The Link to the story here
Liberal media 'ignores' rape-killing of boy, 13 By Toby Harnden in Washington
THE horrific rape and suffocation of a boy of 13 by two homosexuals has ignited controversy over whether some murder victims are more important than others in America.
The case of Matthew Shepard, murdered by anti-homosexual bigots in Wyoming, became a cause celebre. But the death of Jesse Dirkhising in Benton County, Arkansas, passed virtually unnoticed outside the state. The discrepancy in the way the American media, which is prone to be politically correct, has dealt with the two murders has been cited by conservatives as an example of alleged double standards.
Neither was part of a national trend of an increase in either paedophile or anti-homosexual killings but the murder of Mr Shepard was elevated almost to the level of a national scandal and prompted the addition of attacks on homosexuals to "hate crimes" legislation. Yet, despite the viciousness of the attack on Jesse, his death in September 1999 has been all but ignored by the big metropolitan newspapers.
Jesse was drugged, strapped to a bed and gagged with his own underwear before being repeatedly raped by Joshua Brown, 23, as Brown's lover, Davis Carpenter, 39, allegedly looked on. When Brown, returned to the bedroom after eating a sandwich, Jesse had died. He admitted rape and was found guilty of murder by an Arkansas jury last week even though he argued that Carpenter, who has yet to be tried, had directed him.
In the month after Jesse's death, a newspaper database search yielded 46 articles about him. In the month after Mr Shepard's murder, there were 3,007 articles, including 45 in the New York Times and 28 in the Washington Post. The conservative Washington Times accused the media of ignoring the Dirkhising killing.
But Jonathan Gregg, a Time editor, wrote: "The reason the Dirkhising story received so little play is because it offered no lessons. Shepard's murder touches on a host of complex and timely issues: intolerance, society's attitudes towards gays and the pressure to conform, the use of violence as a means of confronting one's own demons."
Until this week, the debate was largely limited to the Washington Times and various conservative websites. But the latest issue of the Left-leaning New Republic carried a stinging article by Andrew Sullivan, a homosexual British journalist based in Washington.
"The answer is politics. The Shepard case was hyped for political reasons: to build support for inclusion of homosexuals in a federal hate-crimes law. The Dirkhising case was ignored for political reasons: squeamishness about reporting a story that could feed anti-gay prejudice, and the lack of any pending interest-group legislation to hang a story on."
He noted that the Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights organisation that "raised oodles of cash exploiting the horror of Shepard's murder", had made no comment about the Dirkhising case. Sullivan hinted that hushing it up might help to confirm anti-homosexuals' "suspicions that this murder actually is typical of gays".
-- Anonymous, March 29, 2001
Answers
Uncle Bob sir, in a gathering of fellow conservatives recently, this very subject was the main topic of our conversations. The liberal media and their former Prince have made it unfashionable to utter nary a negative word about the antics of many so-called ‘untouchable’ special interest groups. This ugly story is but one example of the lack of reporting, when in fact we should be outraged. Now, we have the good Reverend Jackson back in the news, somewhat, with allegations that would be network breaking news if the perpetrator were a white preacher of some renown.What these politically correct mavens fail to realize is the damage this causes to the same groups they are pandering to. Most dare not speak their mind for fear of ‘racist’ or ‘homophobic’ labels stuck on them. This results in pent-up resentment that has the opposite effect that was hoped for. To not express your anger sends a message of condonement.
These two incidents that I refer to are hardly unique to the gay or African American community but to avoid reporting and discussing them will surely lead to an eruption of backlashed emotions.
-- Anonymous, March 29, 2001
Socr@tes, I think your major thesis is not just flawed, but utterly and completely wrong - from start to finish and top to bottom.I am a liberal and a strong supporter of gay rights, including the right of civil union, and I have no trouble whatsoever condemning this rape-murder as a brutal and despicable crime. Nor do I fear anyone labelling me as homophobic as a result of my condemnation.
Anita? Patricia? Cherri? Anyone else of the liberal persuasion feel any differently than me? Are you afraid to condemn this crime?
-- Anonymous, March 30, 2001
Mr. Think About It kind sir, upon closer inspection I trust you will note that my ‘major thesis’ was directed at the national media, not the liberal participants on this and other obscure forums. However, as long as you have tabled the notion, there does seem to be a lack of response from you folks. How say you on the Jackson situation?
-- Anonymous, March 30, 2001
Think, I feel the same as you do.....if I had some more time, I'd put a giant scrolling marquee...........I Condemn This Action.
Somehow I doubt it would make a difference to our resident "philospher".
-- Anonymous, March 30, 2001
More...
What our resident "philosopher" has also chosen to overlook (what a surprise) is the fact that the two who killed Dirkhising are pedophiles and that this case is being tried as a rape and murder.
Now, Oh Wise One, would you like to share your moral indignation and your outrage over the other 400 or so rape-and-murder cases that ALSO aren't "getting the press"?
SIGs exploit. It's what they do; it's the very basis of their existence; hence, they exploited the Matthew Shephard case. Kind of like what the Conservative Web is doing with THIS case, eh? I'm not saying it's right, but it's there. And if you're going to be OUTRAGED by one, you should be OUTRAGED by all, else your "outrage" appears to be selective.
And why (oh why) do you have to bring Jackson into this conversation -- as you did on Unk's? Focus, So-crates.....focus. FWIW (and I'm NOT excusing what Jackson did), there have been many more **white** guys who've done what Jackson's done (think Rep. Dan Burton [R-Nothing To Do Now That Clinton's Gone]), but of course, the "liberal media" (sic) don't hype those stories, do they? I'm sure you're just as "outraged" over that, aren't you?
-- Anonymous, March 30, 2001
We talked about these cases of pedophilia, rape, murder, etc. a year or two ago, and the government keeps statistics on how many of the pedophiles are homosexuals and how many are heterosexuals, and homosexuals are way down there at something like 2%.As to the question regarding why one got more press coverage than the other, children are kidnapped, raped, and murdered every day in the U.S. It's actually worse in other countries. The Jesse Dirkising case occurred in 1999 in Arkansas. These two perpetrators could have molested other kids previously, but Arkansas STILL doesn't publish a list of sex offenders. Here's a list of which states do and don't.
New Jersey responded quickly in the case of Megan Kanka, and it didn't take long before Megan's Law was implemented in all 50 states. Amber Hagerman's kidnapping took the City of Arlington, Texas by surprise in 1996, but it didn't take long to instigate "Amber alerts" in the stores, and you really haven't experienced life until you're in a store and hear over the loudspeaker, "Amber Alert", and watch all the doors close and lock.
Regarding Matthew Shephard, his death was not more vicious than that of Jesse Dirkising. They were BOTH vicious. I doubt, however, that Jesse had protestors at his funeral. That might have contributed to the news coverage.
Patricia, I agree with you on Jesse Jackson. Socrates can't seem to post ANYTHING wherein he doesn't mention either "liberal" whether it has anything to do with the subject at hand or not, or "Jesse Jackson", whether it has anything to do with the subject at hand or not.
-- Anonymous, March 30, 2001
I refer to the good Reverend Jackson as a prime example of the sewer that the liberal community would have us all slither around in. This man is a disgrace to his race and our society in general. He continues to cover himself in dung so it is difficult not to constantly hold him up to the sniff test. He presents himself as the front man for the most troubled group of humans in our country and his behavior should be vilified by every decent person with the courage to speak out. Those of you that seem to be willing to look the other way deserve to be scorned for the second class citizens that you are.
-- Anonymous, March 30, 2001
I'll go off-topic with you on this one, Socrates, because you, obviously haven't followed the GOOD that Jesse Jackson has done in his lifetime. His mid-life crisis affair doesn't bother me in the least, as I've followed his contributions to society from "Operation Breadbasket" to "Headstart". Check out ANY child psychology book and point me to where "Headstart" isn't listed as a winner.It sounds [to me] like you're jealous that you haven't accomplished anything significant in your lifetime. Maybe you're even jealous that you're an old man who can't attract a young lover.
-- Anonymous, March 30, 2001
AnitaYou obviously haven't followed the good Adolph Hitler did for Germany over the course of his career...
-- Anonymous, March 30, 2001
Ms. Anita, these days I’m dealing with middle aged lovers, and I stopped being jealous about anything, many moons ago. But I do appreciate your concern.Since 1989, Mr. Jackson has orchestrated a reign of racial terrorist extortion against a long list of ‘clients’, from the public and private sectors. I’m getting lazy tonight so I’ll stop here and let anyone that cares add to this story.
My Friends, I’m afraid it’s not about doing good and bad together, there is no balance to that. And yes, my excellent life has never put me on a perch even close to Mr. Jackson. However, when you’re flying at high altitudes you best not run out of clean air.
-- Anonymous, March 30, 2001
Uncle Bob: Your comparison of Jesse Jackson to Adolph Hitler holds no weight and even YOU know it.Socrates: It doesn't surprise me that someone recently asked you if you were really Steve Heller. Steve had a knack of stating before anyone posted in response to his posts that if he/she didn't agree with HIM on a subject, he/she must [obvious only to Steve] suffer from some brain disorder. YOUR posts are presented in the very same way.
ANYONE with a sense of self-esteem saw the following for what it was: a post written by someone with a low self-esteem attempting to raise himself above those who might respond, by [in advance], indicating that anyone who disagreed with him was inferior.
"I refer to the good Reverend Jackson as a prime example of the sewer that the liberal community would have us all slither around in. This man is a disgrace to his race and our society in general. He continues to cover himself in dung so it is difficult not to constantly hold him up to the sniff test. He presents himself as the front man for the most troubled group of humans in our country and his behavior should be vilified by every decent person with the courage to speak out. Those of you that seem to be willing to look the other way deserve to be scorned for the second class citizens that you are.
Notice the terms Socrates uses. "Decent person". Just like Heller, the implication is that one is "indecent" if one doesn't agree. "courage to speak out." Much like Heller, the implication is that one is a wimp if one isn't a DECENT person who ALSO speaks out on whatever it is that Socrates supports/disdains.
Those of you that seem to be willing to look the other way deserve to be scorned for the second class citizens that you are. This REALLY means that if one doesn't agree with Socrates, one is a second- class citizen, deserving of scorn.
Go ahead and stone me, Socrates. You may be able to fool the folks with no self-esteem, but you certainly don't fool ME. You're just a blow-hard with a modem...much like the rest of us.
-- Anonymous, March 30, 2001
DSL
-- Anonymous, March 30, 2001
Uncle Bob: Your comparison of Jesse Jackson to Adolph Hitler holds no weight and even YOU know it.I didn't say that Jesse Jackass and Hitler were similar...
The point is, asking sane people to ignore what Mr. Rainbow has done because of the good he has done is like asking us to ignore the fact that OJ turned Ron and Nichole into Pez dispensers because of the good he has done in his life...typical liberal mentality at work here.
"Gee, your honor, Mr. Bank-robber has done a lot of good in his life, it's not his fault. Please forgive him, don't hold him accountable for his actions..."
-- Anonymous, March 30, 2001
Uncle Bob:I wasn't suggesting that Jesse's good deeds somehow washed away his bad ones. I haven't SEEN any bad ones. Activists all engage in some sort of extortion [Yeah...I read the Free Republic, too.] I'm not the activist I once was, but I boycotted lettuce when I learned about the conditions of the workers, boycotted grapes, dockers, those expensive gym shoes [the name of which I can't even recall], tuna, and a host of other things. Jesse has certainly done MORE in his lifetime to organize protests of one thing or another. If he's guilty of breaking RICO statutes [the latest accusation], bring him up on charges and see if they stick. If they do, he does the time for the crime, but the Rainbow PUSH Coalition will carry on with someone else to fill his shoes.
-- Anonymous, March 31, 2001
Good lord woman, are you really as stupid as you sound? You don’t SEE any of the well-known shit that Jesse has done but you will boycott all of these products at the drop of a hat. I can picture you…… getting along in your years and hoping for a visit back to the future. Peace, love, and ‘down with the capitalists’. Liberals!
-- Anonymous, March 31, 2001
Good lord woman, are you really as stupid as you sound?I COULD be. I never claimed to have an IQ over 121 or something like that. That test was administered when I was about 17, so I could be down to an IQ of 64. Then again, I could be UP, seeing that my kids don't score less than 147.
You don’t SEE any of the well-known shit that Jesse has done
I see the stuff that the Freepers and Libertarians accuse him of today, but I spent most of my life in Chicago and I grew up alongside folks who were helped by Jesse's activism. but you will boycott all of these products at the drop of a hat.
I wouldn't say that I boycotted "at the drop of a hat." I researched each situation and made choices based on my findings.
I can picture you…… getting along in your years and hoping for a visit back to the future. Peace, love, and ‘down with the capitalists’. Liberals!
Part of capitalism is to produce a product/service that is "sellable." I'm as concerned about MYSELF as I am about the "other guy". I know that one of my prescribed hormones is produced by the urine of pregnant mares. I've even read the descriptions of the conditions in which these mares suffer to produce these hormones for me. It's a trade-off. MY bones are more important [to me] than the conditions in which some female horses exist. I can live without lettuce, grapes, dockers, gym shoes, etc. It's up to folks like Cin to protest the pregnant mare situation. It's up to the folks who can live without a dependency on a product to boycott the product/service until the situation is seen more amenable to both the capitalist and the consumer. That's always been the way capitalism has worked, IMO.
Peace and love have always appealed to me, as well. Is your preference war and hate?
-- Anonymous, March 31, 2001
“I see the stuff that the Freepers and Libertarians accuse him of today.”OK, now open your other eye.
-- Anonymous, March 31, 2001
So-crates, without actually pointing to anything specific (one of the Screaming Clues that one doesn't have an actual argument), you seem to refer to Jackson's fathering of a child out of wedlock and (in your eyes) his apparent lack of "morality". I'm going to go with that for a moment.
So, do tell us how you feel about, oh let's use the following as examples:
-- Rep. Dan Burton (R-Fathered Illegitimate Child Yet Hounded Clinton About A BJ)
-- Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Bonking His Mistress While Decrying The "Immorality" of Clinton and Screaming for Impeachment of Same)
-- Rep. Newt Gingrich (Contract With America fame) (R-Left Wife #1 Because He Was Screwing Then-To-Be Wife #2 Who He Subsequently Left Because He Was Screwing Now-Wife #3; Can #4 Be Far Behind?)
-- Rep. Helen Chenoweth (R-Screwing Her Lover While Decrying The "Immorality" of Clinton and Screaming for Impeachment of Same)
-- Former President George H.W. Bush (R-Screwed Jennifer Fitzgerald At Least Before and During His Presidency; Not Sure About After)
-- Former President and Soon-To-Be-Deified-If-Rep. Dan Burton (R-See Above) Has His Way, Ronald W. Reagan (R-Raped An Actress Back in the 1950s)And remember: These people (except St. Reagan) were Doing The Nasty On Taxpayer's Time.
Can't wait to see all the Moral Outrage and Indignation over these.....rotflmao.....
The Moral (pun intended) of Today's Lesson Boys and Girls: It's only a Really Bad Thing if it's done by a non-republican ;-)
(I wonder why Upstanding Moral American Citizen Chicken Little hasn't scolded Uncle Bob about the Hitler comparison? Cluck-cluck.)
-- Anonymous, April 01, 2001
PatriciaS...The outrage, for me, is the lack of balls by any politician to fess-up. Rather, these pillars of society lie and spin doctor to cover their fat, lazy asses that you and I as taxpayers are feeding.
Great, you can type keywords into a search engine and come up with amoral politicians who happen to be republican. Big deal. That makes no point. In the interest of fairness search for democrats and post that list. Lets see which one is longer. Then again, what would that prove? They're all liars on both sides of the aisle.
-- Anonymous, April 01, 2001
U.B., I've kind of said that before (to deaf ears it seems). Right here, right now, I'm concentrating on the hypocrites (a.k.a., So-crates) who don't seem to see this.
I refer you back to my other post on this thread re SIGs. I take no issue with what you've just written here, but fair is fair..... If one is going to condemn e.g. Clinton for his "immoral actions", let's hear it for the other side as well. If one is going to complain that one SIG exploits and spins, then let's hear it for the other side as well.
And isn't that the point you're trying to make here?
-- Anonymous, April 01, 2001
I'm feeling dumb today.SIG?
-- Anonymous, April 02, 2001
Special Interest Group
-- Anonymous, April 02, 2001
“So-crates, without actually pointing to anything specific (one of the Screaming Clues that one doesn't have an actual argument), you seem to refer to Jackson's fathering of a child out of wedlock and (in your eyes) his apparent lack of "morality". I'm going to go with that for a moment.”Ms. Patricia, I don’t recall saying one word about Jackson’s extramarital affairs, per se. My complaint is his use of ‘tax free’ dollars to support his lifestyle and pay-off all of these women. This just doesn’t seem to bother you at all but why am I not surprised.
-- Anonymous, April 02, 2001
My complaint is his use of ‘tax free’ dollars to support his lifestyle and pay-off all of these women. This just doesn’t seem to bother you at all but why am I not surprised.Now, *I*'m confused. I thought your complaint was extortion of private and public companies. BTW, who are all of these women? I'd be the last one to say that Jesse hasn't fooled around in the past, but are you actually suggesting that there are other women who put a used condom in the freezer compartment of their refrigerators [next to the frozen green beans, etc.] to preserve DNA so they could PROVE that Jesse was the father of their child?
Regarding the money, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition [NOT Jesse, but the folks who run the thing] agreed to pay this women $35,000 as a form of "severance pay". The child support of $3,000/month comes from Jesse's own pocket. $35,000 isn't a lot in the form of severance pay after one has worked for someone as long as she had.
-- Anonymous, April 02, 2001
Uh, So-crates, do you suffer from a reading comprehension problem? Please re-read what I wrote.....it indicates that I had no REAL idea what you were talking about (apparently I'm not alone in that) and that I was GUESSING.
Now that I KNOW what you're talking about ..... I still don't know what you're talking about. Again, I don't seem to be alone in this. What "tax-free dollars" are you talking about? If the guy is misusing funds, nail him on it. If not, it's just another right-wing/repug smokescreen.
And wouldn't THAT be different. ROTFLMAO. (You guys need to get some new tactics. These are wearing pretty thin.)
(BTW, feel free to point to any place I said "This just doesn’t seem to bother [me] at all".)
Anita, am I the only one who wonders at how a used condom can prove paternity? Um, aren't they used to PREVENT such things?
-- Anonymous, April 02, 2001
Anita, am I the only one who wonders at how a used condom can prove paternity? Um, aren't they used to PREVENT such things?Heh. I don't wonder at how a used condom can prove paternity, but I wonder how it came about that a man who recognized that a condom was necessary found himself in a situation where he somehow didn't. 30- year-old women don't get pregnant by accident these days.
-- Anonymous, April 02, 2001
so if i posted a topic about jesse jackson would we have discussed the brutal rape and murder of a 13 year old boy by homosexuals that went unreported by the mainstream media?
-- Anonymous, April 03, 2001
Could be -- Thread Drift Happens.
Don't understand your beef; did I not just agree with you?
Kinda sucks when those you place into a nice, neat little box don't seem to want to stay there, doesn't it?
-- Anonymous, April 03, 2001
Don't understand your beef; did I not just agree with you?No beef, was just reading the thread and amused as to how we went from one horrible incident to another horrible incident...
-- Anonymous, April 03, 2001
hey, wait a minute... did i fall out of your box, patricia?
-- Anonymous, April 03, 2001
Oh Mr. Bob, you tempt an old sage such as I.
-- Anonymous, April 03, 2001
So (cr@t.es)well, i'm pretty sure she knows that i know what i'm saying...double entendre and all...
-- Anonymous, April 03, 2001
I never put you into a "box", per se, U.B. Oh, you fit a certain "profile", but you say (write) somethings that would belie that "profile".
There are some others, however.....
-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001
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