Posted on 01/19/2007 9:24:31 AM PST by Free ThinkerNY
SHAME ON BOY'S FOLKS AND OPRAH
By LINDA STASI
January 19, 2007
YESTERDAY, the parents of Shawn Hornbeck did what any parent whose child had been held captive and suf fered hell on earth would do in this circumstance: They put him on TV to suffer further pain, shame and humiliation. On "Oprah" yet.
Yes, Pam and Craig Akers, Shawn's parents, who say they have not (yes, that's "not") asked him about his ordeal because it would be too painful right now, nonetheless had no problem dragging their traumatized child out before God and everyone to answer questions on national TV.
Well, let me rephrase that. They might have turned down a first interview with God if He'd asked, but who can say, "No," to Oprah?
This, mind you, occurred yesterday - less than a week after the boy's dramatic rescue.
At least Elizabeth Smart's smarmy parents waited a month and a half to drag her out to play the harp on "The John Walsh Show" like a little abused, emotionless Muppet.
Shawn, however, looked like he just wanted to die - maybe of shame, maybe of terror, or maybe just because after being held captive by a monster, a child knows when he's being exploited. And yesterday, he was - in the most legal, sanitized, huggy-feely, disgraceful way.
Hey, kid, get used to it - this is your 15 minutes and you better milk it for all it's worth. And if your folks are anything like the Smarmy Smarts, you, too, will be a TV movie before long. Now that's entertainment.
And while no one asked Shawn if he'd been sexually abused by The Monster, Oprah did, in fact, ask his parents, saying, "OK, I'm going to go there and ask you, what do you think happened?
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Gee , I Wonder what your thoughts are about the kidnapper Devlin who had kiddie porn on the computer ?
I'm sure you NEVER lost a leg searching for a missing child like Shawn's Dad DID !
I remain to send all the love I can to both of the boys....
Devlin deserves something of biblical proportion. (And I'm an old testament girl).
As I said, if the parents want to appear to discuss the situation, that's their choice. Bringing the child on stage under media scrutinty, that's just wrong. BTW - I do sympathize with their financial situation as I said in a much, much earlier post on this thread.
Well said, thank you.
You're assuming the man's insane. I suspect he is evil.
Exactly.
I might also add, that is the point where all the media (including Bill O'Reilly and his big mouth) should leave it -- crime, trial, punishment -- leave the kids out of it and cover the "what to do in the future to protect our kids" angle from a different perspective than knowing every intimate detail of the Elizabeth, Shawn and Ben's ordeal.
I am VERY sorry for the loss of your child. It's one thing in life I never want to experience.
I personally don't understand what the parents are doing either, but I wouldn't say that publicly. However, I don't know all the circumstances and these parents have done nothing else that would lead me to make the accusations I've been reading on FR about them. They've been going public for years to get him back and I think this is probably a way to give encouragement to other parents who were experiencing what they were up to a week ago. I think a lot of people make decisions that in retrospect they would do differently and this could be one of them. I don't know. But I don't question their motives. I was haunted by the message Shawn left on their website about how long they were going to look for their son. This needs to be a time of healing and this young man must be hearing and reading all this criticism of his parents. I don't think it's good for them or more importantly, him.
Allow me to disabuse you of your misreading of my remark. "behind bars" is an allusion to P-R-I-S-0-N. Either, or, or both if required.
As to the condition of his soul, not my call, and I humbly suggest it's not yours either -- his acts may be evil -- but I won't make the call on his soul.
Spot on! The children have suffered enough. I don't watch any of it for interest, information or entertainment. I can't imagine why people do. I makes me heartsick. I was thrilled the children were returned home and pray for them. My only interest is seeing their captors brought to justice.
My evil remark was a comment on his sanity. There is a dangerous assumption than sane people don't kill. I do not share this opinion. Sane, evil people perpetrate much evil.
Shamefull.
Just damn material.
Oprah would take a bath in the kids blood if it would make her another dime. Anyone that watches that woman on TV is ten bricks short of a load. Next I'll tell you what I really think.
I agree. St. Paul was a SOB, wasn't he? I'm glad I didn't have to make the call before he was knocked off his ass. I won't make the call -- above my paygrade. I will say all sin is evil, even mine -- unforgiveness. I struggle with it daily, and if I don't win the battle, I'll be joining Devlin if he can't turn the ship around.
My mom, judgemental as ever over appearances, commented on how 'tacky' Shawn's family looked. I said "Four years of a living hell will do things to a person."
Even she had to agree.
Poor kid.
The kid was not lucky in the parents he got.
I'm one who did. She gave me her private phone number to call if I changed my mind. The subject of her fat checks never even came up, though I'm sure they were.
Sometimes you have to relive horrors, but when you have a choice, there are better ways to spend your time.
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