Today, over 100 million people will clamor around televisions to watch the Super Bowl.
It is the most watched program on television every year, and as ChurchMag explores the intersection of Church and technology, this cannot be overlooked. Never in human history can so many experience the same event, at the same time. Through television, radio and the World Wide Web, the Super Bowl is followed throughout the world.
With that kind of attention, comes big bucks from advertisers and sponsors, who go to great lengths to capitalize on all of this attention. So much so, there are those that watch the Super Bowl, just for the ads.
However, none of these things are really a reason to hate the Super Bowl.
The Dark Side of Super Bowl Sunday
While everyone’s eyes are on the field, evil triumphs with a sinister sleight of hand; the Super Bowl has become the largest sex trafficking event in the United States.
Large sporting events like the Super Bowl are prime targets for sex traffickers because of the high demand generated by thousands of men pouring into an area for a weekend of fun. The 2010 Super Bowl saw an estimated 10,000 sex workers brought into Miami. Despite efforts to crack down on sex trafficking at the 2011 Super Bowl in Dallas, there was still a tremendous number of women and children sexually exploited.
Thankfully, the State of Indiana has taken notice and has done all they can to crackdown:
Indiana rushed a bill through state legislature to ramp up penalties for sex traffickers two weeks ago. Hundreds of cab drivers have been trained to know whether or not they are hauling a prostitute, pimp or john. Catholic nuns have even been making phone calls to all the hotels and motels within a 50-mile radius of Indianapolis to make sure the management knows how to spot trafficking.
Who are these people?
According to Theresa Flores, a victim of trafficking for two years as a teenager living in Detroit, says:
“You have traffickers that are businessmen and looking for this opportunity and exploiting vulnerable people. So they will be bringing in literally vans full of girls who work. They’ll be putting their pictures up on Backpage and Craigslist, and offering them for sale. They’ll be going to area motels to service these men.”
So sick. So wrong.
Knowing that this is going on around the event of the Super Bowl, has personally put a damper on Sunday’s fun. Almost to the point of hating it.
Of course, it isn’t the Super Bowl we must hate. It is this sin. It is the victimization that we must hate.
It’s sad that millions will be spent on a 30sec ad for the Super Bowl, while only a fraction of that is invested in rescuing, rehabilitating and preventing human sex trafficking.
Will you do something to stop it?
[via Resurgence & Finding Justice]
bryonm says
This is something your don’t usually think about. I’m glad you posted this.
Eric Dye says
Thanks for reading!
adam says
So what exactly is your problem with the Superbowl? There are more people trafficked in the third world than any two Superbowls put together? So why pick this one event to post something like this?
Eric Dye says
There is nothing wrong with the Super Bowl, it’s the sex trafficking I have a problem with, no matter what country it’s happening in.
Mary Kay Radnich says
I could not watch the Super Bowl, because of the link to sex trafficking, which I learned about this week, listening to Chris Fabry Live! on the radio. It just makes me sick.
Eric Dye says
Sick, indeed.
Be sure to take the passion your feel and direct it towards some action!
Jordan says
Now I know that you referenced the resurgence at the bottom of your article, but seriously your entire article was the resurgence one. With your intro. And lots of copy and paste. Maybe you could have included a mention of the original article and. It make it look like you came up with this on your own.
Eric Dye says
It’s important to spread awareness.
Jordan Hollins says
My point isn’t awareness, I’m glad you posted this. It’s just that if I hadn’t already read the original resurrgance article I could have thought that this was your own work.
John Saddington says
i’m glad you got the “point” of the article – that is, sex trafficking awareness… … … oh wait, my bad.
Ryan says
Eric,
I’ll be honest your provoking title had me wondering where you were going. At first I thought it might just be another bash against capitalism, or maybe a stab against the idolatry of the game (http://skitguys.com/videos/item/idol-worship) that was discussed at my church this weekend. Nope, you took me by surprise. I had no idea that this was even a reality. I had no idea that this was such a magnet for secret sins. I wonder what these men feel like when they go back to their homes, wives, and families after they have sinned in this way. I can’t even begin to imagine what these poor women must be facing. Thanks for making us aware of this.
Eric Dye says
I wonder the same thing, Ryan. Thank you for your support 🙂
Marcus says
It’s not the superbowl’s fault. It’s the large number of people gathered for any event of its kind which is why they’re drawn in. Otherwise they’re being trafficked in their local areas. Still terrible & deplorable, but they conglomerate in one area b/c of the numbers of people there. So the superbowl merely brings a concentrated form of what’s normally being spread out.
It’s the industry that deserves to be vilified and not the event (not that you did). It has no bearing to me on watching the game but being aware of what’s going on is important and it was highlighted much more this year.
Marcus says
Just one other thought is how much of this is deviants on both sides looking for super large gatherings simply b/c they can blend in and know police are too busy to keep up with everything going on? They’re not even there for the superbowl but taking advantage of a time & place they can get away with it?
Eric Dye says
You’re right about the “party” atmosphere, but one of the biggest draws for sex trafficking at the Super Bowl is the big money.
thyrkas says
Our prayer gathering talked and prayed about this problem on Friday, feeling particularly sad because some young women known to us have been exploited by this hateful industry. The SB is not the cause of this problem – our sinful nature is the cause; sexploitation happens day in and day out.
Wouldn’t it be great if some creative group could come up with an ad to be used during the SB which would be directed toward those who are victims of sex trafficking? How about a twitter barage? Or a well orchestrated fb presence? Or all of the above? Perhaps it might be a “We are here to help you. Call us.” ad. One phone number connected to various churches and resources ready to respond.