Lorraine, good question. I actually have known a couple of strippers - one was just evicted a few doors down from me. And in every case, these were young women who had been abused - physically, emotionally, sexually - and had low self-esteem. It would seem that a woman who is brave (?) enough to stand in front of a crowd and get naked, or rent her body out, would need a great self-image. But I’ve found the opposite to be true. This speaks to the argument most people put up regarding prostitution: “As long as there are men who are willing to pay for it, there will be women willing to sell it.” To that I respond, “As long as there are women willing to rent their bodies for sex, there will be men willing to pay that rent.”

One of the great things about my Crackberry - I may mistakenly open a scam e-mail, but it can’t make my phone crash!

Read Nick Kristof’s commentary from yesterday’s New York Times regarding this very issue. Does it change any of your minds? http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/13/opinion/13kristof.html?em&ex=120564000…

I will always remember Princess Diana as a decent person and a wonderful mother. She was devoted to her boys in a way that is uncommon among royalty - and even among regular folks. I’ll never forget the video of her sons and their father appearing before the press for the first time after her death was announced. William was a bit more composed than little Harry. Charles kept murmuring to Harry, I could see that he was telling his red headed son to be strong, not to show so much emotion. It was heart breaking. Diana’s death made me change my reading habits. I stopped reading “People” magazine, or any other tabloid that feeds the public’s obsession with the lives of the rich and famous. She was a fine human being, and she is still missed.

Now I’m reading that Mr. Spitzer, the little weasel, is trying to avoid prosecution for portions of the charges against him. Specifically, he doesn’t want to be prosecuted for paying for sex. During his tenure as attorney general, the one thing he pushed for the most was firmer prosecution against public officials, less leniency based on your position of power. And now that he’s in the hot seat, he wants to back pedal.

I don’t know why he did what he did…..no one will ever know. One thing on which everyone can surely agree - it was stupid. He made a lot of enemies, and he zealously pursued and prosecuted others who were involved in prostitution. And why on earth did he use his friend George Fox’s name when he checked into hotels, without Mr. Fox’s knowledge or permission? There seems to be some type of psychosis at work here. Anyway, resigning is about the only good and admirable thing he’s done since this scandal came to light.

Wow! This topic really got a huge response! I stopped to think - really think: how do his wife and daughters feel right now? Forget Spitzer himself for just a moment. Imagine the pain and humiliation his stupidity and irresponsibility are causing the women in his life. God, I feel so sorry for them.

Thanks for sharing your conversations with us. I wish I had a great group of friends like you. I really do feel much more free to be myself, the older I get. I’m almost 42, and in a few months I will be all finished with child-rearing! So I will no longer be a single mom, I’ll be just plain single. I think about all the things I allowed men to put me through when I was younger, and I am so happy to now have the courage to say yes to what I want and no to what I don’t. I’m so excited, I just know my best years are ahead! Thanks again ladies for your wisdom and insight.

The only people who know the true state of their marriage are Silda and Eliot. I wouldn’t think less of her not matter which decision she makes. I have to agree with Ms. Marlo T. Eliot got himself into this mess, and if I were his wife, I certainly wouldn’t dignify his confession with my presence, whether I chose to work through this crisis or not. It’s so strange - scandals for Republicans tend to involve money and/or questionable practices within the public office they hold; scandals for Democrats tend to involve sex! Also, my first thought was, in Europe this would be about as scandalous as Bill Clinton and Ms. Lewinsky. However, this isn’t Europe, and in the course of Mr. Spitzer’s political career, he so zealously pursued and prosecuted those involved in prostitution - this is just too ironic. He must feel like such a fool. I hope he does, because he acted like one, and he certainly looks like one! I feel so much compassion for Silda.

The saddest thing is, although it’s not as open as it was back then, a lot of men in the work place still believe in a lot of the falsehoods and condescending stereotypes mentioned above.

I’ve been eagerly anticipating the launch of this site, and I’m so happy that you allow me to truly be a part of it. You go, girls!

Ms. Power worked her tail off for Obama’s campaign for more than a year. She says one irresponsible thing - a mistake, yes, but catastrophic…..hardly - and she’s forced to resign? The woman is a Pulitzer Prize winning author, clearly one of the sharper knives in the drawer. She’ll be fine. I wish her all the best.

1) Harriet Tubman 2) Susan B. Anthony 3) Mary McLeod Bethune 4) Amelia Earhart