Talk about shooting the messenger.
Yesterday, The Citizen ran a story about a noble initiative: getting drug-addicted prostitutes off the street and into better, more self-sufficient and self-respecting -- not to mention safer -- lives.
What could be wrong with that?
Plenty, according to a few forceful, possibly guilt-ridden and certainly misguided folks.
Apparently trying to save girls from suffering a street life no one would wish on anyone's daughter amounts to accusing their mothers of pushing them onto those streets.
This conclusion was reached by more than one reader when a volunteer with Making Ourselves Matter Services Society (MOMSS) was quoted as saying: "... we all need to look at people [prostitutes] and realize that could be you. How come it's not? Because you're blessed to have a good mom."
Does it mean all prostitutes have bad moms? Of course not. Does it mean all successful peoples have good moms? No.
Just as the expression "If not for the grace of God go I" does not mean a creative force has it out for those living in dumpsters.
It means show gratitude for what you have and empathy -- even possibly a little kindness -- for those who are suffering. And you can be sure streetwalking sex trade workers are suffering, and yes, so are most of their mothers.
So who are the people reading such sinister connotations into the comments?
And where does that leap come from? Most likely, it's guilt.
It's no secret that for most women who have borne a child, being a mom is like being sentenced to a life of guilt. Women -- the good ones especially -- feel they can't do enough to ensure their child is fit to go forth into the world safely and successfully. And mothers carry the weight of their child's failure in unimaginable ways.
Now imagine being the mother who knows her daughter is standing out in the cold hoping the next john doesn't beat her or worse, wanting drugs so badly she's willing to put every ounce of self-respect and dignity aside, going out and possibly never returning from the depths she's gone to feed her own and someone else's addiction.
That's a very, very raw wound. And you can bet anything remotely resembling salt will be recoiled from, attacked, pilloried without any rational thought.
That's what certain readers have done. Are they mothers of addicts? Who knows -- but the story certainly seemed to touch something deep and wounded.
But your anger is misdirected.
Instead of supporting individuals intent on helping these girls -- and, in so doing, many a long-suffering mother -- you attack a heartfelt volunteer for, at worst, misspeaking.
Is it any wonder we have such a hard time healing the sickness we see on our streets?
The MOMSS organizers intend to honour their own mothers for instilling self-confidence and self-respect into themselves, and they want to pass that unconditional love along.
If you're the mother of an addict, be grateful for this organization. If you're on the streets, you're welcome to MOMSS.
And if you're neither, show your support for MOMSS -- they need it right now. Go to www.momss.ca.
