Refocusing the Blame for Inappropriate Coverage

I agreed with most of what Steve Lopez said about the inappropriateness of the media exploiting the rape angle in the recent abduction of two teenage girls. However, I don’t think it was appropriate for him to blame the parents for allowing one of the girls to relate the story of how the girls fought for their freedom. It became necessary for the girls to defend their honor after that motor-mouthed policeman decided to give himself some glory by announcing to the entire nation that the girls had been raped.

I noticed during the interview that the commentator said, with no sense of irony, “She didn’t discuss the rape. She didn’t have to.” She sure didn’t. Every newspaper and TV station in the country had done it for you.

William E. Keig

Fullerton