The Brave, The Evil, and Oprah Winfrey

Nobody’s Opinion; It’s a funny world. On the day that Ann Landers, one of America’s staunchest and moralistic Advice Icons came out in support of gay marriage--- Michael J. Devlin, the pizza man from St. Louis who kidnapped two boys and sexually molested them both without remorse, confessed to the crimes and was sentenced to 18 consecutive life terms, and 52 additional concurrent life terms.

I think Devlin got off easy.

There are remarkable heros here…the two boys (Shawn Hornbeck and William Ownby), their parents, and the local press with the respectable way they treated the issue. All concerned (except for a few) were filled with overwhelming happiness that the boys were alive.

Let’s face it, from the kidnapping of Charles Lindbergh’s baby, to John Walsh’s little ‘Adam’…most of these kids don’t come back alive. The horror that these parents must have faced---my god---who of us could even imagine it unless we have been there?

One day the boys were on their bikes, the next day…gone.

And this is why there was so much universal joy when we saw the miracle of their homecoming and the immense jubilation on the family’s faces, when Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownby were found alive.

Everyone here---from the sheriff to the lawyers, to the parents, hell, the whole city…put the boy's well-being first and foremost. Nothing was played to money, or ratings. When Shawn came out to answer questions from the press…no one dug him for “details”…all the professionals were concerned about the boys and their right to respect---even love.

This is how it should be.

Now, this was locally.

Today, it was revealed that when Shawn Hornbeck, the boy that was kept as a prisoner for over four years after being captured at gunpoint when he was eleven---yes, Devlin admitted he was going to kill him. But because Shawn begged for his life, Devlin took him home and attached him to a futon for a couple of months. The deal was made that he would not kill him if he promised not to escape.

One wonders how he went to the bathroom while Devlin was working.

Why do I bring this up?

Because I remember the great and powerful Oprah Winfrey, the loving omnipotent queen of kindness, the woman who loves the universe so much she gives millions away to Africa…drilling poor Shawn with question after question on why he did not contact his parents or anyone.

In her sweet Attila the Hun way---Oprah got an exclusive.

“Couldn’t you have called them anytime? Why didn’t you?” etc. She went on with this attitude for most of the interview.

I kept thinking that it was like she was trying to prove that the boy was maybe gay and WANTED to stay away from his parents.

You don’t get to the top by being a pussy cat.

I wanted to personally punch her lights out for the obvious cruelty and complete insensitivity she showed to both the parents and Shawn.

And this from a woman who claims she was molested as a child.

Washington County Prosecuting Attorney John Rupp said today, “If there is any question why that boy did not run, I think Mr. Devlin just answered it.”

Well, I guess I wasn’t the only one pissed off at Oprah. I do wonder though if Oprah has heard Devlin’s confession, and if she will apologize to Shawn and his family.

If she does, it will be on national TV where once again, she will make the whole show about how wonderful Oprah Winfrey is for apologizing to Shawn…because she just didn’t know, and then will continue to go on and ask for “details” of his sexual abuse knowing that her money is just pouring in.

Something tells me, she would love that---but something also tells me that Shawn Hornbeck will not be Oprah’s next rating’s “victim”. Oprah is small potatos next to Devlin.

And Shawn beat them all. The parents are convinced and so is Shawn, that it was prayer that helped them all deal with the whole nightmare.

No, Shawn in my book is a very brave, special, and intelligent young man.

His strength comes from his family, and his faith, and he is proof of just how powerful these two things are.

As for Oprah…I suggest Oprah interview Ann Landers because they have so much to talk about and so much in common…don’t you think?

Hey, maybe they will fall in love and get married?

I’ll watch!