Landmark Ruling Legalizes Ontario Brothels

Prostitution has always been a contentious subject and the recent Ontario court ruling on the legalization of brothels- while maintaining that prostitution will remain illegal- has stirred quite a bit of controversy in the minds of Ontario citizens.

                Those who oppose this ruling call it the first steps down a slippery slopes. Legalizing brothels hardly demonstrates the government’s discouragement of prostitution and sexual services. By allowing such services to be safely performed, legally housed, regulated and paid, as well as overtly performed, we are lowering the tolerance bar for prostitution- a service which is injurious to the safety of the community- and decreasing the deterrent on prostitution. At a time when the economy is down, young university graduates with loans to pay are unemployed and jobs are scarce, sanctioning brothels doesn’t send young adults a positive message.

Brothels are businesses, and businesses aim to profit. By making these constitutions legally and commercially available, profiteers will no doubt try to increase the number of clienteles and workers the brothels host, fostering prostitution and increasing the attraction for sex traffickers and other possible forms of abuse. By reallocating these constitutions and grouping them together, we risk creating a dangerous community, where under legal names, illegal crimes are committed. Concentration of such spots has always attracted violence or abuse, and it is highly possible that these brothels, in juxtaposition to their purposes, will expose both working prostitutes and the surrounding community to different perils.

It is now quite evident that I oppose this ruling. By opening the door to brothels, we let in more than what was predicted- this drastic decision will alter more conditions than what we intend. While it is important to protect the safety and livelihood of all citizens, regardless of their occupation, the nation must not do so by means of condoning a socially detrimental market of service. Safety hazards involved with prostitution must be addressed and resolved by a specific, long term plan, not by compromising legal restraints on the service itself. 

Albino Rhinos

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/03/26/bc-albinism-menu-complaint.html

It’s a sad, sad day when one sees a restaurant being hassled over the use of the word “Albino” in its menu. Popular chain restaurant Earl’s has had a human rights complaint filed against them in recent times over this issue. The complaint claims that it is discriminatory and insensitive towards people who have this genetic disorder to use the term in menu items.

Personally, I find this absurd. Unlike other disorders which may affect the physical or mental capability of a person, Albinism is a purely cosmetic defect. It is unfair to compare it to disorders such as Cerebral Palsy which handicap a person and are often regarded upon with a negative light. We don’t see people complaining about foods such as “black licorice” claiming it to be insensitive towards America’s history of racial prejudice. Nor do people gripe at “white wine” for promoting white supremacy. People realise when looking at these foods that they are not a jab at a particular race, but rather for descriptive purposes. Or in this case, a marketing scheme designed to grab customers’ attention. In the Words of Mark Barry, VP of human resources at Earls "The name was chosen because it was fun and whimsical in sound and denoted something rare and special – we felt proud to have such a beautiful animal, the white rhino, representing our brand."

It is understandable why complaint filer Ikponwosa Ero may find Albinism to be a sensitive topic to her given her country’s heritage. But I find it unreasonable for her to impose her personal beliefs onto the restaurant, masquerading it as an issue of human rights. Of the 25 years Earls has used this naming, she is neither the only Nigerian to sit down at this restaurant, nor the only person who knows someone who has Albinism. If Albinos themselves do not find the usage a problem, why should we?