Opinion  Soapbox
Meet Svetlana
Arik Diamant
Published: 08.03.06, 13:59
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69 Talkbacks for this article
1. Svetlana sounds hot!
Tony ,   Morristown, PA   (03.08.06)
2. Sexual Abuse
John   (03.08.06)
Boo-hoo! I was sexually abused as a child by my alcoholic mother, and I did not become a prostitute. Face it, feminists, these women are sluts and deserve what they get.
3. This is a disgrace that must be stopped.
Andy   (03.08.06)
4. This is where Jewish Values MUST win
Andrew ,   Miami, Fl   (03.08.06)
legalise it - take good care of the women - treat them with respect - provide for them - help them even unionise there has been pros in the holy land sinse mary magdeline - so dont fel bad... the only thing jewish people should do different is be way above the neanderthal
5. Legalized Prostitution?
Logic ,   Israel   (03.08.06)
The article is an emotional appeal to reduce demand, but I doubt it will work. Why not tackle the supply problem instead? The pimps are the biggest problem here. They are exploiting these sex workers and making them live under inhumane conditions. We need a crackdown on pimp exploiters. Ironically, one idea may be to legalize and regulate. Just like abortion, we can't completely ban it. Prostitution is the "oldest profession" and will keep on going regardless. It' may be better to control it and try to minimize the damage to public health. Unfortunately, there are no easy answers to this!
6. Svetlana Needs To Take Responsibility
Yishai Kohen ,   YeShA, Israel   (03.08.06)
In life, everyone is dealt a hand- some better, some worse. But at some point each of us has to decide what we will do with that hand. She decided to use drugs. She decided to become a prostitute. She decided not to seek help. If she doesn't like her present situation, she has to decide to change it, because nobody is going to do it for her. If she's so disciplined, then why is she a drug-addicted whore? Doing what you're old isn't discipline. It's anything BUT. Doing the right thing- even if it's difficult, is discipline: "Eizehu gibor? Hakovesh et yitzro."
7. Give Svetlana Zionism - A new reason
Andrew ,   Miami, Fl   (03.08.06)
think really hard on this one and the 1000's like her...get her working the land, give her renewal, make her part of the tribe..this is how the future of israel will be - the choice that ultimatly must be made...if the right one isnt made...israel becomes sadom..if the right one is made...zionism rises...think hard about svetlana
8. Amnesty
Paul Phillips ,   london   (03.08.06)
Amnesty used to be concerned with political prisoners. What a shame it has degenerated into a lobbying group for almost any trendy cause. Criticising the end user in this case is just plain silly. The culprits are the trafficers and abusers. As long as the girl makes a free choice, no harm is done and the activity should be legal.
9. You got that right
Aida Strocovsky ,   Winnipeg, Canada   (03.08.06)
Speaking about human rights and journalism in general this is one of the best articles I have ever read. Congratulations, man.
10. #6
Aida Strocovsky ,   Winnipeg, Canada   (03.08.06)
Maybe you can help her to take responsibility. Everybody needs to take responsibility over his/her life but most of the people can't. I am afraid you don't measure the impact of a life of abuse, low self esteem, lack of real love and drugs. Think it over Yishai.
11. Svetlana
Connie ,   USA   (03.08.06)
Well I've noticed the ones responding so far are all guys.Of ccourse they want prostitution legalized. She is trapped and needs a way out.The drugs quench the pain and guilt she feels.She needs to be shown the love and forgiveness of the Lord.A new beginning.A future and a hope.
12. striking article
Ruben ,   Tel Aviv, Israel   (03.08.06)
You couldnt put it better than this. The only way to deal with this is to legalize prostitution and take it out of the hands of the mob. Otherwise, the abuse will never end. I hope we will wake up some day.
13. #5; Prostitution is technicaly legal, pimping isn't.
(03.08.06)
And it doesn't matter what you'll do where there are prostitutes there are pimps.
14. Not Good.
Bill Pearlman ,   Chicago, USA   (03.08.06)
Not that we can't be has screwed up as anybody but Israel should not be a capital for sex trafficking. I know the police of a million other things to do but if they made this a priority and arrested not just a few mafioso but some of the customers and if men who do this and go home to their wives really knew the health risks then maybe it would put a crimp in this thing. Also, if some of these rabbis would stop worrying about yeshiva subsidies and get into the street a little bit and maybe mentioning what an insult this is to the women of Israel then things would improve.
15. legalizing is not the answer
Lisa ,   Israel   (03.08.06)
Hi, For all you smart asses who think that legalization will solve all of our problems, think again. I recently did some reseach in the Netherlands on the issue. The main outcome was that there is now a legalized sector and a illegal sector. Even in the legalized sector, women often used forged passports, work under threat, etc... Without tackling all aspects of the problem- including client demand- no significant change will happen. That has been proven by Sweden. Lisa
16. sadly Svetlana takes over where frigid
Lemor ,   Haifa   (03.08.06)
Israeli woman wash their hands of the subject.
17. Or
mordy   (03.08.06)
I just recently saw a movie on Netflix called Or about a Jewish Israeli girl becoming a prostitute. This one horrifies me even more. Not to discount the sex trafficking, but what about choices made within Israeli society itself, by its own citizens that have full rights, etc.? I hate to say this but the movie portrays the real problem: the men who use the services. It is sickening to see this kind of behavior among "am or ha'goyim". what kind of or are we? the fact that Jews are involved in sex trafficking and prostitution on this kind of scale is sickening...
18. Yes But ......
Zeev Himmelfarb ,   Jerusalem   (03.08.06)
I sympathize with Svetlana and wish there was something I could personally do to help. The problems is not with prostitution ( the oldest trade in Hystory unfortunately ) The real question is asking oneself WHY Israeli men enjoy so much going to prostitutes....Where there is a market , there is a need....And untill the " need " is gone Israel will have prostitutes. Supress the need , you will see the market shrink !!!
19. Nice article but it forgot one fact...
TC ,   Haifa   (03.08.06)
All this could NOT exist if the State was taking action against those traffickers. Any action.
20. Sorry, Aida, But I Already Have Much On My Plate
Yishai Kohen ,   YeShA, Israel   (03.08.06)
BESIDES giving my own numerous kids a normal life. She's an adult. She can seek professional help. But she has to make the decision to want to change.
21. JEWISH MEN AND PROSTITUTES
A JEWISH WOMAN ,   USA   (03.08.06)
REMEMBER SODOM AND GOMORRAH? JEWISH MEN WILL NOT PLEASE THE LORD OF ISRAEL BY GOING TO PROSTITUTES.
22. Tough being a pimp...
Christian ,   Denver, USA   (03.08.06)
If she were american, our black rappers could write a rap about pimpin' her, and then the great liberal half of our society, would award the rappers a golden globe for writing such a good song! I thought our society sucked, in actuallality were upstaged by the Jews!
23. Israeli men are obsessed with sex, money and drugs...
n/a ,   TA   (03.08.06)
I'm from Europe most liberated country (the Netherlands) living in Israel. Israelies are obsessed with 3 things....money, sex and drugs...I'm so amazed about this...a lot of men go to prostitues and they are even proud of it...I don't really feel sorry for the so called Svetalan if she even exists...I spent many times in the former Sovjet Union and so many young women are prostitues overthere trying to catch a rich foreigner to get the hell out of there...what was Svetlana thinking when she got to Egypt??? That she would be a nanny? Don't make me laugh...
24. to # 15 Lisa
n/a ,   TA   (03.08.06)
I don't agree with you, being a Dutch citizen myself, living in Israel. The protitution is legalized in the Netherlands, the prostitues pay taxes, have regular checkups for Sexually Transmitted Diseases, but best of all there are no pimps involved. Ofcourse there are still street prostitues but most men are aware that those are more of a risk, many are HIV infecteed...because prostitution is legalized, the rape crime drastically decreased...a week ago there was "open house" in the red light district and people could socialize with these protitues and get to know a bit more about their lifestyle...btw all Israeli men that I interviewed ( I did some research myself about this subject, in Israel though) went to a prostitute in Amsterdam......also religous men!!
25. The solution? Women must have more sex!
(03.08.06)
All of Israel's women must help out their sister whores, and put a stop to the demand for prostitution, run Misha out of business. All of Israel's women must start putting out immediately! No headaches, no "for serious purposes only", no "I'm not this type of girl", no "I've had it with one-night-stands", no "I don't want to ruin our friendship" shit, no "let him buy me expensive jewelery first" - JUST START HAVING MORE SEX, for your sister whores' sake! All of us men would be more than grateful.
26. Way to go, Arik!
Nyctamere ,   Sdom & 'Amora   (03.08.06)
You're spot on! 4,000 years after Moses, slavery is still here, threatening us all. Let's stand up to it!
27. DID NO ONE READ THE ARTICAL
PILPELET ,   H ISRAEL   (03.08.06)
DOSNT ANYONE GET IT SHE CANT SEEK PROFESIONAL HELP, SHE ILLEGAL SHE CANT GO TO THE POLICE. SHE HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP TO THINK SHE IS ONLY WORTHY OF BEING USED ...................WHAT IS THAT SAYING ................THEIR FOR THE GRACE OF GOD GO I .......FOR GOODNESS SACK WHERE IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING, IS IT SO EASY TO JUDGE .
28. Confused Artcile!
Mo   (03.08.06)
"She was sexually abused as a child. ... Sorry to disappoint you again, buddy, but at no stage has she ever chosen to be a hooker." So everyone sexually abused as a child is somehow forced into prostitution?? I find that hard to believe. I don't understand what this article is attempting to do anyways. Basically telling us that there is no hope for her, nothing she can do for herself and nothing we can do for her. So what are we supposed to do then? At least give us advice on HOW to help her if you're saying she needs help.
29. every one is an expert
mark ,   israel   (03.08.06)
the truth is that no one can blame Svetlana neither can one really blame the men although they do bare more responsibility. The real one to blame is the pimp. The fact that Svetlana has no money is the first major problem. this keeps here as a slave to the pimp who simply keeps feeding and making money off her. was is needed is to legalise the trade by the sex workers themselfs while at the same time trying to rehabilitae Svetlana. By legalising it you would allow her to save up even a small amount of money by using the Sex workers one would have a costant good monitor of the problem at the grass roots level. And by rehabilitating Svetlana one would hope that at some point she would have the corage to make the change her self. the only real people who are to blame are the pimps who get richer and richer. this is really a major problem the fact that so many people even bother to respond can just give an indication of the problem. there are no easy solutions but any extreme is not practical lets face it. we not going to stop prostitution tomorow and we not going to tern svetlana in to a sanit by end of the month. the only solution is to recognise the problem and slowly try and solve it. of course this is hard when ego is involved as we see by all the resposes every one has the answer and knows exactly what to do. and i include the writer in this generalization
30. Eveyone to blame
Juke ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (03.08.06)
Everyone is to be blamed. Her father, uncle, neighbor or who ever molested her and started selling her body. The Egyptian border needs to be sealed. If they are bringing in sex slaves and drugs you can bet they are also smuggling terrorist, weapons and WMD. The government should take the bulk of the blame. This problem has only been getting worst and the government doesn’t do anything about it. People see us as being no better than then the EU or any 3rd world nation. Olmert and the police should send 1000 policemen and crack the heads of the pimps, guards and mafia. If they forgot how it’s done they can look at the video http://www.rafflebuilder.com/Arutz7/ The Prostitutes also shares in the blame. They should all be removed from their apartments and sent back home. If we have extra funds they should be rehabilitated. Johns should be fined, tested for sexual diseases and punished. We don’t need them here lets clean up our country and be proud.
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