Child abduction, one of the most unpleasant and unsettling incidents dreaded by all parents has justifiably received wide press attention in the USA. The Amber Alert, created in memory of Amber Hagerman has been used by established law professionals in the country to alert the public on any missing kid. Fortunately, this system, the Amber Alert has made a headway in reuniting kidnapped kids with their loved ones. From what I read, as a rule, a child, kidnapped by a non-custodial parent, understandably does not receive as near of a priority as the unfortunate minors in the hands of strangers. When one looks at the angle, no loving parent, who though, forced to 'abduct' their kids would willingly harm them. But with a stranger, that is a completely different scenario. Sometimes, a tragedy is averted either by the quick thinking actions of the cops, the street smart tactics of the kids, or just a combination of other factors.
Yesterday on Fox News, Bill O'Reilly, the controversial host of his program was at his usual combative self, with his own opinions about the Shawn Hornbeck's disappearance. Bill O'Reilly, refused to accept that perhaps, Shawn Hornbeck was suffering from the Stockholm Syndrome. The Stockholm Syndrom, according to psychologists is a symptom, usually experienced by kidnapped kids, or abusive dependents, ranging from guilt over their subversive treatment, thinking that they deserved it, as well as sympathy for their abusers. A classic case was observed in the life of Natasha Kampusch who grieved over the life of her abductor shortly after he committed suicide. But for Bill O'Reilly, that is hog wash.
In my beloved country, Nigeria, where I grew up, Doyin Abiola, a somewhat prominent socialite once told a reporter that it was worse for parents to lose their child to abduction than to death. I accepted her reasoning because as she explained, with death, there is a certain degree of closure that may ease with the passage of time. With abduction, your mind is constantly held captive on the whereabouts of your child, for as long as you live. You never lose hope, but at the same time, you are fearful on the outcome. Really, you just cant move on with life.
So, it was a joy of immense proportion for the Ownby and Hornbeck's family when their sons were discovered, thanks to an angel, an eagle eyed sleuth, Michael Hults who was able to give an accurate description of the car that sped away following the abduction. I hope their emotions would not be held sway by the hurtful and insensitive reports of Bill O'Reilly that the elder kid, Shawn Hornbeck willingly choose to stay with his captors.
His views are that, perhaps the child did not enjoy school, so he totally embraced his new found freedom as a stay at home kid. He even pointed out that the kid who had access to the computer taunted his parents under his new moniker, so that meant, he wasnt willing to reunite with his parents? Has O'Reilly ever thought that perhaps, he was forced at gun-point to taunt his parents on their website? Even the news media, on the web have reported that Shawn Hornbeck was abducted at gun-point, so that could easily explain his fear of escaping from his abductor.
That a Television host, would willingly choose to dampen the atmosphere of a jubilant country, rejoicing over the discovery of 2 kidnapped kids is not only hurtful, but does not bode well with the public. True, we have freedom of speech, but when this freedom is intentionally used with no decorum, then, there is a problem. The Dixie Chicks paid a price for their criticism of President Bush during the unmerited invasion of Iraq by losing their fan base. Bill O'Reilly cant just be making insensitive and baseless comments when he is not a licensed psychologists. With respect for all kidnapped kids, the Fox News should scrap off his show on Television, and have him apologize publicly to the Horbeck's family. Judith Regan was canned for tastelessly promoting the 'fictional' (?) account of O J. Simpson's book on the murder of his ex-wife and her friend. Bill O'Reilly face should not be shown on Television. However, that would be little consolation for other families of kidnapped victims, helpless in their hands of their abductors.
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