XXXXXX = Freedom in the US of A

It seems that American citizens must begin to reflect not only about the neighbor/enemy half-way across the world. They should also begin thinking about those neighbors next door--the ones with the slaves in their own homes.

There's a Swiftian irony at work here; something breaking thru the world of imagination and hurling its sadness onto the shows of unsuspecting bystanders. While the US spouts so many cliches about free markets and freedom thru the mouth of Bush, we can perhaps solve all kinds of problems using good old-fashioned Yankee ingenuity.

Consider the case of those middle-classers who have the expertise to hook up a camera and a microphone to the Internet. Then they troll the poor streets of of Mexico, the Phillipines, Russia, or some other equally clueless nation looking for a pretty young thang. Promise her a nanny job or maybe just a job, a meal, or something like the promise of freedom. (I mean that's what we are about, right?) You know how the story ends, doncha?

If you don't, here's Suffolk County DA Spota describing the wonderful entrepreneurial spirit of those true 'Mericans:

Spota described how law enforcement officials found several Mexican women held against their will in a Plainfield, N.J., house, and said he is "convinced that there are hundreds of similar homes in our communities."

On Long Island, most of the victims of human trafficking come from Mexico or Eastern Europe, Spota said. They come for a better life, but find slavery, he said.

I know, I am an evil old man, looking through the dirt pile when I should find the silver lining, the light at the end of the tunnel, pie in the sky, blah blah.

Call me an archeologist of self-deceit and the easy lie.

PS While you're at it, take a gander at the edifying story of the glittery duo living in one of the most exclusive spots in the US of A and how they simply asserted their God-given right to the pursuit of happiness.

PPS It might be somewhat fallacious, but I'd note the similarity of these domestic issues and a much overlooked fact of life under US occupation in Iraq: the healthy growth in sex trade.

You might also take a look at this article on Israel's role in the international sex trade.