Okay, I just have to say this, because it's really bothered me all day.
I was at work today and a regular customer came in. He was on his phone and made me wait to take his order, but that's not really a problem, because I should remember his order anyway ... it just adds to his character. So we get his latte ready and he makes sure that all three of the women on the floor are paying attention to what he's about to tell us, which is this:
There is apparently a new coffee shop chain in Seattle (and Vegas as well) where the baristas are in bikinis and the drive-thru offers a "full-view." Apparently the tips went from $70/day at an average coffee shop to $700/day. My favorite part was when he told us some of the women were "really falling out of their tops. You know, like when the underneath part starts to show." Yes, sir, I'm aware. And not surprised. My poor, like-minded, conservative Christian co-worker tried to have a rational conversation with him and said "well, I'm sure they're much more ..." looking for the word "particular," and the man pipes in with "voluptuous." Thank you, sir. Thank you very much. I thought I was priceless, but apparently not, apparently my body is worth $700/day, or maybe mine is only worth $70 because I don't work at that coffee shop. Because I wear long sleeves instead. Dear goodness. I see your lips moving, sir, but
what I'm hearing is "I'm a dirty old man."
Yes, it's true. This particular man was pretty scummy today. But he's only a symptom of a very very VERY big problem. Pornography, this whole mindset of lust, and the flesh ... this is a big deal. I wanted to say to this man "Sir, no woman wants to be paid for her body. She wants to be loved and desired, yes. But she doesn't want this job. That is not fulfilling. But, people pay to see them. That's why they do it. Because people like you will pay them. And they need money, and it gets attention. When you stop buying, they will stop selling themselves and find real Life. If you want to see a woman's body, get married." But at the same time, there is something terribly wrong to make this man think this way, that it's okay to look at a woman - a woman not his wife - that way, that it's fulfilling and acceptable.
I have heard so many sermons about pornography, and I've heard important people in my life talk about their own struggles with it. And I have my suspicions of how close to home it has also struck, but until today, something about it seemed very distant. We have a few creepy customers, and I've dealt with unsavory characters every now and again. That's nothing new, but something about the way this man spoke about this coffee shop, and these women. Like we were all going to drop out pitchers right that second and move to Seattle so we could show off our bodies and make $700/day...like he was doing us a service telling us about this shop ... and he was so proud of the founders of it, the women who worked there and himself for having heard of it. And all those truths I've heard over and over again ... they became a little more real.
On a happier note, I've decided what my approach for my novel that I'm writing in November is going to be. If you have any suggestions for paintings I should look into, any that you think might have really great stories hiding in them, please let me know. And if you want to write a novel ... www.nanowrimo.org ... hnwible ... be my writing buddy? Okay, awesome!
My Funny Valentine
Joshua Bell & Kristin Chenoweth
My funny valentine
Sweet comic valentine
You make me smile with my heart
Your looks are laughable
Unphotographable
Yet youre my favourite work of art
Is your figure less than greek
Is your mouth a little weak
When you open it to speak
Are you smart?
But dont change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little valentine stay
Each day is valentines day
Is your figure less than greek
Is your mouth a little weak
When you open it to speak
Are you smart?
But dont you change one hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little valentine stay
Each day is valentines day
2 comments:
Today I saw a calender advertised that was football wives showing their stuff in a similar way to those coffee shop girls. The ad said "For the love of football". It made me sick. For so many reasons, and you pretty much summed them up in what you said, so I won't go into that, but I wondered if there were a group of football wives that get together and make calenders of themselves, with their kids, and their dogs, and their husbands, and fireplaces... you get the picture. Wholesome. What happened to it?
I also am amazed at how mainstream pornography has become in such a short time. And I am saddened by how many people think it is healthy and normal. How can they not see how destructive it is to families, marriages, happiness, and self image? It's an evil. I wish "sex sells" had never been invented, because I'm getting tired of being bombarded by it. It doesn't "sell" for me.
And good luck with your writing endeavors! That's fantastic!
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