Misc. Blog

For this blog, I am posting a short writing assignment that I have just finished and will be turning in tomorrow. This assignment, created by another student in my class as an exercise for understanding perspective, required choosing a letter to the editor and identifying four of the author’s main points along with an alternative perspective for each of the points. I have proofread this paper, though there are a few sentences that do not sound quite right to me and I will italicize them to point them out. I’ve tried rewording them and I can’t get them to sound any better.

So, here it is:

Trying On Others’ Shoes

A letter to the editor, published in the Spokesman Review last Sunday, argues that issues of prostitution are not being handled well by law enforcement in Spokane. The author of the letter, John Kallas, is a retired detective who feels that this problem is being ignored by law officials in the city.

One of the points made by Kallas is that “proactive 24-hour enforcement, along with extensive criminal trespass ordinances” is a necessary solution (B6). Though he is right in assuming this would help the issue, others may argue that it is neither possible nor practical. Public officials and local law officers would make it clear that they do not have the staff or the funding to increase patrols in these areas.

Kallas also makes the statement that “prostitution is not a victimless crime” (B6). This is true when it comes to minors who are forced into prostitution and adults who knowingly prey on them. However, some countries and even one state in the U.S. have legalized prostitution under the assumption that it, when preformed between two consenting adults, hurts no one but the participants. This argument assumes that when two parties enter into an agreement such as exchange of sexual favors for money, they are fully aware of the risks they are taking and are the only ones in danger.

Citing the “Yates homicides” in his letter, Kallas makes the case that these murders could have been prevented had the laws regarding prostitution been strictly enforced (B6). Kallas’ opposition may feel that these murders could not have been stopped. The argument would be that a person with the compulsion to kill, as Robert Lee Yates had, would have found his victims elsewhere if prostitutes were not an easy target. Stopping prostitution in Spokane may have made his hunt for women harder, but he would have inevitably committed his crimes.

Lastly, Kallas makes the claim that “political candidates should take notice of this problem” (B6). In response to this, I’m sure those running for office would admit that they are concerned about prostitution in their city. I’m also sure that they would probably present much larger issues that they have built their platforms on.

While I agree with Kallas that any form of prostitution is a serious issue that should be taken care of, others may have different opinions. Though I’m sure that there are few people who would argue that prostitution is a good business, there are probably reasons why these issues are not being swiftly dealt with in Spokane and Kallas’ opponents would be sure to make them known.

Works Cited
Kallas, John. Letter. Spokesman Review 7 Oct. 2007: B6.