Is the cost of your 20 dollar foot massage much more?

I went today to treat myself to a foot massage in the valley. I'm not going to reveal the exact location at the advice of an organization I'm now in touch with who is looking into it. More on that perhaps later. This was my third visit to this location and each time the manager at the front has given me the creeps. He's a scraggly white man who looks like he's a shady life and you can see it in his eyes. It's like you can't even see his soul...that kind. I walked in this morning, to notice another man across from him and they told me to a wait a minute. I was ushered into a room with 4 chairs and a young woman started to work on my hour long massage. 

These massages are called "foot massages" but they are actually wonderful full body massages. 

My massage was very nice and relaxing. She was sweet, respectful, and spoke no english at all. 

When I walked out she said "you like my services?" I said, "yes, very much. thank you."

She followed me and stood waiting for a tip. I rummaged in my purse for the gift certificate I had been given. I gave it to the shady man at the desk and then opened my wallet and found four 1 dollar bills and handed them to the girl. She remained standing there.

THe man behind the desk looked at his buddy who was equally scary looking and said "you should try her. She's new. We just brought her here."

THe man said "how much did you give her?"

I said "four dollars"

He said "Well, if you liked her services, you should give her more. She works on tips alone."

I said, "then where does the 25 dollars go?"

He said, "she works for tips". 

I started to get angry. I said "sir, in our country we pay people a minimum wage. Is this what you're doing bringing people from China to use them as slaves?!"

He said "Yes, yes, minimum wage. It's just good you pay her more because she only works for tips. Sure, sure, that's what I'm doing...managing slaves."

I said "are you the owner?"

He said "i am the manager"

I said "what you are doing is illegal, terrible, and I will be reporting you and will never return. Are you comfortable with yourself managing chinese slaves?"

I said this as a customer walked in. I wanted him to hear me say this so he would know too. 

THe man behind the desk just said "thank you very much, thank you very much" in repetition to get me out of the shop.

I looked around the place, and I just got more and more angry. 

It felt dark and evil, and I hadn't wanted to believe my intuition was correct because the prospect of a 20 dollar 1 hour massage sounded like a great new routine for me. Convenient, affordable, relaxing. It can't be these things if it means we are contributing to the treatment of immigrants. Whether legal or illegal, we each should treat every human being with dignity. 

I closed the door firmly and walked out to my car thinking of who I knew and who I would contact today that is involved in investigative reporting. I know the issues are complex but I think the first thing we need to do is expose these horrible practices that many of us are not aware of. 

I thought inside, "this is righteous anger. I will not be able to ignore this."

So, I tell you this story to tell you to be very careful when you consider the things you do and pay for.

 Ignorance does not make you innocent. 

I will keep you updated as I pursue this thing that has been revealed to me. 

I came home and saw a flier on my table that said "christians concerned for Burma" and I thought, yes, yes...I am concerned for Burma and now...I am concerned for Ventura Blvd.

Human trafficking is something we hear a lot about, or not a lot about, depending on what you're reading or listening to I suppose. I just have always wondered "where is it? I don't see it?"

Perhaps this is the day my eyes are opened.  

I found this article worth reading

Comments

[Gretchen]

So, where exactly is this massage place?? That is so horrible! I'm wondering if I have been to the same one?

[Andy]

I can't wait to find out if they get shut down!!

[Ilona]

I'm thinking this is the season for righteous anger. How much do we love our neighbor? What are we willing to give, say, or do to uphold the rights of those oppressed in our very midst?