MA SEP-26-2004 Mean streets, desperate lives

[AmyStrange]

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/state/040926worcester.shtml



What is the point of my post, you may ask, since it so clearly seems not to be political, and thus not really DU material in any way, shape, or form?

What is the point of ANY post, but to inform and/ or create discussion. Missing persons deserve as much democratic consideration and justice as any other person.

Personally, I think they deserve it more so, because their voices (unless they are a young white college kid or white clean-cut mostly female rich person - for example, Smart, Sjodin, Levy, Peterson, Hacking etc.) are rarely heard from or written about or acknowledged in any way shape or form.

Do you know how many persons went missing in California at about the same time as Laci Peterson? Two that I know of specifically. One was hispanic (and also pregnant and also found murdered not too long AFTER Laci) and another was a prostitute, but guess which was talked about incessantly by the media?

And finally, missing persons and serial killers are an example of why the budgets of LE (both here in the U.S and abroad) should be raised (and NOT just for homeland security) which is A VERY POLITICAL subject - in my opinion,

d

[Kathy in Cambridge]

1. I agree-at the time Elizabeth Smart disappeared

several African American and Latino girls disappeared. But the pretty blonde from the well-off family got the media's attention.

[AmyStrange]

2. True - and since the press mostly concentrates on a few...

missing persons a year, the public is left with the impression that it's not really that big a problem, when it is a big problem - atleast bigger than most people think,

d

[TaleWgnDg]

3. Today's profit-driven-only "news" media . . .

is driven by sensationalism, more sensationalism, and did I mention "sensationalism?"

If it sells then it's "news," period.

It may be sex in it's many psychological presentations . . . from bonking little boys (excuse my language) in the RC Church or Michael Jackson, or another sex trial such as O.J. (oh, yes, it was) or Peterson or Smart.

It comes in various shapes and sizes but as long as it can be presented to the public to grab their attention -- what better than sex? -- then profit-driven "news" will be as it is and get worse to satiate the psychological attention of its audience.

Toss out the "public service" FCC requirement of old!! That's been long gone since the 24/7s entered the marketplace.

The losers are the American public. We will remain ill-informed.

Simple, really. Sad but simple, really.