It really happens...

What I don't think people realize is how lucky we are here in the United States...even the lower class have privileges that many others only dream of. After watching several movies about the living conditions of children in other countries, it made me so angry to know that so many people here don't know about the struggles of others.

There are children living in slums who have to resort to drugs, gangs, and even prostitution in order to survive. Some children are even forced and sold into prostitution, which is absolutely appalling. Could you imagine that happening here in the U.S.?

Well, it does. Approximately 100,000 young persons, mostly girls (some as young as 5), are brought to the U.S. every year, normally across the Mexican border, and sold from person to person in an e-Bay like fashion for sex. This human trafficking is nothing less than slavery, and brings about $9 billion revenue worldwide. In total, approximately 900,000 young boys and girls are sold.

When will people realize this is happening and start to speak up? IT HAPPENS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES!

One movie that portrays two girls' stories of being brought into the U.S. is Trade with Kevin Kline. This film shows the reality so many girls, and boys, are facing, and if you don't believe it's happening, go rent this movie.

There is also a documentary called Born into Brothels, which won an Oscar for Best Documentary in 2005, following a photographer who tries to get a group of children off of the streets of India by teaching them photography. Many of these children, whose parents are in the prostitution business, are headed toward the same future, which is why the photographer is trying to take them down a better path.


Two other movies involving the conditions of children living in India are Salaam Bombay, made in 1988, and the tremendously successful Slumdog Millionaire. These movies may provide entertainment value and millions of dollars to the producers and actors, but it should provide much more to viewers. These movies show how so many children are forced to live in terrible conditions.

I just wonder how many more movies it is going to take for people to realize that people actually do live like this. Or do we have to wait until conditions get so bad here in the U.S. that they make a movie about it? Oh, wait...they already did.

Please, watch at least one of these movies, if not all of them, and educate yourselves. There's nothing worse than ignorance, especially ignorance that can be avoided.