Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Sensationalism Over Substance

I didn't follow the Casey Anthony trial closely. I would read an update on Huff or see a clip on the evening news. I have never been one to find the trials of everyday people fascinating or entertaining.

Now comes the endless coverage of the verdict. I find this part even more distasteful and the crowd reactions are outright frightening.

A juror said that the prosecution never offered proof on how the little girl died.
The defense attorney said the jury followed the judge's rules and the Constitution.

It is so very easy to get blood thirsty when a child dies. It is so very easy to blame the mother, especially when she is not deemed a sympathetic character.

Well - truth is never easy.

I don't know what really happened but I do know that thousands of children are starved, beaten, neglected and sometimes killed all over the world; every single day.

Perhaps that is something that should draw crowds ...




Perhaps that is something that should be relentlessly covered on TV ...

22 comments:

Sylvia K said...

I'm with you! I watched no more of it than you did and the crowds really disgusted me. I had no empathy for the woman either, and that child is just one of far too many that are abused and neglected these days and that is what is heartbreaking.

Sylvia

Ron said...

OMG....my mother (bless her) has been keeping me updated on this trial.

"but I do know that thousands of children are starved, beaten, neglected and sometimes killed all over the world; every single day.

Perhaps that is something that should draw crowds ..."

Yup....I agree, Dianne.

X ya!

Mike said...

I can't believe the people that actually traveled to get to the trial. Hey dummies, travel your ass to a local soup kitchen and do some good.

Jay said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jay said...

I'd like to light everybody involved in this spectacle, especially the media members, on fire.

This is why we can't have nice things America.

-Jay

DJan said...

I followed the trial a little bit, and she was certainly not a great mother, but the national obsession with this has been sickening. At least now it's over.

Happy Elf Mom (Christine) said...

YES! Thank you, Dianne! It's very sad that this precious little girl died, but there are many other beautiful children out there suffering still.

Betty said...

I haven't followed the story closely, either. As far as I'm concerned, MSNBC needs to dump Nancy Grace. She has been whipping up this story for three years, not that she had any actual information about it. She is one of the most narrow-minded people I have ever seen, and that's saying a lot. She truly believes that anyone who is arrested is guilty.

Tracy said...

media circus is the truth...I watched NONE of it because, well, just becuase!
I didn't want to give her any credability or support or become emotionally invested becuase I feared the outcome!

Reb said...

Well said Dianne. I dislike sensationalism in media, simply because it means the quiet damage is being ignored, or white washed over. When did journalism become a place to express an opinion?

Cherie said...

I never could understand the draw of the trial. The coverage sickened me. I avoided it like the plague. The fact that know anything about it is nothing less than amazing. It proves how total the coverage has been. Whether "she" did it or not, I don't have a clue, and neither do any of the talking heads. How dare the jury not come to the same conclusion they did. Oy! Again as to whether "she" did it or not, and whether justice was done. Better that 100 guilty people go free than 1 innocent person be convicted. (Not that plenty of innocent people go to jail everyday.) The people who are upset with the outcome ought to blame the prosecution rather than the jury. (And now that I've vented my spleen about this, I'm going to try to avoid ever talking about this topic again. lol)

ellen abbott said...

the voyeurism in this country makes me sick. Even worse, they call it 'news'.

Rambling Woods said...

Good point..if that energy and time went into some useful volunteer work, it would be a lot of hours for a good cause..

Linda Reeder said...

Amen, sister.

Jeni said...

You do know, I'm sure, that you are often the voice of sanity crying -no screaming -in the wilderness, don't you? I agree completely with your take on this -especially the point about so many other children starving in this country of great wealth and opportunity -and/or being abused, horribly, and yet, so little is done to correct for that.
Good post, Dianne and kudos to you for writing this!

Daryl said...

I too didnt follow the trial .. but the jury was given specific instructions .. its good to know regardless of whether she did it or not that the law is followed .. now lets do as you suggest and look into all those children who died at the hands of their parents because child welfare workers didnt follow the law .. those who 'slip through the cracks' .. those cracks must be a mile wide given how many have died with that 'excuse' cited by the officials of these various welfare agencies.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Oh, I couldn't agree with you more, my dear Dianne. I didn't follow this case at all, really, except for the sound-bites, etc...And really have no opinion about this woman's guilt or innocence. And, I am, quite frankly, sick of the endless ENDLESS coverage of this case. And I think what you said is so true---where there is a child there are huge huge feelings involved---And , again, you are so right...Why aren't these hoards of people who are so outraged about this case, OUTRAGED about all the other children of the world??
It seems completely out of whack, and kind of Nuts, to me!

Imaginography said...

Being in the UK this case has largely passed me by. The needless and unlawful termination of any life, including a little one is always an especially sad affair. What you have described is akin to group-think on a scary scale. You are quite right that they should be incensed at all cases, not just this one.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

You are absolutely right on all points. I loved all the comments too -- you are a smart writer with smart followers and I'm honored to be here!

Hilary said...

Entirely true. In any given neighbourhood.. I hate to think of how many.

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

What to be upset? be upset at the prosecution who could not put a case together that did not have huge holes in it.

As for That Grace chick...she is an ass-hat who needs to keep her mouth shut.

Knight said...

I am so with you on this. So with you.