SHAME ON BOY'S FOLKS AND OPRAH (Kidnapped boy Shawn Hornbeck on Oprah Winfrey Show)

nypost.com ^ | January 19, 2007 | LINDA STASI

[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?

[twigs]

I TOTALLY disagree. These people have dedicated the last four years in getting him home. In the process, they have helped the parents of a lot of other missing children. He just couldn't have done much better.

[twigs]

This family has neglected themselves to help others. Mr. Akers even lost a leg while out helping look for a missing girl. He realized, I think, that appearances are important and only took care of that this week. But only because he was criticized and wanted nothing to stand in his way of publicizing the importance of hope to parents of missing children. At least, that's what I think based on what I've heard about this couple.

[RobbyS]

Putting this boy on display is indefensible. They could have achieved their purpose by going on the show along. But Oprah's audience wanted to gape at him.

[Salvation]

Thanks for correcting my misinformation.

[NoExpectations]

Wow, I said the exact same thing to my daughter after we watched the show!! It was as if he had been programmed by the step-father to say certain things. I also thought the bit about him crossing himself every night and the fact that they are "good christians" was also a little weird. I've had 15 year old kids and they definitely don't say these things readily.