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June 29, 2005 First of all, I want to thank everyone who responded to my article on the shameful reporting done to this point on Natalee Holloway via this website (Thankfully, about 95% of the responses I got were positive). One by one, you may not realize how much we all seem to share our desire to see sensationalistic, profiteering journalism wiped clear off the face of the earth. It has been nothing short of amazing receiving e-mails from across the country, people including along with their thanks, their thoughts and stories about the issues I raised in my letter to this website and to Paul Reyes. Personally, nothing felt more rewarding than reducing the musings of said "journalist" to the nonsense it is, and I have the subsequent authors who followed my article to thank for driving the point home. But I should have known this wouldn't be so easy to put to bed, not without one more offering on the subject from Mr. Reyes regarding his "justifications" for what he wrote. I am one for the first amendment. I am deeply passionate about a person's inalienable rights, and by no means do I believe that Paul Reyes or any other member of the press who feels the best way to grab attention and headlines is to belittle an 18-year old girl should be muzzled in any form; except by their own sense of compassion and moral sensibility. Yes Mr. Reyes, you may have felt you had a duty to point out the mistakes Natalee may have made that night, the mistakes her parents may have made prior to her departure, but I think I speak for many, many people when I say your timing really just sucked. The next time tragedy strikes, people are grieving, tears are being shed, I can only hope there are more people standing right there to point out all the mistakes they made. You can save your non-apology apologies. Any of the writers I've received links to or seen in papers, lining up to lay waste to the Holloway family or to Natalee herself can. We're not interested. It was not so much the content of your story (which was offensive) as it was your insensitive and abrasive word choices that converted your offering from a ridiculous op-ed article to a cruel piece of trash. ?The entire country is struggling to piece any two elements of this story together daily, but somehow you have the entire sequence of events mapped out. Incredible. And as for your claim to be the balancing factor in the media, don't insult my intelligence. Your efforts to further pound on the Holloway family was merely an attempt to balance the media's fascination with her story? Or perhaps your unprovoked attacks on Natalee Holloway's character was your way to counter the empathy felt for her family? Here's an idea, Mr. Reyes. If you want to balance out the viewpoint of the media with respect to Natalee Holloway, why don't you try telling it like it is. Be the moderator, not the attacker. Why don't you publish an article saying how no one really has any idea what happened, and that whomever is responsible should pay and pay dearly. You did finally get around to mentioning the most responsible parties involved, the suspects, today. Too little, too late in my opinion. Because while you were trying ther characters of Natalee Holloway and her family on this website, the rest of us were busy hoping and praying she's still alive and that this horrible nightmare comes to an end. Lastly, this race nonsense just has to stop. If you want to actually compile some numbers, cite some real examples, please do so. You cannot make an accusation, a blanket statement such as that, without some significant evidence to back it up. One story (albeit a tragic one, and I do sympathize with the Huston family as I live in SC) does not constitute a trend. Because without it, what you do is make those of us who do deeply feel for Natalee's family and what they are going through feel as though our concerns, prayers, and attention aren't valid. I know this because I've gotten the letters. I've received letter upon letter saying you're wrong. It's not a black or white thing, Mr .Reyes. It's because Natalee Holloway reminds one mother of her daughter who is away at school, or a father whose kids just got back from their senior beach trip. It touches a nerve with people because an innocent girl has gone missing from an peaceful place where nothing bad ever happens. Re-read these articles, Mr. Reyes. Dig a little deeper. See how many of those articles about her disappearance you lambaste have to do with Natalee, her upbringing, her social status, her color or appearance. Then compare those to the number that deal with the suspects, their backgrounds, the critiques of the Arubian justice system. compare them, Robert. I think you'll find more plot twists than an afternoon soap opera. Lastly, and above all, I want to thank you. This exchange has brought a lot of attention to Natalee, at a time I feel her family may need it most. It has a few more people thinking about her, pulling for her, praying for her and her community. Your attempts to justify why this story is sooooo undeserving of national attention have had the opposite effect, they only strengthened it. It is my sincere hope that articles about Natalee never disappear, not until she is found. Then, after some time, a good bit of time, maybe then we'll all be ready for "lessons learned", but sensitively and thoughtfully done (which disqualifies you) to protect our children in the future. So until then, unless you truly enjoy your inbox filling with e-mails from people wishing you maybe didn't write quite so much or at all, you may want to move on to another topic, or at the very least to keep your opinions to yourself. ------------ Email Peter Larson: petetdx@gmail.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com. Please link to this article rather than copying and pasting it onto your site (which would be unauthorized and illegal). |
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