June 12, 2007
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Missing Person
We are on a national alert to find Stepha Henry.
She will be found at any cost. We will cover her in the media every day until she is found or whoever is responsible for her disappearance is brought to justice. Here is the link: Link
Oh, wait a second. She is black? Scratch everything I just said there.
Here is a cute one. Help find Madeleine McCann.
And here is another one:
Or help raise money for Kelsey Smith’s family: Here is the link: Link
Comments (108)
yeah…
Dude……. it’s so true though
that’s sad but so true….
It’s sad how that can work out sometimes…
and now:
HOLY CRAP I WAS FIRST!
those poor girls..
i don’t understand teh point you are making
It is sad, but sadly true… you got to look like Paris Hilton for anyone to care. I have said it before… this is the media’s fault, or is it ours because we crave the white story, I don’t know???
Tricia
Ratings > Morality
its the truth
This is one sad reality, Dan.
Its not right… but there is a cultural issue at work as well. The African-American community does not trust or work with the police, for reasons that are obvious to anyone I’m sure. So because the community doesn’t trust the police often times the police aren’t brought into the situation until its too late… and until the police are brought in the media doesn’t cover it either.
Kara Kopetsky disappeared well before Kelsey Smith… but because Kara had a history of running away, her disappearance wasn’t covered as much as Kelsey’s was until recently… and they are both white. So it isn’t always about cute, black or white… its sometimes about the circumstances of their disappearance as well.
Sad but if I was the parents I would push the media as hard as I could to get my daughter in the news….
wow…heartbreaking.
^^Media coverage is generally about attractiveness/race/etc. I can think of several cases involving black or hispanic girls where there is very little to no media coverage and sometimes even not very much police interest.
Glad you pointed this discrepancy out, Dan. It’s been ignored for too long.
**whoops, was pointing to “yearinthelife”
Die in fire, collision_kiss!
wow.
I think you just summed up the whole point of his artical money and race
racism sucks. justice is a lie. and the government is most of all the blame.
That’s a good point. If you’re not pretty, white, rich and a “good kid”, no one cares if you disappear.
ryc: nice
Dan, you’ve been rather cynical of late. Or at least overtly cynical.
it’s rediculous i think. racism is everywhere whether people want to admit it or not, and it pisses me off.
Sarcasm much?
However true it may be.
Remember with Kelsey it was her PARENTS that were pushing the media, not the police. That does NOT happen in the black community. They don’t like nosy cops. Don’t they all live by the unwritten rule — don’t snitch? This is not race issue. Please don’t make it one.
I hadn’t even heard of Stepha Henry, which basically proves your entire point.
hah… so true.
Madeline’s parents pushed the media because they felt so guilty for leaving their child alone at night in a hotel room in a foreign country while they went down the street to the club
it’s always the attractive white kids people care about.
unless you live in Texas; then they issue an “Amber Alert” for kids who are late getting home from school. geez.
what a beautiful girl… all three of them are. it’s a dirty shame that we even have to notice their skin color at all.
It is such a shame. I hope all these girls are recovered alive and well and soon for their family’s sakes.
I had no clue Stepha Henry even existed.
But that is really fucked up.
All three cases are a pity – if nothing else I hope they catch the people responsible.
You know what…I was at the visitation yesterday and there were TONS of people there. I’m not exactly sure why, but this post hurt. Maybe it was the feeling of giving her boyfriend a hug of condolence then stopping by to check on his mother and sister…realizing that stuff does hit home.
Missing Persons…nothing to joke about
I think age has more to do with it since one wonders if the older girls are missing for other reasons in the beginning. There is not explainable reason for a two, four or even eight year old to go missing unless it is a custody kidnapping. So age would definitely get more attention. You might be right about race playing a part since until this entry I have never heard of Stepha Henry. It is a scary world out there and it is really ridiculous that more is not being done about making it safer. It seems that everything is done after the fact.
So true, but definitely a disappointment. It’s sad that this country hasn’t gotten past the color issue after all these years. I haven’t heard of the Stepha Henry case yet, either. This proves your entire story true.
stepha is just as beautiful as kelsey, a person is a person, and a life is a life. screw the media for exploiting some peoples tragedies for a good story, and not even giving enough mention to others to help bring them home.
Pretty much.
awe! that’s sad.
it’s really sad to think of how that actually happens
RYC: I’m sure he would let me sleep during the day, but his brother doesn’t.
Dan, you make it seem so simple. I’m not sure if you are just doing it to manipulate everyone else, or if that is how you honestly perceive it. This is one thing someone commented in the first link:
“You are missing the point entirely. The coverage has nothing to do with a supposed belief that white girls are more valuable than black girls or their abduction is more tragic than that of a black girl. At the end of the day, these 24 hour news channels care about nothing but ratings.
America is largely white, and I am sure whites make up the vast majority of viewers for cable news.If you want to appeal to white viewers, you run stories that remind them of their daughters and sisters…its just that it doesn’t hit home quite as much when the victim looks nothing like you or your family. People want to follow a story when they can relate to it, often times on a superficial level. News shows know this and play upon people’s feelings.”
Yeah, I haven’t heard of Stepha Henry till now.
I don’t trust the media, it’s all very sickening.
a little heavy on the sarcasm today, aren’t we, Dan?
What I think is ridiculous is that the parents of that little girl left her and her two year old siblings ALONE while they went out to eat. WHO leaves their 4 and 2 year old children ALONE? Maybe it’s the result of having so much frickin’ money that causes people to do such stupid shit that most people couldn’t get away with. I wish that that little girl hadn’t been taken, but DAMN! What do you expect when you’re not taking proper care of them??
Off topic from your post, but just my rant.
Now that we all agree, what can you do to remove the teeth that media may have in you? Again, like choosing to shop or not shop at Wal-Mart and Amazon.com, to disarm the media, (not kill or hurt, but disarm, as in remove it’s effectiveness)
To disarm media you have to sacrifice. It’s so easy to sit down and turn your mind off. I’m not saying it’s bad, but if the media is selling so hard the the very content of news is skewed because advert dollars are really in control?
Turn it off. Watch less. Read a book. I can’t do that, I watch dvds. Instead of turning the TV on and seeing what is on, why not be a purpose minded media consumer and just see that one show you wanted to see. Read your news. BBC world news has excellent impartial coverage, unlike fox and Paris Hilton.
There are an awful lot of hours that could be spent doing other things that watching TV.
That’s true. A white, pretty child goes missing, and everyone knows about it. A minority ugly kid goes missing… you’re lucky if you get a picture of him/her at Walmart.
ever hear about the girl who managed to chew her way out of restraints and get home before the police were ever even willing to look for her? yeah probably not because she was black and elizabeth smart was in the media. its true and sad but not fixable really.
dang so sad but true:-
Haven’t heard of her either.
Do not be obtuse; state your point clearly so we can have it on record what you actually think!
Man that sucks. People suck. Nancy Grace sucks…just wanted to throw that out there…
Sadly that’s true.
sad but true
BURN!!!!
wow.. ha ha
Daniel (doubledb)
yeah, she’s black, and she’s cute. that’s the important part.
Cynicism and sarcasm are twin keys to the doorway of truth.
I have not heard of either of the first two girls and I heard about Kelsey because apparently some of my friends were friends with her. Then there was also your posts about Kelsey.
I think they should announce those things once and then shut up until they actually have something new to say.
Thats America for ya!
sad but true.
I went ahead and read some of the comments from the link. I think everyone had a point. I also wonder if the media also has a point? How DO they chose what stories to cover? I liked that one study/documentary done that followed the times of murders, for one day, across the nation. How many times have we thought about that? I don’t. I tend to take the news as THE NEWS. If I want to know about the local news that is what I watch. If I want to know about the latest national news, I will watch those programs. None of us could keep up with it all. Granted, I don’t think one case should overshadow another, but it does come down to who has the final say, doesn’t it?
That’s a good point. If you’re not pretty, white, rich and a “good kid”, no one cares if you disappear.
–onegirlarmy03
Very true, and very depressing. If I went missing, nobody (outside of my family, friends, etc.) would care because I piss people off. XD
I was about to sayyy. That’s a first. Sad, but true.
i don’t see why everyone is saying that only attractive children get attention…i think the girl is very pretty personally.
I guess that’s how you percieve it, Dan.
But in Florida, every missing child gets the same amount of coverage in our local news station, because lately we’ve been having SO many missing children down here, it’s really hard to single out some. [and some of the families choose to keep their business to themselves, for some reason]
We have so many kidnappers in the Bay Area… parents won’t let kids just play outside or ride bikes anymore… unless accompanied by an adult. And sometimes that doesn’t help.
Thats so true. Its really depressing.
Excellent point reiwan
Yeah, that’s how we roll in ‘Merica
*Sigh* It’s so true.
Hmm…. I don’t know, I think it’s true in some ways (sadly), but it’s not ALL the media’s fault. If parents would rush to get the police involved, it’d be all over the news, black or white, cute or ugly.
The reason that we’ve heard about Madeline so much is because her parents were so stupid in leaving her alone for such a long period of time. It’s a bigger issue when parental neglect is involved… honestly.
I’ve been seeing Stepha Henry coverage for at least a week now. Greta has covered it more than once. I also saw pregnant LaToya Figueroa’s story (Her baby’s father killed her and her unborn child) and Olamide Adeyoye’s story (her body was found in another state from where she was going to school.) on Greta.
I don’t know what channels you all are watching, but Greta will cover anyone who’s missing, and a lot of the cases she covers are done at the request of the family. She’s had the family members of all 3 women and Kelsey Smith on her show. My 2nd cousin went missing in Japan and she had his uncle on at their request.
Kara Kopetsky’s story got sidelined by other news at the time….probably Paris Hilton (like who cares about her?) and the GOP debate. But I’ve also seen her parents on Greta.
What I think is sad is the amount of coverage that Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan are getting and it’s knocking stories like Kara Kopetsky off the radar.
damn…
I haven’t heard of any of these people. Shows how much attention I pay to the news.
Unfortunately, what you said about the black girl is true.
THANK YOU for letting this disgusting fact be known.
i’m sorry, but i just despise this country. or at least the media.
):
oh dear. racism is sukcy.
:[
thanks for pointing it out. honestly really disturbs me.
Tricky little question we point out. This came up when Natalie Holloway disappeared, too. This being race.
It is difficult to point a finger–is the media being biased? are the parents not notifying the media? are the police not doing all they can including releasing info. to the media? etc. etc. etc.
You just pointed out race. What about sex? We don’t hear about missing boys often either.
I don’t have much of a comment here–or the words for it, but I think by now you know my style well enough that you can tell what I am saying…and if not…you know I am just rambling and taking up space. Sorry.
Unfortunately, you are completely right. As I have never heard of Stepha Henry. Case in point.
very tru and very sad.
all three beautiful girls…
Sad, but true.
We only hear about wealthy, white, pretty FEMALES that go missing. Occassionally, you will hear about a missing white male child.
I dont think this proves anything…things happen to people everyday….not everyone can get national coverage. If every little thing got coverage we would neve get REAL news.
sad but true..
society sucks. stepha is pretty.
people can call it as heartbreaking as they want, but it’s reality..
and until america’s moral compass turns towards a more fair and just america for ALL, discrimination of the sort will continue..
because america’s vision of beauty is blond haired, skinny (not quite anorexic, but right near that point) white girls..
and america does anything to get them as much tv time as possible..
but hey..
what else can you expect from a country built off the backs of slaves and stolen from its original inhabitants?
They need to make a channel on tv for ALL missing people.
Adults,infants,kids,teens.
Black,white,asian.
It shouldnt matter.
Everyone should have the oppurtunity to be found.
yes. glad you brought it to attention. Really sick. I hope we can care about ALL people.
YOU NEED TO TAKE KELSEY’S PICTURE OFF OF HERE!!!!!!!!!!!! HAVEN’T YOU STIRRED UP ENOUGH TROUBLE SINCE HER DEATH!!!!!
It’s a difference of culture. Plus, as a WN, I’d rather hear of missing white kids than blacks who are already over-represented in the media.
I’m guessing there is more to it than just the link…. A timely movie on this subject is “A time to Kill”. Of course you have to sit for two hours to really get the point. But it’s worth it if you don’t understand the issue.
Wow, you just put it on out there didn’t you?? The news stations are to blame, really…
Its not true. Ever hear of Precious Doe, the little black girl found murdered who no one ever claimed? They kept searching until they found her killers.
What about the girl in Chicago who was missing at the same time Kelsey Smith was missing? She was black and Fox News carried her story and she was found.
I live near Pine Bluff Arkansas and we have black kids go missing. And you know what? Everyone of them has their story on the news. They are treated with the same urgency as whites.
When we make bold generalizations like this, we fuel racial hate that is already out of control. Okay Kelsey’s story took up the air time. But it was because of the fact it was so strange and so bizzarre at how she was taken and found…..that made it news.
When the 3 black males and one female carjacked, raped, tortured, killed and dismembered a young college couple in Louisville Kentucky, it didn’t even make national news. Yes both the man and the woman were raped. The man was killed almost immediately. The woman was raped and tortured over several days. A search warrant found her still in the perpetrators house, stuffed in a plastic trash can with at least one breast cut off.
And what about the Duke LaCrosse players? That made National news. The eleged asailants were white, the victim black. They were kicked out of classes an defamed nationwide. It turned out to be a total lie. Did the media apologize to them? Never.
I think we need to get our facts straight before we stir up a firestorm of outrage. Dan I love you bro, But I think you are wrong on this one.
Wow. So true.
I agree with YearintheLife and Revolving_Dragons.
Even Rap songs say that blacks shouldn’t trust the police. And, sorry, but there are alot of Illegals so if any person disappears the Illegals can get caught. But I also find alot of Hispanics don’t trust the police as well. Reason? None so far.
And it may be that she looks good or whatever, but if the parents push at the media, or the police push at the media then they will cover it alot Dan. And some parents don’t want their children on the media when kidnapped, because then there is a bigger chance that the Kidnapper will kill the Kidnappee.
Maybe it has to do with disposable income that can be used to find these girls. It costs mucho dinero to advertise for things like this; many minorities are known not to have the financial ability as many non-minorities.
And I agree with MaxximumForce.
Dan, this one you need to think over a little more carefully.
“But I also find alot of Hispanics don’t trust the police as well. Reason? None so far.” – MoBunshin
There is a constant fear of being deported. Reason enough?
i’ve noticed that one myself…
Dude, some person going missing isn’t news in my opinion (and neither is anything Paris Hilton does). You don’t have just to be white to have people going looking for you, you have to be rich and often somewhat attractive.
As far as raising money, that’s something the media probably didn’t start up. I think your point isn’t really applicable there.
With thousands of people missing, a news story on one that doesn’t involve something like national security or whatever is somewhat ridiculous. I could perhaps see a local story on a local news station, but I’ll pass on this federal manhunt jazz.
It is horrible for ANY person to be “missing”, regardless of their color or background. This story breeds racism.
Kelsey’s parents forced media coverage… I would do the same if (God forbid) one of my children were missing…I would plaster their pictures everywhere, talk to everyone that I could- newspapers, TV stations, etc… whatever it took to get my babies home. AND, my being WHITE has nothing to do with it…
Sad but true.
Yes, Revolving Dragons, it is a race issue. In this country, Blacks and Hispanics are considered of far less worth than a WASP and his family.
i absolutely hate it when they do that
There is another girl missing in our area (close to where Kelsey was murdered) and her story had very little support from media/police to the public until Kelsey was missing. She is a white girl, but probably doesn’t appear as cute in her pictures and appears to be from a different lifestyle financially. I do not think it is a race thing…..I think it is just a thing. We see a picture of a cute rich girl and seem to want to help more?
a sad statement on our society, but unfortunately too true
I suggest you follow through with your first suggestion of posting and follow through for Stepha in this post to prove your point of how you aren’t bias. hummmmm ?
It’s a shame she went missing on a couple days before that other girl but you didn’t hear a damn thing about her but a white girl is missing it’s on every news channel it makes me sick.
It’s a shame that girl went missing a couple day before the other one but you didn’t hear a damn thing about her but another white girl goes missing and it’s on every channel it makes me sick.
yeah I agree, I’ve never heard of Stepha Henry, but I’ve heard of the other two, which proves you’re point and I think that’s sad.