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To: Central Scrutiniser
Oh CS! I'm so happy for your brother! As for the media (Dan himself, for heaven's sake! I would have to bite my tongue!).....

Forgive the fragmented (crappy) writing: I was in my early '20's and there was a serial killer -- I'm almost certain it was the Atlanta killer of children (can't remember exactly). There was a child that had been missing and we'd all hoped s/he wasn't a victim of the serial killer. I rarely watched news at this time in my life -- not interested, too boring, too "political," etc.

I happened to be sitting in a friend's living rm, when the show we were watching was interrupted (the old gray background with bold letters "We interrupt this program to bring you...."). Sure enough, the child's body had been found.

The point of my story, however, was that a reporter was following the father of the child around with a mic asking "How do you feel? How do you feel?" He must have asked it 5 times. Remember that prior to this timeframe, reporters did not hound families/friends/victims, they did not camp out on people's lawns, they did not ignore human needs of private grief, etc. It was about 30 yrs ago.

Anyway, long story short....this poor man, the father, turned around and he was sobbing, sobbing. He screamed (I'll never forget it!): "THIS is how I feel! My child is dead! How do you THINK I feel!" As a young person (and, as I said, this kind of reporting was "new" then), I was shocked at the rawness of this scene, the depth of agony and sorrow of this man, taking place live in my friend's living rm!! I literally freaked out (to use a tired, stoopid phrase) -- the next thing I remember was standing outside in my 'jammies, barefoot in the snow, screaming (misplaced anger at God) and crying (that poor man)!!

Now, I'm utterly hardened to seeing and absorbing complete strangers' pain and sorrow. I don't own a TV now.

Sorry to have gone on about that.

<><
1,708 posted on 10/28/2003 4:12:06 PM PST by viaveritasvita ("When Love takes you in, everything changes.")
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To: viaveritasvita
Can't blame ya! He was allowed check out the house, he won't be able to move back for a few days I suppose, they had to leave a car there, and its in good shape. Not sure if the kids are back in school, one is in HS at a SDSU Catholic high school, that isn't in the area, but two kids are in grade school in the immediate area. What is ironic is that he had a place in Arrowhead that he sold last year, and now that area is threatened.
1,714 posted on 10/28/2003 4:16:44 PM PST by Central Scrutiniser (Which is the most universal human characteristic? Fear or Laziness?)
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To: viaveritasvita
Sorry to have gone on about that.

'sok

2,409 posted on 10/28/2003 7:58:05 PM PST by null and void
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