Most people I know have seen “Taken”.
But unfortunately most weren’t “taken” aback on an IRL level.
Maybe it’s that the subject matter’s reality seems so far removed.
Or because human trafficking is one of those uncomfy things we all gloss over as we scroll down the news feed. Like the Time article I just read that offers tips on how to spot a possible victim at an airport. It’s uncomfortable, isn’t it? Reading these things? Knowing these things? Feeling powerless ‘cause – well – what the fluff can I Jane Doe possibly do?
Actually, a lot – by employing a little awareness.
There’s this whole “if you see something, say something” mantra that’s championed by law officials to everyday travelers heading to Wherever, Planet Earth.
These kids aren’t always traveling around on private jets in shackles while their captors sip champagne in Gucci suits. Half the time, they’re sitting just a few seats away from you in coach. Did you know, a shiz ton of them aren’t even being shuffled in or outta the country? Just escorted over to a local hotel to do man service? Especially around the Superbowl time? It’s so bad that the NFL won’t even hold the Superbowl in cities that don’t have stringent enforcement and a watchful eye on trafficking.
Plain sight or not, sadly, some of these girls develop the same brand of Stockholm syndrome and brainwashing that everyday prostitutes do with pimps (“He’s my boyfriend; I’m just helping him out. I love him.”) This, unfortunately, might be about as easy to spot or stop as witnessing someone who’s just in an abusive relationship. There’s a whole delusional psychology to that.
But the potential solution, is that sometimes there are signs.
We may not be able to save the world.
But what if you saved just one life by seeing something and saying something?
Things experts tell everyday peeps like you or me to look out for are if: They’ve got bruises all over them, are ravenously bolting down airline food (the fact that anyone would eat airline food unless they crash land in the Andes and require it for survival should be a tip that they’ve been starved), or have barcodes tattooed on them (the dudes do this concentration camp style stamp to show property)… all’a these things are just a few possible red flags. I’d add if maybe they look strung out while their “boyfriend” looks healthy and kempt – since heroin dependency’s another way they keep a captive from trying to leave. So, yeah.
A tummy twinge of not-a-puppy-tale discomfort reading this.
But the hope comes in the form of being informed. I think that’s the takeaway we need for these kinds of stories. You and I aren’t assholes for not wanted to infect our consciousness with negativity. That is, not IF we think we can’t do our part to mitigate the situation. But when we can? Yeah, man. I’ll take the clickbait if you’re going to educate me on an actual multi-pointed solution I can read, store in my long-term memory, and draw up to the surface the next time I fly overseas with my special set of skills for killing child pimps with my bare hands. But for now, I’ll settle for special set of lenses – and not just for abductee spotting. Rather – ones that read every grim story like this trafficking one with the following outlook:
Okay. Now, that you’ve stirred my emotions – what’s the solution? How can I help?
That’s hard, ‘cause my feels get sucked in easily.
But I’ll try my hardest.
