Operation Cross Country vs. Stand Your Ground

Until the popular media changes its approach, these terrible problems, which affect the most vulnerable human beings alive, continue to grow.

(CLEVELAND) - In this news poem, Luke Easter questions why millions of Americans focus on particular events like the Trayvon Martin case while ignoring the plight of so many helpless people who on a daily basis, cry out in silence. Celebrities are not happy with the Zimmerman verdict and many are speaking out, but there are so many other ways those with big name recognition could help society.

Operation Cross Country, a federal sting to take down child sex traffickers, reportedly saved just over 100 victims. This is a great accomplishment, but that number pales in comparison to the number of children impacted by this crime.

Stories about child sex trafficking get a small amount of coverage in the United States. Until the popular media changes its approach, these terrible problems, which affect the most vulnerable human beings alive, continue to grow.

Another huge contributing problem are so-called entertainers who demean women in their music. They make millions while real people in real situations deal with the violence and lack of dignity that their lyrics celebrate.

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Operation Cross Country vs. Stand Your Ground Dozens of entertainers are boycotting Florida re: Stand Your Ground, While dozens of pimps force teenage girls to prostitute all over town, “Operation Cross Country” saves 105 victims, a well organized sting, The FBI brings down those who dehumanize to flash, “Bling-Bling.” Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z, Kanye West, MaryMary, are calling it a crime, Because they and many others feel George Zimmerman should do time, Protests, marches, rallies objecting Travyon Martin’s death that’s fine, Okay what about an innocent girl turning tricks at the tender age of 9? At least 23 other states have some type of, “Stand Your Ground Law,” While child sex trafficking in America is nation wide & that’s not all, The beatings rained down on these victims does not deserve a rally? Plus abused hookers beaten in public not some darkened back ally? Trayvon Martin is one yet thousands of teens & children worldwide, Perform dispicable acts under threat of violence, many of them die, In the U.S. alone some 2,700 victims have been rescued since 2003, That’s right America, Home Of The brave, yeah, Land Of The Free. “The Innocence Lost National Initiative,” could use those big names, Bringing to the forefront this atrocity, busting child prostitution rings, “National Center For Missing & Exploited Children,” need a Wonder, Jay-Z, Kanye West, MaryMary, Chris Brown, can add more thunder. Big names like these could shed some serious light on those who exploit, Did I mention one of the most profitable areas was the city of Detroit? Whereas, Sanford, Florida is not the only city that needs to be set free, “I Got 99 Problems But A Bitch Ain’t One,” yet we patronize Jay-Z? This Jay-Z guy has sold tens of millions of records with crap like that, Can someone who blatantly disrespects woman be aware of the fact, It’s the attitude of pimps who promote & john’s who pay for illicit sex, And doing it solely for $$$$ & pleasure without any regard or regret. By Luke Easter

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Luke Easter is a poet who writes about things that are very close to the heart of Salem-News.com. Another former U.S. Marine, Luke heals the world with an approach that reaches people on a different level, one known for centuries, yet too often forgotten in the one we live in.

We live in a world of social & economic injustice. The main reason for founding America in the first place was to relieve the oppression of the King of England. Patrick Henry said it best, “give me liberty or give me death.” And yet, all too often death seems to be the only way out. Why is there such a high suicide rate especially among teens, in the land of the free & the home of the brave? What makes headlines? Good news? Ha! More depressing stories than anything else. I feel poetry takes an edge off the hurt of bad news while still delivering it but in a, “glitzy” sort of way. Giving a different perspective. Kind of like slap in the face as opposed to a knife in the back. At least with the slap you’ll live to see another day and you will know whom it’s from. I wasn’t here for the beginning of the world but at 59, I just might be here for the end.

Even though it’s still a knife, rhyme poetry helps to dull the blade. And that’s my job. You can write to Luke Easter at: lyricsfromlucas@aol.com