Posted on 01/19/2007 11:39:44 AM PST by Halls
Shawn Hornbeck's parents say they may never know the full story as to why their son Shawn never attempted to contact them or to escape during the more than four years he lived with the man police say abducted him in 2002. But they said comments by Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly that the boy may have enjoyed living with Michael Devlin more than his family had infuriated the couple.
Shawn's stepfather, Craig Akers, said in an interview with TIME late Thursday evening. "Our son was 11 when he was abducted. A child that age can be mentally manipulated in a very short time. Hearing him say what he said absolutely infuriates me. I can hardly even express how mad it makes me to hear that."
(Excerpt) Read more at time.com ...
The pervert was just acting on his natural impulses. People are constantly trying to make excuses for their lack of discipline.
You can't possibly help getting pregnant or getting AIDS. Someone else must be to blame.
The blame the victim crowd should just give it a rest until the whole story comes out. He is obviously very happy to be reunited with his family.
I expect that a lot of people would have private questions. But that's waaay different, in this case when an abused young man is at stake, than asking these questions publicly.
I doubt it.
Of Course!/S
Agreed, the kid has enough challenges confronting him without his parents speculating about his ordeal in the media.
Shawn was molested and his parents believe he was. It is such a shame. He didn't try and get away out of intense fear. This man Devlin was the Devil and I feel people need to have a little compassion and quit saying bad things about Shawn or his family at this time. The last thing this boy needs is more hurt.
Tell that to the media that would have camped outside of his house until they could snap that horrible photo that the world is dying to see. Better to get out right away and let the media take all the pics they want and then go heal.
You can't do that with daily reminders sitting outside of your house.
AMEN!
Just shows how unintelligent he is. There are lots of muslim kids in the mideast who want to blow themselves up, but what do kids know?
Oops typo. meant to write "IS usually strong".
I had left on Fox while I did other things and happened to catch his "explantion.".of just asking questions like a reporter should..So Lame...I know why I don't tune in anymore.
Don't worry, Oprah will fix it.
BOR never thinks enough before he opens the pie hole. It probably never occured to him why women married to wife beaters stay. It always asked why they didn't just leave? They usually say they were told that themselves and their kids would be hunted down and killed. Maybe their family members threatened also. Fear can do a lot to the people who feel they have no power or resources. I can remember that story about the kid that escaped Jeffrey Dahmer, out on the street naked and terrified, the cops took him back to Dahmer who then later killed him.
Why do you think there are age of consent laws? A child is legally incapable of giving consent to ANYTHING.
Cordially,
"But they said comments by Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly that the boy may have enjoyed living with Michael Devlin more than his family had infuriated the couple."
So all the friends, playing with kids, bike riding, video games and such was a lie? Nobody's blaming the kid but it is not speculation that the kid seemed to at least have fun while missing.
And for what it's worth, if a comment like Bill's is all it takes to "lose your respect", I doubt your respect is of any value.
Kids in the worst of situations find ways to have fun. That does not negate the fact that this kid was held prisoner.
Read up on Steven Stayner. He actually was enrolled in schools.
There is a woman that was held by a man & his wife for years. At one point, they even took her to visit her family. They had her so under their control, she sat in the livingroom of her family's home and never told them what was happening.
You said:
Stupid for the parents to trot their son out on Oprah...regardless of whether the kid wanted to do it or not.
Of course, I don't know what I would do if in this situation. Pray to God I never have to find out.
However, I suggest that by allowing their son to talk in generalities to Oprah may help with one very HUGE problem, and that is the nuisance of the intrusive media.
By exposing their son to the best possible interview situation, it may cause the media to "back off" and allow the family some privacy. On the other hand, sometimes by guardine one's privacy, it only makes the press more determined than ever to get any tiny piece of information to the public.
I'm reminded of how Elvis Presley chose to hide and avoid the press -- on the advise of his manager -- to make the public PAY to see Elvis. The result, Elvis was forced to live a very unnatural life. Compare with how a singing idol from an earlier generation, Frank Sinatra, handled the media hype, which was every bit as fanatical as that surrounding Elvis. Mr. Sinatra decided early-on to make himself assessible by TV appearances, fund raisers, restaurants, etc., so that the press had some access to him, but at Mr. Sanatra's choice.
I can't help but think that this child's parents did this Oprah interview in an attempt to somewhat satisfy the natural curiosity of the public, with the hope that the press will leave the family alone in the future.
I am willing to give these parents a break and I certainly wish them well.
And stop watching BR if you're that irritated. But don't expect people to stop asking questions that may bother YOU.
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