To the livid women who were clearly upset by the (Parkway Tropics) advertisement (in the Nov. 15 issue of the GV Lanthorn), I just have a few questions for you to consider. First of all, what offends you about a legitimate business advertising its product to a host of potential clients? It’s within their rights to seek to expand their business by any means necessary, and it wasn’t hurting anyone. My second question is, what offends you about stripping? The strippers in question can’t be the source of your irritation, because I can guarantee that they are mostly students or young adults just like you or me (I know at least one) who are just trying to earn enough to go to school or feed themselves. Its not like the club managers lasso passing girls and force them to prance about on stage. These women made the choice to enter the business, which I understand pays quite well. And they can’t possibly be treated any worse than your average fast-food cashier (anyone who has worked in the monster that is the food industry will agree with me). The fact of the matter is its a lucrative decision, and I for one envy their rather enormous paychecks and fearlessness on stage. I can’t even do a class presentation without stammering and stuttering. I guess my point is, there really isn’t any reason for all of this commotion over the ad. The business is perfectly legitimate, the well-paid employees definitely don’t need a white knight to come save them, and while the idea of other women being brave enough to display their bodies to the public may offend you, it offends me that you think you can talk down to anyone who made the decision to support themselves and be independent. I for one applaud their courageous acts of self-reliance. The next time you wish to be “offended” by the choices made by your peers, just consider what it might be like if mommy and daddy stopped paying the bills. Why don’t you spend your time advocating something useful, like feeding the hungry or sheltering the poor, instead of coming to the defense of those who certainly don’t need it.

Jimmy Burger
GVSU student