One of those "feel good" kind of things

This past week has been very difficult for me, as I am being reminded that, sometimes, the world is a horrible place and that many unexpected and tragic things happen for no apparent reason. Questions remain unanswered and, in turn, creates anger, sadness, and resentment.

So, I decided that it was time for a "feel good" post. Feel good posts, to me, are those in which kind of make the world seem like it's not really as bad as you're making it out to be; this is basically the rainbow after the rainstorm. I'm attempting to be a rainbow. Just go with it.

This feel good post goes out to Jewel Woods, who is "an author and gender analyst whose views on men and boys in American society have been featured on TV, national news, and radio talk programs." He's the author of the book, "Don't Blame It On Rio: The Real Deal Behind Why Men Go to Brazil for Sex," which is a response to an article written in Essence Magazine that originally brought this issue to light.

On his website,through Jewel's blog, I found an entry titled "10 Things Men and Boys Can Do to Stop Human Trafficking," which I found very straightforward, and honestly, hopeful. Hopeful meaning that it's about time men address other men on how to prevent issues that are relevant to the overall quality of life regarding all women around the world.

Woods, in his entry, goes on to explain that "human trafficking is modern day slavery," and offers ten recommendations that men and boys can do to aid in the end of trafficking around the world:

1. Challenge the glamorization of pimps in our society
2. Confront the belief that prostitution is a "victimless crime"
3. Stop patronizing strip clubs
4. Don't consume pornography
5. Tackle male chauvinism and sexism online
6. End sex tourism
7. Talk to men and boys about men's issues in male spaces
8. Support anti-human-trafficking policies
9. Support creation of "John Schools"
10. Raise sons and mentor boys to challenge oppression

To read the detailed version, which I highly suggest, please click here. Woods is definitely working in the right direction in educating men and boys about issues that actually matter. I hope this made you all warm and hopeful, like it did me.