[BonneBlue]

"During Ben and Shawn's healing process, Clint says it's imperative not to ask one simple question. "What we don't want to do is say, 'Why?' Why didn't you call? Why didn't you pick up the phone?" Clint says. "Because he was traumatized. Because he was frightened. Because he was in a survival mode. There are emotional handcuffs. There are psychological prisons we can be in without bars." Clint also says to give these boys time. "We need to give these two kids some slack and let them have time to find themselves," Clint says. "Let them create new memories."

Wow, this is good. I guess Oprah did ask Shawn privately why he did not call his parents. It seems to me this question would cause shame and guilt in the victim which is the last thing one should do.

[MOgirl]

Hello,

Dealing with the reaction of some (thankfully, not many) here in Fenton and Sunset Hills has been so hard. Some have already decided that the child WANTED to stay with Devlin, as he "could" have gotten help and didn't.

I am sick about this. Just this morning a woman told me that "...of course, we don't know what Shawn's home life was like, I mean, it's obvious that the parents were on meth, maybe he decided it was better with the kidnapper." I kid you not. I verbally ripped into her, and suggested that she give the CHILD the benefit of the doubt until the facts are known. Also, the actions of this family since Shawn was taken are NOT those of drug addicts. Do people just make this crap up? My God, what is wrong with some people?????? MOgirl

[ruthles]

To be honest, I thought Oprah was insensitive and emotionally distant. I had hoped she would have taken that opportunity to celebrate with him how loved he is at home and around the world. I would have told him that people may say and do insensitive things because nobody has ever even come close to being in his shoes for almost 5 years. I would have reminded him that there are many and plenty of people he can turn to when he needs an ear to listen, including her show. And I would've scholarshipped him with a trip to Hawaii. MOST OF ALL I WOULD'VE CONSOLED HIM FOR HAVING BEEN HELD EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY CAPTIVE AND UNABLE TO SCREAM FOR HELP. I WISH SHAWN HAD HEARD WHAT THE PSYCHOLOGIST SAID. IT WOULD HAVE HELPED HIM FEEL LIKE LESS OF AN IDIOT.