Posted on 01/24/2007 8:24:19 AM PST by Halls
CHESTERFIELD, Mo. - Shawn Hornbeck's parents hope "to step out of the spotlight" to focus on their abducted son's healing now that he has returned home.
That plan to take a lower profile was announced Tuesday during a news conference, as a suburban St. Louis homebuilder detailed plans to build a new house for Shawn and his parents, Craig and Pam Akers. The home will include office space for the Shawn Hornbeck Foundation, which Shawn's parents began as a means to aid in the search for missing kids soon after Shawn disappeared in 2002.
(Excerpt) Read more at belleville.com ...
"Strong and bitter words indicate a weak cause."
his real father is dead since 1999 or 2000, and was out of Shawn's life since he was 6 months old.
What I was questioning was having the boys exposed to the media so soon after their ordeal. However, that was at the parent's discretion, and if they thought having their children exposed to the media, then who am I to question, I guess?
I do think the parents should be out there, to bring attention to their cause.
As far as your reply about being greedy....here is my answer. Again, I repeat...
I believe what most people are upset with is... the money the Akers may make from this. Never mind that Pam Aker has suffered tremendously with her young 5th grader being snatched away for 4 yrs. Her beauty gone off her face from the grief she has suffered. Never mind that they went thru their life savings to search for him. Never mind that they went thru their retirement fund to find him. Never mind that they have spent the last 4 yrs helping other parents find their missing children, or helped in search and rescue of all sorts. Never mind that Shawns step dad lost a leg while searching for another parents missing child up in Canada. Never mind the sleepless nights, the grief, the heartache. It all boils down to one thing. How much money are these people going to get.
Shawn's family was involved in helping many missing childrens groups & keeping the focus on Shawn too...
Remembering An Angel
Monday, October 6th 2003
Richwoods Lions Club (Hwy A in Richwoods)
6:00 pm til ???
Come join Shawn's family and friends for an evening of prayer, music and song in rememberance of Shawn and his disappearance one year ago. A candlelight vigil is also planned to light Shawn's way home.
Special guests include Pastor Judy Owens Jeffrey of Mount Olive United Methodist Church, Pastor David Godat of Book of Acts United Methodist Church, Father Liss of St. Stephen's Catholic Church and possibly the Richwoods R-7 School Choir.
You can also view a large display of Shawn's photographs that have been assembled, as well as the autographed league winning Astros jersey presented to Shawn by his teammates.
Coffee and Hot Chocolate will be available, as will limited edition one year remembrance buttons featuring Shawn.
shawnhornbeck.com
ALSO A MOTORCYCLE POKER RUN
Event: Poker run - "Riding With An Angel"
Date: 10/05/03
Time: 11:00 - 5:00
Location: Starting point Walmart in House Springs
brie 10/06/03 at 07:12 AM
I know it is embarassing how people have degraded the family. I have not seen near as many disparaging words on other forums.
If they got money, they deserve every cent in my opinion.
I think a lot of people let them down
People seem to be stuck on Oprah. Kind of slow to think of something new to criticize the Akers about I reckon
oh Fox reports that because he is scared to talk to his momma that will help his case.
They are making him out like the poor little kid who spilled the milk.
It reminds me of the adoration of Bill Clinton
In the Dummie eyes he could do no wrong .....
The Dummies are heartbroken about the presidental term limits , they would elect him again ASAP !
No outrage towards Evil Devlin but plenty towards Shawn & his family
"Given what this child has been through the past 4 years, I have no idea why his parents would leave this kind of decision in his hands. Not at all wise, from what I can see." I don't know what I would have done in that situation. But it may have been cathartic for him. Besides, maybe they felt that a public discussion is healthy so that he not feel ashamed. He did nothing wrong. We often see kids who survived shark attacks, etc., interviewed right from the hospital bed. If we decide to shield a child from interviews because of the sexual abuse, does that validate the shame in the child's eyes? Who better to discuss it with, from a media standpoint, that someone who endured a similar fate?
"But if they truly want to be out of the limelight, the best thing to do is just ignore all the media requests for interviews. Walk right past the reporters in your yard they are aren't there. As long as they keep making any kind of statement, it's going to 'feed the lion.'" Maybe you can't tell from the way things were rolled out, but everything was done in 1 or 2 days. They crammed all the interviews in at one time -- with the condition that none be released before Oprah's -- and then they were done with it. That seems like a wise compromise to me. That was the whole idea -- to get it all out in one wad and then be done with it. Oprah wasn't the kick-off - it was the alpha and the omega. Anything you've seen subsequently was taped.
"I think the speculation is fueled by them giving attention to the media. If they had quietly taken their son home and ignored the media, there'd be little to no speculation because there would be nothing to speculate about." That simply isn't true. There has been speculation from the very beginning. I can point you to one of my very first posts on FR where I predicted they would start bashing Shawn like they did ELizabeth Smart and, sure enough, the garbage started long before they went on Oprah. You know very well that if they had refused all interviews and refused to let Shawn be seen, people would be saying that confirmed that he ran away or chose to stay with Devlin.
"What specifically did they do that could have helped other missing children?" Well, I don't recall everything that was said on Oprah or if I'm mixing it up with other press conferences, but Akers does advise parents on what to do and what not to do with kids. You know -- buddy system when they're outside, don't leave a kid in the car. (And, honestly, before this I didn't think I had to worry about leaving a 13-year-old in a car, while I ran in to pick up a pizza!) He also talks about how important it is to be aware, to take the time to pay attention to the face on the milk carton etc. And I think he may have plugged 1-800-THE LOST, the Shawn Hornbeck foundation and other organizations that assist in the search of missing kids.
I know. And this stuff lives on forever. Just wait until the next time a "freep" is in the dominant media. They'll paint all freepers as heartless by pointing to this.
Anything to bash Shawn & his family seems to be in vogue today .
I really think All this HATE will make other sexual vICTIMS Silent & Keeping the Suffering to themselves !
I hope I'm not lumped into that group. All I said is that, if it were my child, I would not subject them to a press conference or media appearances, after what they've been through.
I think it's great that the family member would be "out there" for all the press, and the subsequent talk shows, to bring attention to missing children. I just don't think the children should be exposed to that media attention, after the hell they have been through.
Just my opinion. Does anyone else agree with me?
What? You aren't a perfect parent? You're not an Uber Freeper? They're perfect parents at all times!
YOUR worship of a fat, overpaid, relationship phobic, excuser for all kinds lax behavior is disgusting.
Here in Nevada we have one of the highest populations of sex and child offenders in the country. How many I have taken off the streets is none of your business. IF there is a god she knows and I think she approves since I am able to control my weight, have been in a committed relationship of marriage for over 25 years and do not abide (excuse) poor behavior from anyone. As far as the fat pig being a "victim" of anything - get over it you are an adult.
Stop feeling and start thinking. Do you know where your kids are? Oh and what are they doing? I know exactly where both my adult offspring are at this moment and they don't mind. I am jealous of no human and hold my head high where ever I go.
I am not lumping in the lump Lisa. Putting myself in their place, I am not sure if they thought the decision thru thoroughly. To them, their beloved young son, for who even though they will probably not admit it,,,,most likely thought was dead, came home. What a miracle. The excitement along with the crush of the police force, investigators, the FBI, the crush of the media, were most likely overwhelmed. I think we need to cut them some slack. We do not know how we would react in the same situation. I understand your opinions.
Lisa, I would think that I wouldn't put my son on Oprah if he came home after missing for four years as well, but quite frankly I can't judge the Akers. They have been through hell and probably not thinking logically for a few days after their son was home. They were excited, scared, shocked, and probably just didn't think about things that much. But I do know this. They love Shawn and are now on the path to help him recover to whatever horrors he has been through these past 4 years.
Did you see this? You may be interested.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1773209/posts?page=38
As I understand it they spent all of their savings and retirement searching for Shawn. I think they got a nice boost and I'm happy for them. They are doing good things and I pray they continue to work hard for their son's sake.
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