Dumb jewels often in their secret kind

More than quick words

Do move a woman's mind.

— Shakespeare, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, III, 1

IN other words, don't bother to talk to some women if you want to move her mind and body, but just offer her jewels and watch them take effect. Is that the legacy of some women, to be won over simply by offering them jewels? Is that what some men think of women, that all they have to do is flash some cash and she will open up the portals of her pleasure?

Well, sadly (or happily for some men) both are true, for there are some women who will not give a man even the time of day unless some reward is in the offing. Did I say women? Let me get with the times, for men have sidled their way into the domain of what used to be the profession of women and are competing with them in what appears to be a lucrative market.

There is the law of supply and demand, and it doesn't matter what came first, the chicken or the egg; certain people either offer the supply and therefore create the demand, or they see the demand and fill the need.

Prostitution is said to be the world's oldest profession, but what is not given equal historical prominence is that the buyer of prostitutes is the world's oldest purchaser of goods and services.

But do prostitutes get a bum rap? They have been vilified, cursed, stoned, tarred and feathered, called vile names throughout history such as harlot, street walker, lady of the night... whore. Perhaps the worst name that you can call a woman is whore.

And yet they are here to stay and their numbers are growing, for the money is a great motivator. We'll find out more about prostitutes right after these responses to 'I stand accused'.

Tony,

As usual you're on spot. I'm making preparations to not only move out, but to end the current relationship I'm in, as I'm not supposed to speak/answer when he talks. I quote, "Woman must bow to man," do all the housework and be ready for sex eight days a week. And you got it right... he doesn't trust me, but he 'loves' me.' I'm not wasting my time in a dead end relationship. Please tell the women to listen to their intuition as it's usually correct... we know when it's not gonna work. Move on, as life wasn't meant to be travelled backwards.

"Accused"

Tony,

Regarding your footnote on the movie, Home Again, you are correct in your assessment. The Canadian-produced movie which was first screened at the Toronto Film Festival was shot in Trinidad after Jamaican red tape bungled it. The Trinidadian economy benefitted by about Can$102 million injected into local businesses and services which Jamaica could have gotten if shooting was allowed there. Some included airlines, hotels, taxi services, catering, car and house rental, drivers, trucks, camera equipment, dressmakers, hairdressers, local actors, power suppliers, supermarkets and much more. Also, 200 Canadian cast members flew in and spent three months in a Trinidad hotel where they booked 1,500 rooms. Nuff said.

Wickham, Ontario, Canada

This man sees a beautiful woman in a hotel lobby, boldly struts up to her and says, "Would you go to bed with me if I offered you a million dollars cash?" She looks at him and demurely replied, "A million US dollars, sure, I'd do that." The man then asked, "Would you go to bed with me for fifty dollars?" To which the woman angrily replied, "Certainly not, what do you take me for?" The man coolly replied, "Madam, we have established what you are, now we're simply haggling over the price."

That's an old joke, of course, but it does have more than a ring of truth to it. Women have been selling their bodies for centuries, and their price will vary depending on demand or desperation on their part. Naturally a young, pretty prostitute can demand a premium price, but an old, broken- down, over-the-hill streetwalker will have to take what she gets.

Prostitutes have always fascinated people, both men and women. Many men would love to experiment, but are afraid for various reasons. While there are women who will express words of condemnation, even as they secretly harbour a desire to be a call girl.

There have been countless stories and reports of supposedly decent upstanding women of the community who were secret whores by night. These newscasts have shocked the mainstream media and the sensibilities of many societies. "Say what, that nice, quiet, decent woman was operating a call girl ring for years?"

What is even more shocking is the clientele that visits these ladies of ill repute. "OMG, the governor, the mayor, the pastor, the politician who was legislating against prostitution... all in the client list black book." Nothing in the human condition ever shocks or surprises me anymore, especially when it comes to sex for sale.

The money that these prominent men will shell out for prostitutes is mind-boggling. Sums of US$4,000 per night in the USA are not unheard of. Plus the gifts that they shower on these ladies would rival the treasure chest of any sultan or emperor of days gone by.

Naturally, at the other end of the scale is the $50-ho', as reports have emerged in our local papers about streetwalkers accepting as little as $50 for their services. According to them, "Me will take it, for times hard and nutten nah gwaan." Like any business venture that is subject to market forces, even prostitutes suffer from economic fluctuations.

But prostitution is big business, or so many women wouldn't be in it. Many have put themselves through school, bought houses and cars, plus sent their children to college, all through prostitution. And don't think for a minute that it's only streetwalkers and ladies of the night who are prostitutes, either. 

You'd be surprised, shocked even, at who is making a living from this age-old profession that society tends to sweep under the carpet.

Patrick Brown's latest play, Ladies of the Night, examines the phenomenon of prostitution. I haven't seen it as yet, but I certainly plan to. I'm told it pokes fun at this ignoble profession, but behind the laughter, the tears usually trickle down.

Most of the documentaries that I've seen about prostitutes show women who would trade that lifestyle if they could find a better alternative. Many are troubled, tormented souls who dread each time they venture out into the night to peddle flesh. Some are robbed, beaten or even killed.

I was amused to see a report in our papers about this guy who bought a ho' but wanted a refund because he was too quick on the draw.

But even so, there are the high-end whores who don't like to be called that. They are escorts for distinguished gentlemen and provide a service filled with sophistication, banter, wit, and of course, sex with utmost discretion. They are call girls, and for them, the sweet money rolls from the high rollers. Many of these women are absolutely stunning, and that's why they demand and get a premium price.

I have friends right here in Jamaica who have spent many years of their lives buying prostitutes. They are married too, and 'respectable', so I know of what I speak. A friend of mine even bucked up a Jamaican girl he knew working the streets of Paris.

I remember the last time I was in Amsterdam and visited the famous Red Light District, just for a look- see, I saw the most beautiful women on display peddling their wares. Some were college -- educated. Prostitution is legal there, and the cases of sexually transmitted illnesses are extremely low as they are monitored and tested regularly.

Nowadays, our local streetwalkers are competing with the male prostitutes who have moved in on their territory. "Dem a tek way we bizness." What's alarming is the clientele that buys these man whores.

There is so much more to explore, but that's for the future. Don't skin up your nose, for there's a little bit of whoring in all of us. A million dollars US, for one night of sex... and no one would know. Think about it.

More time.

seido1@hotmail.com

Footnote: Everyone needs some quality time, a period of calm and quietude that takes us out of the rat race. Well, as simple as you take it, one of my pleasures is to visit Devon House with my wife and sit and have a patty and a cold drink from the Devon House bakery. This feeling is shared by many other people too, young and old, who either just walk around the grounds of this old historic oasis, buy some ice cream, or visit the bakery for patties and pastry.

It is a weekend pleasure that I really look forward to and it certainly gives true meaning of the term 'life's simple pleasures? Another is visiting Hope Gardens and just taking in the flowers and listening to the birds singing. In these harsh economic times, as the cliché goes, it doesn't cost too much to enjoy the simple things. 'A loaf of bread, a jug of wine and thou by my side,' is what the poets said. But a hot patty, a cold drink and thou, can be just as pleasurable.

This post was edited by Deleted Member at October 20, 2013 10:46:09 AM EDT