See, this is what is driving me nuts. You folks accusing us who dare speculate on the possibility that poor Elizabeth ran away (same people who pilloried Ricci with no hard facts, ahem) don't seem to get the fact that, if we care about anything, we care about Elizabeth. I want the girl to have as much of a normal life as she can, given what she's been through -- runaway or kidnapping (and of COURSE I don't know for sure!). Watching a TV-movie about yourself is not a normal life. If, indeed, the Smarts are hiring a lawyer so as to make sure the TV movie doesn't traumatize her, okay...I'd rather they make sure NO TV movie gets made, but okay...if they donate all the money they make from the movie/book deals to a children's charity, okay...but show me the proof of *that*. What proof do you have that these people are saints other than the fact that they're well-dressed, relatively well-spoken, affluent, and happen to belong to the same denomination as you? After all, even Laci Peterson's family supported SCOTT Peterson because he was "such a nice guy" -- until they learned that nice on the surface doesn't necessarily mean nice inside.
We ALL want Elizabeth to be okay. We are ALL happy she's home safely. However, some of us are concerned that the girl is now being exploited by her own parents. Some of us are concerned that, perhaps -- *no*, we don't *know*, but we're suspicious -- the Smarts manipulated the media for their own ends. Some of us think that there are signs that LE downgraded this to a runaway case. Now that, we have some proof of, and it's in this thread. Either they were sloppy or they downgraded the case, take your pick.
So we're suspicious. Sue us. We've been flamed over and over by you guys, and we've responded with restraint and as much good manners as possible in the face of mindless invective that is thrown at us.
And what we care about is Elizabeth Smart having a normal life. Maybe some peace and quiet. To insinuate otherwise -- those comments painting us all as some sort of perverted Ritters drooling over 14 year old girls, for example -- is reprehensible, to say the least. It leads me to wonder WHY you are protesting so violently, when we have repeatedly said that we the only thing we are concerned about is the well-being of Elizabeth.
Is it that the only thing *you're* concerned about is the well-being of the PARENTS? OVER the well-being of Elizabeth? Now *that* is wrong. I don't think you *do* think that, but I can't offer any other reason as to why you are so quick to attack those who find the parents' story suspect.
And you wonder why people would wonder if you're a liberal -- it's the complete intolerance of ANY other view than your own! A liberal tradition, and one you're carrying on with great fervor...right here.
If anything, I applaud your spirited defense of Elizabeth, but I just wish you wouldn't jump down the throats of myself and others who have some lingering and problematic questions about this story...I mean, you must realize that your name-calling and knee-jerk reactions are detrimental to the position you are trying to espouse -- it makes it looks like you DO know something we don't, and you're very anxious for us to not find out about it.
I absolutely respect your right to dissent with everything I, and others, say in regards to doubts about this case. I only wish I could impress upon you the importance of being a bit more reasonable in your posts so we could listen to your point of view without having to recoil from potty-mouthed insults.
Thank you for listening...I hope.