To clarify, she said that in the context of someone who has gone through a difficult life and survived it. Here is the complete quote:
I can sit here now, and knowingly tell you that life’s hard sometimes. But, I made it. I’m still here and I love who I am. If I never went through the hard times, I would not be able to appreciate the good ones. Cliché, yes, but I know it’s true. I have experienced just how hard it can be.
(Emphasis mine)
I don't think she enjoyed being a prostitute. We have an entire forum dedicated to survivors of the sex industry here. I have known strippers and not one of them was enjoying what they were doing. I don't think anyone can be truly happy living a life so contrary to God's plan (look at the beginning of Matthew 19): To marry and have sex with only one person for all of one's life.
My comments on the history of other people who have done the same thing and become famous is not me condoning her activities. I feel what she did was not right; "sin" is one word for it. I don't like calling other people sinners because of the beginning of Matthew 7.
What I was saying is, despite the fact she has made this error, she can come out of it a better person, possibly even a famous person. You really ought to listen to her music; she has a lot of musical talent.
- Sam
I hope she comes out of it a better person, but I really don't like the "Ashley is a victim," picture being painted for her.
This is not "something in her past," in the sense that "years ago she made a mistake." Exactly one month from today, on February 13, she met a married man in a hotel room for the express purpose of exchanging sex for money.
She is a 22 year old adult who is responsible for her choices.
Nor is she the typical "run away who ends up on the street at the mercy of a pimp." She accepted $4,300 in exchange for one night of sex, in a hotel that most people could never afford to spend a single night in. Do you have any idea how long many, many hard working, honest women work to earn $4,300? Records show that the Governor spent over $80,000 on various sex sessions, so the "poor Ashley" image just doesn't fly with me, nor does comparing her to the "poor hooker down in the street." The average stripper doesn't get that kind of money.
She describes herself as "on top of the world," in her blog. She also writes that "I love my life," but at the time she is writing the life she is living IS as a high priced call girl. So, it does not exactly equate to, "She is so glad she isn't a prostitute anymore," and by default, it DOES mean, "I'm glad I am one."
Yes, she left home young. She says she had an abusive background. Her brother would not confirm that, nor would her mother. Oprah Winfrey had an abusive childhood, she isn't breaking up marriages. So did millions of other women who did not choose to become professional call girls, and if someone wants to say, "Nothing is wrong with prostitution," they are entitled to their opinion, but if someone tells me that the media is being unfair to her, or that she shouldn't be called a the legal terms for what she does for a living, I have a problem with it.
Spitzer is suffering.
Spitzer's wife and children are suffering.
Ashley/Kristen
is not suffering, she is being rewarded for all of this.
Even you want to encourage people to listen to her music! Had you ever heard of her music before this?
She gets the kind of publicity that only the top movie stars can afford to purchase - for free. Every article I have read about her since her name was revealed has stressed that she is a musician seeking a musical career. I did a web search for her name, and came up with links to news articles that contained links to her music, links from boards where people are asking where they can buy or hear her music, the Los Angeles times lists the titles of her music.
Another article says that she also markets herself on modeling and acting sites.
One article about her actually says, "In other interesting Ashley Dupre news, being outed as part of a prostitution has given an
unexpected boost to the aspiring singer’s music career."
There are probably girls out there going, "Wow, I should try this!"
In everything I've read I have yet to see one hint that she is the least bit sorry for breaking up a marriage or destroying a career. The closest I have seen to regrets is when someone interviewed her mother who said she had no idea her daughter was a hooker until her daughter called and said, "I think I have a legal problem."
So, I have no problem with calling her what she is. As to, "You ought to listen to her music!"
No, no thank you.
I have a cousin who runs his own professional music studio in Nashville. His wife is a famous singer who did the old fashioned way without being paid for sex. She sings with the Christian group Sierra. She didn't break up any marriages getting her career launched. I'll keep giving my money to women like her.
on the Recommendations page had me LOL
