Does the public care about the Natalee Holloway case?

[ralph124c]

I also think part of the story is that Aruba is supposed to be “safe”. It’s not an island like Jamaica, or a poverty-stricken nation like Mexico. I was there once, and everything was pretty clean and 1st World. Now we have a young pretty girl who disappears in this supposedly “safe” place. As we all know, there are no “safe” places-you have to be careful and watch out. As for her parents, they are exercising their rights. Did the Aruban authorities investigate this case properly? I don’t know, but it seems like they did what most small American town police departments would do.
A tragedy, but (unfortunately) something that could have been avoided.

[astorian]

@you with the face

So you think that if this girl was black, we’d still be hearing about it? I don’t think so. Sure there are some interesting elements to the story that make it unique. But I have a strong suspicion that had this chick been black, none of us would know who she is.

Yeah- like if a black girl had been (allegedly) raped by Duke lacrosse players, you’d be hearing about it constantly. But have you heard a single word about it?

Yes, I’m beiung snarky, and yes, you actually do have a point.

But while it would be silly to pretend race is irrelevant (or for that matter, that looks are irrelevant- would a 250 pound, pimply Natalee get so much media attention?), it’s equally silly to pretend this is all that matters.

[even_sven]

@astorian

Yeah- like if a black girl had been (allegedly) raped by Duke lacrosse players, you’d be hearing about it constantly. But have you heard a single word about it?

Yes, I’m beiung snarky, and yes, you actually do have a point.

But while it would be silly to pretend race is irrelevant (or for that matter, that looks are irrelevant- would a 250 pound, pimply Natalee get so much media attention?), it’s equally silly to pretend this is all that matters.

Um, I think it’s the Duke Lacrosse players that provide the “rich, white, good looking” factor in that case. People get raped every day without a peep from the media.

[Fish]

If you ask me, the thing that’s fueling this slightly more than the rest is that it took place at a time when Americans were juuuuuust feeling safe to travel again after 9/11.

Since I’m a cynic I’ll also add that it’s a good thing to have a story you can run on your news program if you are sympathetic to the administration and other news stories of the day might show the President in a negative light. Bad news in Iraq? Run that footage of the pretty white girl!

[Cartooniverse]

@even sven

The moral is that if you have sex you may well die.

Of course that’s the moral. Didn’t you see Scary Movie? The virgin lives, the girl who has sex dies. C’mon. Keep up. :rolleyes:

People get murdered every single day. I feel awful for the girl, I do. And for her family. She did fit the bill SO perfectly that CNN’s Nancy Grace has dedicated her entire life to this case. Just cause, you know, it’s so perfect. Since she was white. And pretty. And American, and all.

[Mrs_O_Malley_s_Cow]

@Rodgers01

Almost definitely. On the other hand, it could turn out more interesting, as did that other case a while back when that other (pretty, white, blonde, good) girl disappeared in Utah, and showed up much later with that religious cult family. Her name…can’t remember.

Interesting analysis about this case, especially regarding the racial angle, and the Old World/New World spin. I didn’t know enough about the case to know that her suspected abductors were black and/or Dutch.

I figure Natalie is either dead or in the sex trade.

[Mrs_O_Malley_s_Cow]

@even sven

Um, I think it’s the Duke Lacrosse players that provide the “rich, white, good looking” factor in that case. People get raped every day without a peep from the media.

Those guys are not cute by any stretch. ewwwww ::shudder::

And I agree wholeheartedly with the second statement.