Classism at Work

Howard Rosenberg’s article “When Personal Tragedy Becomes Public Spectacle” (Aug. 2) was right on target. It is so very obvious why Samantha and not Casey got so much media attention.

It has nothing to do with the Pennsylvania coal miners, who, thank the high heavens, were found safe. It is all about what I call classism.

Casey’s parents were from the “wrong side of the tracks.” Therefore, their loss is just not as important as those who live and look better than they do.

BEATRICE PROCTOR

Brookhaven, Pa.

While I agree with Rosenberg’s commentary about the life cycle of these stories on abducted children, I have to point out his failure to mention the excessive coverage of the missing Milwaukee girl, Alexis Patterson.

Oh, wait ... that’s right, there’s been very little coverage outside of Milwaukee. Yet young Patterson--who is black--has been missing since the middle of May. I think I remember hearing that it was because her abduction overlapped that of Elizabeth Smart, and, you know, resources can only be stretched so far.

I probably shouldn’t care, as a white male, about Patterson’s abduction, but I do. I care because it bothers my conscience that the media obsess over one missing girl and not another. As if one life--the life of a fair-haired white child--is more important than that of a black one.

TIMOTHY M. LANKFORD

Houston

I’ve come to realize it’s not the media’s fault. They run on ratings, and they get ratings because people watch. They are big business now, and their mission is to make a profit for their shareholders. I’m not saying I like that, but that is how business works in a capitalist society.

The bigger question is: Why do people watch it? Why do they want to be party to sensationalizing murder and mayhem? And why do people want to insinuate themselves into someone else’s misery? If people stopped watching it, the stations would have to come up with some other way to get viewers.

TERRY ROBBINS

Manhattan Beach