Jay Evensen
  • Front Page
  • Opinions
  • Second Thoughts
  • Portfolio
  • Awards
  • About

Zumba sex case not a minor crime

10/15/2012

8 Comments

 
Picture
A normal, non-prostitution Zumba class.
Should prostitution be considered a crime with equal severity to a speeding ticket?

You can’t spread disease by speeding. You aren’t likely to break up your marriage or enrich a pimp who exercises total control over his workers or even enable the drug habit of someone so desperate he or she has to work for sex. And you aren’t going to inadvertently aid the sex-slavery trade by going a few miles per hour over the limit.

Add to this the fact that speeding, except in the

most egregious cases, reveals you as someone who engages in behavior shared widely by many otherwise decent people who often have to go a bit faster than posted limits just to keep up with traffic. Buying a prostitute, on the other hand, reveals you as someone with an ethic that says it’s OK to pay money with the expectation of being able to use someone else’s body for your own gratification.

So when I read about people in Kennebunk, Maine arguing that it isn’t really that big of a deal for someone to buy a prostitute, and that the names of these customers should be kept quiet, I get a little confused. (Read accounts of this here and here.)

That sounds exactly like something a man would say if he was caught with one of these working women and he didn’t want the embarrassment and loss of reputation that would come from being found out. Too bad. Buying a prostitute is a disgusting crime.

The Kennebunk case involves a Zumba instructor accused of prostitution, and her client list, which is the source of great speculation in a small town. The Maine Supreme Judicial Court is expected to rule soon on whether the list should be made public.

A lot of cities publicize the names of suspected johns as a deterrent. Shame can be a powerful weapon, they believe.

This isn’t a novel approach. A judge once ordered a gang member to send me a letter to the editor explaining how sorry he was for his crimes. I didn’t publish it because I wasn’t convinced of its sincerity.

Years ago a judge in Wilkesboro, N.C., ordered a woman who had killed someone in a drunken-driving accident to perform a monthly humiliation ritual. She had to parade around the courthouse for an hour at a time with a sign reading, "I am a convicted drunk driver, and as a result I took a life."

More than decade ago, a judge in St. George, Utah ordered a 22-year-old man to post a sign outside his house announcing he was a convicted drug dealer. This was added onto a sentence of 36 months probation. His parents were so embarrassed by the sign that they kicked him out of their house.

Shame has some effect. But in Kennebunk, lawyers for some of the Zumba prostitution clients are arguing for keeping the list secret. Some people worry  the real victims of this shaming technique will be wives and children, who will be ostracized, teased or otherwise mistreated.

Even those whose names are on the list could see their businesses suffer for committing what the community considers a minor infraction.

I will admit that the shaming technique in Kennebunk has some drawbacks. For one, the names on the list have not been convicted of anything. It is conceivable a name might be there in error. But on the other hand, rumors have spread around town about certain names believed to be on the list. If the names are kept secret, innocent people may remain under suspicion by their neighbors.

Perhaps most importantly, police in Kennebunk routinely publish names in cases such as this. They shouldn't make exceptions now because the case has gotten a lot of attention and some prominent names may be exposed.

It’s easy to dismiss the hubbub as another case of puritanical Americans being fixated with sex. No doubt, there is something to that.

But it’s also true that society seems to feels this is a bigger crime than speeding. Maybe the law is out of whack, and buying a prostitute should carry a bigger penalty.
8 Comments
Dildos link
4/9/2013 08:14:58 pm

I really get fulfillment from the way in which you have published the particular material in this placing. I am pretty pleased within this details as well as you have designed it possible to carry that awesome.



























































































Reply
Uk criminal records link
5/12/2013 08:01:52 pm

The post is obviously incredibly examined and also arranged, along with becoming composed in sensible circumstances. Thanks a lot so much associated with interesting material rich information.

Reply
expats solicitors link
9/3/2013 02:52:36 pm

I was studying your content and considered if you had regarded developing an e-book on this topic. I read about people in Kennebunk, Maine arguing that it isn’t really that big of a deal for someone to buy a prostitute Your composing would sell it fast. You have a lot of composing skills.

Reply
escorts brisbane link
9/4/2013 06:56:47 pm

The story you have shared in your post are really awesome and I must say you have done a great job. I like your post and also want to appreciate you. Thanks for sharing.

Reply
john wright link
9/17/2013 09:58:36 pm

Maybe the better policy would be to really focus on the behavior that is coercive and leave the voluntary alone. Use of force to coerce or control a prostitute gets treated like the horrendous crime that it is

Reply
immigration asylum link
10/3/2013 09:53:08 pm

It is the most awesome material ever study on this world. Think what!!! These days for initially I study your material and in one taken I liked your material and the way you write














































































































































































































































































































































Reply
Last More Time in Bed link
10/7/2013 10:34:14 pm

I am impressed with the blog writer. The author really needs an appreciation. Amazing work. Keep it up.

Reply
political asylum lawyer link
10/8/2013 10:21:52 pm

Excellent information on your blog, thank you for taking the time to share with us. Amazing insight you have on this, it's nice to find a website that details so much information about different artists.















































































































































































































































































































































Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Search this site


    Like what you read here?

      Please subscribe below, and we'll let you know when there is a new opinion.

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Picture

    The author

    Jay Evensen is the Senior Editorial Columnist of the Deseret News. He has nearly 40 years experience as a reporter, editor and editorial writer in Oklahoma, New York City, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. He also has been an adjunct journalism professor at Brigham Young and Weber State universities.

    Archives

    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012

    Categories

    All
    Campaign 2012
    Congress
    Crime
    Culture
    Iran
    Oil And Gas
    Poverty
    Steroids
    Taxes
    Utah
    Washington
    World Events
    World Events

    Links

    Deseret News
    Newslink
    Marianne Evensen's blog

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.