “Call it a unique kind of most wanted list or simply an attempt to clamp down on the area’s worse-kept secret”. The article continued on page 20A, explaining that prostitution is legal in 10 rural Nevada counties — noting that Clark (which includes Las Vegas) and Washoe (Reno, Tahoe, etc.) were not on the approved list. So, if you are getting a little antsy reading bridge hands and want a change of pace, go to the website suggested (lvrj.com/prostitution) or check out the Review Journal (Vice Enforcement’s Top Offenders) dated February 15th. For bridge players, it gives new meaning to the terms ‘one over one’ and ‘hooking.’
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The prolific mainstreaming of vice into our society…and it’s working!
Good? Bad? I guess it all comes down to your definition of the word “is.” This way of thinking seems to have lowered our standards of ethics in this brave new world.
For example, I think it would have been unduly harsh for the long arm of the law to come down on Michael Phelps for his bong indiscretions; whereas, had this happened thirty years ago, he would be sitting in a jail cell….
As a lifetime resident of this fair city, I, too was shocked at finding such an array on the front page. My thoughts went to the young children who “bring in the paper” every morning. We, as adults, know the seamier side of life but, why oh why, does the news media insist on jamming it down the throats of innocent children? Sin City use to refer to showgirls dressed in boas, sequins and feathers, not sad faced women being brutalized by hard times they can neither emotionally nor financially struggle through.
You’re right, Judy. What a shocker to open a major Sunday newspaper to be greeted by the faces of twenty-two of the city’s most prolific hookers. To recognize such an accomplisment seems gross and tasteless.