Donna Carbone's Open Salon Blog

Crime reports and the media

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:03:35 -0400

Too much (erroneous) information too soon

After reading the latest (3/27/12) account of the confrontation between 17 year-old Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman on February 26^th – a confrontation in which young Mr. Martin was killed – I feel compelled to ask why the media is permitted to publish a report on a crime before the facts have been verified. This morning’s Palm Beach Post carried two articles – one by Rene Stutzman of the Orlando Sentinel and the other by Post columnist Frank Cerabino.

Stutzman’s article brings to light new facts on the case. Whereas previously it was thought that Zimmerman shot Martin without provocation, the police have now revealed that Zimmerman was physically attacked by Martin to the degree that “Martin decked Zimmerman… climbed on top of Zimmerman and slammed his head into the sidewalk.” An eye witness has gone on record, saying that he saw Martin on top of a beaten and bloody Zimmerman. He also stated that he heard Zimmerman cry out for help.

According to Stutzman’s article, Zimmerman relayed this account to the police both on the night of the attack and at subsequent meetings. Yet, neither the press nor the public were informed until recently. Rather, Zimmerman was tried and found guilty in the court of public opinion and, now, no matter what the eventual outcome may be -- no matter the truth -- society will always see him as the guy who shot a black teenager for no reason.

Cerabino’s article plays into the white versus black issue… and rightly so. No matter how far we have come in race relations, we still have far to go. The biggest problem when a case like Martin/Zimmerman arises is determining whether race was actually a factor. Sadly, it usually is if only to a small degree.

Cerabino questions whether Zimmerman, who is now in hiding, was not arrested because he is white. Actually, he is bi-racial. His mother is Hispanic. I find it interesting that no one is mentioning that under other circumstances, people might be rallying to Zimmerman’s cause if he had been shot and killed by a white person.

For comparison purposes, Frank Cerabino used the case of Trevor Dooley, a 69-year-old black bus driver, who shot and killed Iraqi War veteran David James, 41, during an altercation at a public park. The argument started when the older man tried to usher skateboarders from the premises. James, who was playing basketball with his 8-year old daughter, took sides against Dooley. Words turned to fists and, being younger and more physically fit, James had the advantage. James’ daughter testified that her dad “… got on top of him to keep him down.” Dooley then shot James, killing him with a single bullet.

Where the stories of Dooley/James and Martin/Zimmerman differ is that Dooley was arrested and charged with manslaughter. Zimmerman is not facing arrest at this time. Was race a motivating factor? No one with an ounce of intellect could honestly say “No.” Humans are imperfect creatures.

Flipping over a few pages in the same edition of the Post, I came across an article about Dominique Strauss Kahn. Kahn (DSK) is the former International Monetary Fund chief accused of rape by a maid working at a New York City hotel. DSK was paraded in handcuffs before the media before any hard evidence had been collected. He was tried and condemned in less time than it takes to bake a potato in a microwave oven. Then… oops, he was set free. Why? New evidence came to light.

Too late! Strauss Kahn’s political career was over. Any chance of regaining his position of power in France was lost. To this day, no one knows what happened in that hotel room. It doesn’t matter. DSK is a rapist in the mind of everyone familiar with the story.

Now, don’t misunderstand me. My personal feeling is that Strauss Kahn is probably not a man to ask first. There is also a strong possibility that Zimmerman and James were motivated to intervene (not necessarily engage) due to negative feelings on race. Those are circumstances that need to be seriously considered by law enforcement when pursuing a case. The media should stay out of it until they have the full story.

To get back to my original question… when should the media report on a crime and how much of their early reports should contain “speculation.” From where I sit, the public is entitled to know what is happening in their communities and around the world as soon as possible. But, and this is a big but, only the facts should be reported. If there aren’t any facts to report, that should be mentioned as well.

It is not the media’s place to throw blood into the water and force a feeding frenzy. That may sell papers but it doesn’t speak to ethics and morals. Then again, ethics and morals seem to have gone the way of the dodo bird.

What is it about the "P" word?

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:02:20 -0500

The human anatomy is an interesting body of work. Held together by muscles and tendons, we come in many shapes and sizes, varying colors and distinguishing facial features. Some of us have blond hair, some brunette and others auburn or raven tresses. Some of us even come by those colors naturally.

Our eyes are very often our most distinguishing feature, and the more vivid the color, the more likely someone will remember us. If we are tall, we stand out in the crowd. Short -- we take the chance of being trampled.

Women gawk at well-built men and men return the favor. Biceps are squeezed to test their “hardness” and six-pack abs are displayed like Michelangelo’s David.

Full lips, straight white teeth, tiny waist, long fingers, firm butt – these are all things people talk about without the slightest hesitation. Considering that conversations in which these topics arise are often sexist, it amazes me how little controversy they cause.

My husband is a retired doctor. I ran his office for over 25 years. Not one patient ever squirmed when hearing about hernias, ulcers, bladder infections, menstruation or childbirth. Body functions were discussed openly and without discomfort. Over lunches and dinners with friends in the medical field, every aspect of the human form was talked about and no one blushed.

We raised two kids – a son and a daughter – and when it came time to teach them about life and sex, we did so honestly. We never allowed cutesy words to substitute for the actual appendage we were discussing. Arms were arms. Legs were legs. Breasts were breasts. Even male and female genitalia were named appropriately. As a result my children grew up without any embarrassment about their own bodies. That’s actually something that makes me quite proud.

Coming back to the original purpose of this piece, thanks to a “no holds barred” approach to television advertising, people have grown accustomed to hearing about stomach ailments, urinary incontinence, diarrhea and even erectile dysfunction. Tell me why then that the mere mention of a penis (the actual word) sends the media diving for cover. In discussions on sexual assault, it’s a weapon – nothing more.

As many of you know, my daughter was sexually assaulted five years ago. I’ve become a very vocal advocate supporting women who have known the terror and pain of rape. My writing focuses extensively on the need to treat rape as a crime no different from any other crime. It’s violent. It’s devastating and life changing, but the one thing it isn’t… it isn’t about sex.

Here we have a little five letter word – doesn’t take up much space on the page or anywhere else for that matter – but if, as a writer, I dare to use it in my articles, I can guarantee my work will never be seen. Conversely, if a writer wants to get attention, all he or she has to do is use the “F” word or the “N” word – especially the “N” word. The “F” word just rolls off people’s tongues like honey on a hot summer day.

I’ve used the word penis twice (counting this one) in this post. If I were to submit this article anywhere but on the internet, do you know what would happen?

NOTHING!

Yup, nothing! You would never see this article. And nothing is what you will hear, as well. The “P” word makes everyone instantly blind, deaf, mute and stupid!

Grrrrrrr is me!

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 16:02:44 -0500

If you read the Wikipedia page dedicated to bull dogs, you will understand why I consider myself a kindred spirit. Bulldogs are normally docile and happy to please. Although low to the ground, they can move quickly when the need arises. Occasionally, they can be willful and stubborn.

That’s me. No matter how troubled I am in my personal life, I try always to smile and spare others the misery loves company routine. I’m short but I can run – especially my mouth off. Get me started on topics dealing with women’s rights, and I’ll talk until your ears bleed. Injustice gnaws away at my insides and, like a bull dog, I’m ready to fight whenever the need arises.

Rarely am I stumped when formulating a battle plan. I’m good with words and my favorite weapon is to write insightful commentary that forces the reader to consider all sides to an issue, especially when it comes to violent crime… sexual assault in particular.

Needless to say, nothing frustrates me more than having roadblocks erected by disingenuous people. I recently wrote an article expressing my views on the redefining of rape by the FBI. Although it has taken eighty years to accomplish what should have been written into the law from day one, representatives in Washington are boasting as though they suddenly discovered Jack’s magic beans.

You may have read my op/ed piece posted here on dtms a few weeks ago. I know for a fact you could not have read it anywhere except on the web. Every newspaper rejected it. Baffled as I was by the lack of positive response, I wrote the editor of one local paper. Here is our email exchange:

Editor to me:

Donna, thanks for sending. I’ll pass on this.

Me to Editor:

I would like to ask you a question, and if you choose to answer, I would appreciate total honesty.
Why is it that whenever a woman writes an article encouraging women, especially those who have been sexually assaulted, to take a stand and fight back through the courts or in the legislature, no one wants to publish it. Are we going to be treated as victims forever? Is being a survivor not something to celebrate? Thanks for your candor.

Editor to me:

You say “whenever.” What is that based on?

Me to editor:

I've submitted similar articles to other media outlets. No response. Every time I write an article that attempts to move rape out of the realm of sex crime and into its deserved place as a violent crime, the media turns a deaf ear. Every victim I've ever met -- no, allow me to change that -- every survivor I've ever met agrees that until we can speak about rape openly and honestly, we'll never reduce the assault rate. Until that day, rapists will always have the advantage.

Editor to me:

I can’t speak for “other media outlets.” I’d say (local paper) has given you room for comment.

Me to Editor:

You have and I appreciate what space you have given me. However to make change, one must make waves. The media seems to like still water.

Editor to me:

silence

Of course, there was no “editor to me.” The dialogue – if it ever was a dialogue – ended abruptly. Notice I never did get an answer to my original question. I must say that now I actually know what is meant by “a man of few words.”

I don’t care how often my editorials wind up in a circular file. I don’t care how many rejection notices I receive. As long as women are in danger of being sexually assaulted, I will keep writing. I will preach from my soapbox until I’ve whittled it down to a toothpick. Then, I will pile my toothpicks one on top of the other and keep talking.

As my daughter said after she was attacked, “If by pursuing my attacker in a court of law spares even one other woman from being raped, all that I went through was worth it.”

Saving lives – when is it not worth it?

Visit: www.feelnoshame.org

FBI changes definition of rape

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:01:59 -0500

After 80 years, FBI changes definition of rape
Words alone can’t change minds

In September 2011, The New York Times reported that Carol Tracy, Executive Director of the Women’s Law Project (Philadelphia), spoke to a gathering of sex crime investigators, police chiefs, federal officials and advocates at a meeting organized by the Police Executive Research Forum in Washington, D.C. Her message was that “The public has the right to know about the prevalence of crime and violent crime in our communities, and we know that data drives practices, resources, policies and programs.” Underlying that statement was an awareness that the FBI’s definition of rape had not changed in 80 years.

At the time the 2010 Uniform Crime Report (FBI) was released, the old definition was still in place – “carnal knowledge of a female, forcibly and against her will.” For years, critics have protested that the definition does not take into account sexual assault cases involving anal or oral penetration or penetration with a foreign object. Neither does the definition account for assaults where the victim was drugged or drunk. Equally as important, the definition excludes males who have been assaulted.

As a result, statistics are skewed. The 2010 UCR reported a five percent drop in sexual assaults from 2009 – an inaccurate and misleading figure. Anytime a drop in crime statistics is reported,
legislators take it as a signal to reduce services and resources devoted to assisting rape victims. Additionally, reduced crime statistics result in less money being allocated on local and state
levels toward the capture and prosecution of rapists.

On Friday, January 6, 2012, the Obama administration announced a revision to the definition of rape used by the FBI. That revision will now allow for coverage of assaults formerly omitted and will provide greater leverage for those proposing anti-crime initiatives. The downside is that the change will take several years to be fully implemented. As a lay person and someone who is definitely on the part of law enforcement, I can never understand why directives that benefit society have any time constraints. We needed this change years ago –not years from now.

In announcing the policy change, Valerie Jarrett, Chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls, stated that the new definition of rape “will lead to more accurate reporting and a far
more complete understanding of this crime.” In my heart, I know that it is going to take a whole lot more than updated verbiage to convince women (and men) to report sexual assaults.

Until we educate society that rape is not about sex – until we remove the stigma of shame that is associated with rape – women and men who are brutalized by this crime will remain shivering in
the shadows. Cultural norms dictate that rape victims’ identities be hidden from the public. As a domestic abuse victim and as the mother of a rape survivor, I continually ask, “Why?” We didn’t
do anything wrong. We’re not ashamed. Why is it that victims of robberies, muggings and attempted murders are basking in the spotlight of media attention, but sexual assault survivors are hidden in the shadows? Why is it that unless an attacker is a celebrity, no one cares about the victims?

The most brutal aspects of violent crime are reported on in the press. If someone is bludgeoned to death, a description of the weapon is included. If a knife is used, we read about the length of the blade. If a battering tool of some type is the cause of injuries, we learn that it was a baseball bat or an iron pipe. A shooting report includes the type of gun and caliber of bullets. Why is choice of a penis verboten. It’s a weapon – nothing more.

The women and men who survive a sexual assault should be lauded in the press. Those who are determined to bring their attackers to justice are heroes. Do you know how much courage it takes for a victim to face her/his rapist in court? More than most people will ever require in an entire lifetime. These brave survivors are on the front line, fighting in the courts and sending a powerful message to assailants that they will not quiver in fear. Society should be obligated to applaud their efforts. We should award them medals. We should… we must sing their praises from the rooftops and do it in voices loud enough that rapists know we are coming for them.

Until we make “victim” a word to fear in the heart of every rapist, we will never reduce the incidence of sexual assault. I implore all those who have suffered the pain and terror of rape to stand tall and proud. Step out into the spotlight and demand to be seen. Demand to be heard.

Our motto should always be “Once Victimized – Now Victorious.”

Burt Reynolds to expand his Master Acting Classes

Mon, 9 Jan 2012 07:01:57 -0500

Experienced Actors Encouraged to Enroll

The Burt Reynolds Institute recently announced that its Master Acting class, taught by mega-star Burt Reynolds, has opened enrollment for the winter term. Experienced actors interested in auditioning for the course should contact Finance Director Donna Carbone at 561 385-1584 or email briftfinancedirector@comcast.net.

Upon inquiry, a registration form will be provided. Actors must include an updated resume and recent head shot when applying. A one minute monologue or a short scene, which can be performed with an equally experienced partner, should be prepared before auditioning.

Other classes available at The Institute include Teleprompter: A Tool for the Actor and Business Professional on Monday evenings and Screenwriting 101 on Tuesday evenings. On Wednesday evenings the popular Improvisation Plus is offered -- a sure way to increase self-confidence. Each of these classes begins at 7 pm. Sunday afternoons at 4, Fundamentals of Acting is the place to be for beginning and intermediate actors wishing to enhance their performance skills.

On Saturday mornings, Improvisation for Young Actors is offered to students in 12 – 17 year old age range. This class is geared to help students (actors and non-actors alike) have fun while improving self-esteem.

The Burt Reynolds Institute for Film & Theatre is located at 100 North U.S. Highway One, Jupiter, Florida. Call 561 385-1584 or email briftfinancedirector@comcast.net for information and directions.