The Media and the Natalee Holloway Disappearance

Enter Natalee Holloway into Google News and you'll find that large media is into naval gazing on the Natalee Holloway case once more. It seems as though no big story can continue for long, or end - for that matter - without media reminding us at some point that they are the story, after all. However, there will inevitably be some important issues they'll miss - that's also to be expected.

Forget that the very people related to these critiques are using the Natalee Holloway brand to drive their readership, just as much as anyone else, actually. But they do it in a far more disingenuous manner.

When "Dateline NBC" reporter Josh Mankiewicz asked television news division chiefs to talk about disproportionate coverage of attractive white females who go missing, only his boss agreed.

Of course, NBC is just another one of the television networks which invariably retain blond or brunette hosts, co-hosts, anchors or other news commentators to deliver their nightly reports, whether the reports have to do with Natalee Holloway, or not.

And, if they aren't white, the fact is they are about as close to it as one can get. This isn't really a secret, it's just one of those facts media prefers to ignore.

Funny, I can't recall turning on any large television network and seeing anyone who looks vaguely similar to LaToyia Figueroa doing the nightly news. Maybe they don't appreciate everyone talking so much about Natalee Holloway because she may have made a fine anchor one day. No, she likely would have had to of had a nose job for that. And God forbid a late onset of acne, or something so truly tragic.

The reality is that a significant portion of America has been following this story because it is accessible on so many levels - it is a crime mystery, a tragedy, a celebration of youth and a compelling, introspective look at its dangers and idiosyncrasies, at the same time - not to mention the exotic locale and a women, however you wish to judge here, who is determined to find out what happened to her missing daughter, no matter what she thinks that might take. Now, isn't THAT outrageous behavior?

The fact is a large portion of America is white. When she packs her sons and daughters off to college, she pictures the Natalee Holloway's or her male counterpart because they are representative of what she knows and experiences in an average day.

Pardon us if we don't jump off the high dive of political correctness, ignore who and what we are and focus more on the many documented instances of minorities gone missing because it simply doesn't immediately resonate with what any quick observation will tell you we are - predominantly white, middle class, Americans. Why should we allow anyone to try and make us feel embarrassed about that? It's ridiculous.

How dare we think about ourselves and attempt to come to grips with our children's issues and ourselves through the Natalee Holloway case. We should be doing the same naval gazing and condemning ourselves the media is doing. That same media who will undoubtedly continue to prop up the whitest, regardless of ethnicity, news readers it can find.

And why? Because it sells, of course. Because it speaks to who, in vast majority America is - and there's nothing to be ashamed of in that. I think we've been doing pretty good so far as country's go, even if those who can't seem to like anything, don't like it.

Large media should stop analyzing the Natalee Holloway issue. Their coverage of much of the news and human affairs has already proved they lack the depth of intelligence to do it right - let alone candidly. The fact that many of Americans may be watching the Natalee Holloway case doesn't mean they don't care about LaToyia Figueroa.

In my opinion, big media seems to spend far more time worrying about being correct, than they do worrying about being candid - read that honest.

This post is also available at Blogger News Network.

Comments

[jaybo]

The biggest problem with the MSM is that they are too busy trying to destroy the president.

Fox News has spent more time covering other dissappearances of people (including minorities) than the other three combined (ABC, NBC, CBS).

These same three are just mad because they continue to lose influence over the american public.

[Bigfish]

Very hypocritical of the networks.

Bigfish

[Not a Hand Wringer.]

Spin it any way you want...missing white girls get more TV coverage than missing girls of colour.

While the reasons for that may not be sinister, anyone with eyes can recognize the trend.

[[[[caldrmn}}}]

The MSM decides what news they want us to hear,than whine because we listen to it.

[bhm mom too]

great editorial

[TS]

"Large media should stop analyzing the Natalee Holloway issue. Their coverage of much of the news and human affairs has already proved they lack the depth of intelligence to do it right - let alone candidly. The fact that many of Americans may be watching the Natalee Holloway case doesn't mean they don't care about LaToyia Figueroa."

Well said, Dan.

[TheAlamo]

Good points Dan.
This person gets more of this...this person gets more of that...what a decadent society we have become. Does it REALLY make a difference? How many crimes has the media busted anyway? Why not this: "An American girl is missing in Aruba." Are black people happy because she is white and is missing? I don't think so. If it were a black girl would the tragedy be any less? Not at all. Would white people be happier? Not at all. This idea that we even have to have "quotas" for crime and crime victims is total lunacy. (we forgot to tell the criminals about it too!) We have a nation of two year olds crying because somebody else got a bigger piece of candy than they did. Get over it. A FREE people are FREE to watch the news or not not watch it. A FREE news source is FREE to carry whatever story they want to carry--even if I don't like it. That's what the TV on-off knob is for. People better wake up. This division in this nation is completely detrimental to ALL Americans. All I can say is that if someone has a problem with someone else because of the color of their skin, then they should stay home, close their doors and stay in the vegatative state that they are obviously in. More and more "groupthink." The same goes for those who blame "Aruba" for Natalie's disappearance. THEY didn't do it. Probably one WHITE boy and two BROWN boys--not the WHOLE island. Now...you have your racial equality in the crime. One white boy and two brown. So....if they are guilty we must just have to let one of the brown boys go so that we can be equal. Ludicrous. Socialist mentalities are the bane of the world. I want a quota on "quota" people. We only need two, thank you. The rest of you be quiet and go play with your dolls and marbles.

[FloridaPatty]

TheAlamo~ thank you for saying that. Good post.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Well I actually clicked on the first Google hit for Natalee and got this:

By Patrick Hurley
Aug. 6, 2005

According to the National Enquirer, Natalee Holloway, following a WILD night of partying died accidentally at the hands of Joran Van der Sloot and an X-rated porn producer who planned to use her in his new sex movie. The newspaper, (if you can call it that!) did not clarify if Natalee was going along with this plan voluntarily. Indications are she was not, since she had been given a drug to render her more amenable to her potential "stardom."

Of course, there is no substance to this story as of today. But, if it turns out to be true and it is a huge IF....is significant in several ways.

First of all, if there is a second person involved here, there is a possibility of prosecution. If such a sleaze bag producer does exist and he is guilty, then Joran can be tied to a kidnapping charge at the very minimum. There might also be evidence that the crack investigation unit of Aruba might STILL be able to obtain.

Secondly, this scenario would explain why Joran has been able to stave off the interrogation so successfully since, in his mind, he was not the main perpetrator nor did he purposefully kill Natalee. He was a low life pimp, not a brutal murderer. Instead of being like Ted Bundy, he would be more like Ted Kennedy. Hey, ACCIDENTS do happen, right?

Thirdly, this mystery would make a little more sense. One of the most frustrating parts of it is WHY would a girl like Natalee Holloway get into a car with strangers instead of with her friends. I am having trouble accepting the, "she got into what she THOUGHT was a cab," explanation because it still doesn't explain why she ditched her friends who were standing there getting into the real cabs. The other frustrating question is why was she singled out? This story answers that. Evidently, the X-rated producer liked her "look." Wouldn't we all like his "look" in a prison cell forever?

Finally, if this story is true and they catch said producer, the case could be resolved. We had heard rumors of Joran doing a sex video with an underage girl, so there seems to be a precedent here with the Dutch boy and his girls. The Kalpoe brothers might be in trouble again since it is likely they KNEW about the scheme, too. and once they got Natalee into the car, got their payment, went home satisfied they had done their dirty deed.

Do I believe this story? Do you believe it?

I honestly do not know what to believe anymore. There have been so many lies, false leads, potential breaks in the mystery that turned up false, wrong people arrested, wrong people let go, fruitless searches, various theories that have not been provable and still...no Natalee. No evidence of foul play. No evidence of ANYTHING....

I just know that Natalee's reputation has been dragged through the dirt once again and she is not present to defend herself. If this story turns up false like all the others, it is another unfair hit on her family, too. For Natalee Holloway is not an X-rated actress, she is not a slut in a mini-skirt, she is not a runaway, she is not a drug addict, she is not stupid or self-destructive. At the very worst, she didn't stay close enough to her friends that fateful night and that may have been the worst mistake of her life. Because even if she had been drugged, her friends could have, and SHOULD have held onto her tightly and got her back into her room safely. But, that is 20/20 hindsight. We all know that now. When you are just out of high school and having a fun time in paradise, the thought of one of your friends being kidnapped and harmed is just not in the front of your brain. I am not excusing anyone here, I am just trying to be fair....

Part of me wishes this story is true and it is solved. The other part of me continues to be sick to my stomach that a sweet girl has gone missing and whoever was responsible for it is smiling right now...

Natalee what happened to you?

[FloridaPatty]

Great post Dan. Again, one of your betters.

[DennisAOK]

I couldn't agree more. I asked facetiously in a post about a week or so ago if a fellow blogger were suggesting that we have a national racial quota on missing persons. The truth is that we are drawn to the human interest stories of those most like ourselves. I dare say Natalee's story resonates most of all with white women who have teenage daughters. Hardly a surprise, or a reason for apology.

[GrannyToad]

Spot on, Dan. And a bunch of you others!

[Cindi in PA]

Bravo Dan..........

Nice post, ALAMO,Dennis.

However it's not just in the MSM, it's at our malls, car dealerships, government agencies.
Experienced it first hand when my sister and her two boys were living with me. My nephews dad is Mexican, my sister dark hair, dark complexion, dark eyes. When I would take the boys out, I was shocked to experience the ignorance shown them, even in my own Church. From that experience, I decided to move with my family into a very small, multi cultural town. My kids went to Catholic grade school with a mixture of nationalities, same in public high school. All of them had/have a mixture of friends, black, Indian, Hispanic. All of them have gone to their proms with someone at sometime of a different race. I must admit on my part it was a huge adjustment. But getting to know these kids, their parents, I also changed. As a result, my kids have grown up not seeing race or skin color, but the people behind all of that. Maybe it's us that need to think differently, the media might catch on.

[Wayne]

Great comentary Dan and great followup
comments.

[me]

I posted about two theories the fbi and the Aruban investigators have developed a few days ago when I returned from a trip to Aruba. Since then my contact told me they are following leads into a drug connection. It seems Joran and Natalee, who had been drinking a lot, as had her entire party, went to the secluded beach where they stumbled on a drug delivery. No moon that nighht, the coastguard not patrolling; ideal situation for a drug drop-off. Joran managed to run away and Natalee, inabriated, was not. She was caught by the presumably Colombian drug smugglers. Joran (who is rumored to have quite a few stiff gambling debts) wasn't aware that Natalee was hurt. He panicked and fled. He was traced and threatened. If he wwere to talk his family would die he was told. When mrs. Twitty entered the scene loudly demanding the whereabouts of her daughter she unaware sealed her daughters fate. All possible traces where cleaned and she was removed from the island. She might still be alive or the drugsmugglers might have finished her off and dumped her into sharkinfested waters. The irony is that if mrs Twitty (who barely on the island managed to insult the prime minister, police commisioner and the crime investigators) hadn't played the media so much she wouldn't have put the smuggling organisation under so much pressure. In order to keep their organisation invisible they acted fast and tidied up.
The media also managed to dazzle and intoxicate Karin Jansens who alienated her fellow law inforcers from her. Behind the scenes all hell has broken loose. Even the fbi investigators are frustrated that all leads have been soiled because of the extensive media attention and the irratic behavior of mts Twitty and her husband.

It's tragic enough that a young girls life has been crushed but how horrid it is that because of her mothers pressure to help her her fate was doomed. This story has the markings of a Greek tragedy all over it.

[missy]

Dan,
Well said.
Personally I am not interested in any person with a name that sounds like "The Toy" and who acts like a slut for years. No amount of media coverage will keep my attention.
It seems that the Holloways and Twittys have given America a guide to parental behavior in missing girl cases. Praise be.

[Paulo]

Dan,

Powerful stuff! Very well articulated moreover, ever so true. I really should start a collection of your writings--they are very inspirational.

Best of all, I feel that your writing is poised and informational. Thank you.

Paulo

[Cathy]

Politics plays a major role in racial divisions through their policies and political correctness. Absurdly, liberals run for cover placing all the blame on the conservatives when they're major players in causing racial divisions for vote gain, for instance "white Christians" placing the focus on a race instead of doctrines. It's not shocking that Natalee's race has become the focus within these circles instead of lessons learned and helping others. Since Natalee comes from a red state instead of a blue state, her race has become an issue and not the case with George Smith. Beth received no credit for her stand in advocating the innocence of the two black men. It just goes to show what hypocrites these people really are. Aruba may have a problem with women missing. The Aruban authorities have admitted indirectly through a police officer who seems to think that Natalee disappeared on her own because of prior cases. How do they know that some these women (most likely of Latin origins) disappeared on their own accord? I doubt that they put too much efforts in searching for them. With the said, it is almost nearly impossible for a country to kept with all the illegals leaving and coming to their shores.

I have been keeping up on the LaToyia Figueroa case. Her family seems to think the father of her baby or his close associates had something to do with her disappearance. The father of her baby has aroused suspicion because he did not want the baby.

Race is not reason why I keep up with the Holloway disappearance. She's a southerner, so I'm I. I'm married to a man of Mexican origins. His family has been in the United States for three generations. My two sons are half Mexicans.

[TheAlamo]

Below is a perfect example of this crap. What a pathetic group of people...both those who "can't deal with it," and the idiots that make these kinds of decisions. Hey....I am offended by ugly women...let's force them all to stay locked indoors!

NCAA Bans Indian Mascots During Postseason

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The NCAA banned the use of American Indian mascots by sports teams during its postseason tournaments, but will not prohibit them otherwise. The NCAA's executive committee decided this week the organization did not have the authority to bar Indian mascots by individual schools, committee chairman Walter Harrison said Friday.

Nicknames or mascots deemed ``hostile or abusive'' would not be allowed by teams on their uniforms or other clothing beginning with any NCAA tournament after Feb. 1, said Harrison, the University of Hartford's president.

``What each institution decides to do is really its own business'' outside NCAA championship events, he said.

Guidelines were not immediately available on which logos and nicknames would be considered ``hostile or abusive.''

The NCAA two years ago recommended that schools determine for themselves whether the Indian depictions were offensive.

Among the schools to change nicknames in recent years over such concerns were St. John's (from Redmen to Red Storm) and Marquette (from Warriors to Golden Eagles).

The NCAA plans to ban schools using Indian nicknames from hosting postseason events. Harrison said schools with such mascots that have already been selected as tournament sites would be asked to cover any offensive logos.

Such logos also would be prohibited at postseason games on cheerleader and band uniforms starting in 2008.

08/05/05 11:53

[Katie]

Dan,
Well said.
Personally I am not interested in any person with a name that sounds like "The Toy" and who acts like a slut for years. No amount of media coverage will keep my attention.
It seems that the Holloways and Twittys have given America a guide to parental behavior in missing girl cases. Praise be.

Posted by: missy | August 6, 2005 04:37 PM

Are you for real? That has to be the sickest thing I ever read.
BTW, you have no right praising anything. I just hope the god lord has mercy on your soul and forgives you for your ignorant and hateful ways.

[CoCo c'est juste]

@missy

re: LaToyia Figueroa

There but for the Grace of God go you....

God bless Latoyia Figueroa, her un-born child and family!

[clintcarter]

People who say there is no racism anymore do not walk around as a dark-skinned person.

[TheAlamo]

Clint;
I don't think anyone is trying to deny that racism exists, but to parade it back and forth on the TV, radio, in schools, etc., only exacerbates the situation.
Remember the old saying: "don't think of the color blue?"
When you hear that, what is the first thing you think of...blue, of course.
To continuously pay attention to something in such a negative way as quotas will not help, it will make matters worse. Making it easier for a person because of skin color will only make them seek more "free stuff," and make them weaker as individuals--at the same time. I have been discriminated against because I am a white male. So what...I find another way--there always is one.
I think that mature people are not racist. Immature people, who are lacking in thinking ability probably are. Problem is, you cannot educate, dumb, immature people. Racism will always exist. Publicizing it, trying to force it to go away--only makes it worse.

[Sluggo]

Re NE story:

www.MrPinkProductions.com IP search -

MrPinkProductions> Whois History:

(*) denotes significant change in whois record

2005-08-06
2005-07-07
2005-06-28
2005-05-30
Displaying 4 records

Since 2002, four significant changes in registration. Allsince May 30,2005 including one today.

Original site registration:

Creation date: 04 Sep 2002 22:34:22
Expiration date: 04 Sep 2005 22:34:49

http://www.whois.sc/whois-history/

A $15.00 one month membership will give names, addresses and previous domain registration info. What's in there that it was changed four times over three months, but never changed the three years prior to May 30, 2005? Is there a name or address someone would prefer not be associated?

[What'sthis]

I'm surprised that no one is really pointing out that the real issue and the real "draw" in NH's disappearance is because it shows how we would probably be treated within a foreign jurisdiction. IMO, it's a compelling, alarming, inside look at what Americans can expect for themselves and their families should they ever visit "Paradise" and have something go dreadfully wrong. Same thing with the appeal of the cruise ship robberies, assaults, and disappearances. And, by the way, our American owned cruise lines seem to be no more motivated in exploring and investigating than law enforcement in these so-called tropical paradises. Most of the people involved in these exotic locale tragedies happen to be white. Their color doesn't matter to me, but their legal treatment, or lack thereof, DOES.