Back around the end of August, there was a sensational story out of Washington state about a young woman who had been attacked by a stranger who threw caustic acid on her face. As would be expected, there was a huge outpouring of a public support and calls for the suspect to be found and dealt with harshly. Unfortunately, as more and more frequently is the case, the whole story was made-up! The injuries were self-inflicted.
Ever wonder why so many white folks still are scared of black folks? The so-called victim was white and she reported to police that the assailant was black! When white people make-up these kinds of tall tales, more often than not, they make bogeyman into a person of color. It almost always achieves the desired effect -- the police get right on the case and the public becomes outraged. All this kind of scenario does is to reinforce the outmoded idea that blacks are not to be trusted.
Of course, another problem with these false crimes is that they waste the value time and money of police forces and rescue personnel. Local budgets already are stretched past the breaking point and all these fake crimes do is to steal money from people who have bona fide emergencies. Every dollar wasted on these frivolous snipe hunts can lead to less personnel and longer wait times.
Another factor that I believe is involved is that many people simply crave their 15-minutes of fame. Not only is it their desire to be on TV, but they crave the outpouring of prayers, financial donations and overall support the public throws at them, whether they specifically request it or not.
Crying wolf, however, tends to jade all of us. I've gotten to the point in which I don't believe ANY of these news stories when they hit the air. I've grown suspicious of anyone who claims a stranger abducted their children, injured the individual in a bizarre way or kidnapped them and forced him/her to drive hundreds of miles away.
I'm suspicious because, too many times over the past few years, it's all turned out to be nothing more than a big hoax. So, I now assume that each one is a hoax...until I can be convinced otherwise.
Ever wonder why so many white folks still are scared of black folks? The so-called victim was white and she reported to police that the assailant was black! When white people make-up these kinds of tall tales, more often than not, they make bogeyman into a person of color. It almost always achieves the desired effect -- the police get right on the case and the public becomes outraged. All this kind of scenario does is to reinforce the outmoded idea that blacks are not to be trusted.
Of course, another problem with these false crimes is that they waste the value time and money of police forces and rescue personnel. Local budgets already are stretched past the breaking point and all these fake crimes do is to steal money from people who have bona fide emergencies. Every dollar wasted on these frivolous snipe hunts can lead to less personnel and longer wait times.
Another factor that I believe is involved is that many people simply crave their 15-minutes of fame. Not only is it their desire to be on TV, but they crave the outpouring of prayers, financial donations and overall support the public throws at them, whether they specifically request it or not.
Crying wolf, however, tends to jade all of us. I've gotten to the point in which I don't believe ANY of these news stories when they hit the air. I've grown suspicious of anyone who claims a stranger abducted their children, injured the individual in a bizarre way or kidnapped them and forced him/her to drive hundreds of miles away.
I'm suspicious because, too many times over the past few years, it's all turned out to be nothing more than a big hoax. So, I now assume that each one is a hoax...until I can be convinced otherwise.
HI RT
ReplyDeleteA 13 y/o girl here in CT was reported abducted - and found in a field partially clothed. She named young blacks as her abductors. None of it was true, it was all a hoax. awful, huh? There were S.W.A.T guys and helicopters and state and local police in huge numbers searching. Lots of man/woman power and money spent. eesh.
Anyway, I hear ya!
Love Gail
peace....
The really sad part is that, I bet, every person who reads this post can probably think of one, two, three or more examples themselves.
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