Connecting moms in Polk County, Fla.
Death of 10yr old Mulberry Boy
Why did the reporter who wrote the story for The Ledger feel it was necessary to state the child lived in a trailer (verses his 'home'), with 13 relatives (verses 'siblings and extended family'), and that the father was quoted via an interpreter (why not just quote him?)??? Those things had no bearing on the story, and cause many who didn't know the boy to make assumptions about his life, his family and his death.
What a sad way to discount the life of a child: portray him as a worthless migrant, whose parents dont speak English.
Way to go, Ledger.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by kimpsbl2 on -
I didn't see it as portraying the child as worthless, for goodness sakes, all the children were shaking and crying in the classroom and the father is unable to comprehend, and the family travels together to work. THere is no shame in this scenario and the article is better for having described all this for the reader. It's a tribute imo.
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Permalink Reply by Alicia (Alsan) on -
This story has hit very close to home to 2 of my good friends and I know how they and their children are struggling with it. As someone who lives in a "trailer" I don't really see the need to make that distinction. Whether it's a trailer or a block house, it's a home. I can maybe see "via interpreter" in case any of the information was wrong, not actually what the dad said. I was hoping the poor migrant angle was to invoke sympathy and therefore help with donations for the funeral, but in this political climate when there's so much negative talk about migrant workers I don't know how effective that is. I didn't get "worthless" but I did worry that it may not help donations with all the migrant, 13 people, etc details and I do agree many of those details were unnecessary. It may not have been intentional but was just someone trying to be thorough - I hope so.
My heart breaks for this family and for his classmates and those who were on the emergency call.
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Permalink Reply by bizeemomma on -
I just wanted to clarify, I didn't mean the boy was implied as worthless... That was a really poor choice of words.
I also wanted to say.... The story was edited at some point this afternoon, and 'trailer' was changed to 'mobile home.' Small steps, but at least it was an effort.
The Wagner Elementary PTA is collecting donations through tomorrow for the family to pay for his funeral.... If anyone was interested. Wagner is located on Yates Road, just south of Pipkin near Geico.
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Permalink Reply by Jmarr on
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The person who wrote it was definitely going for the poor migrant angle...but I think his intentions were to just invoke more pity and make the story even more sad. I agree...sad enough without all the poverty details. Heartbreaking.
I have met a lot of people with very negative opinions about people in this boy's situation (just read the comment thread in the Ledger at the end of the story). I guess the Ledger could have left out some details, but the same conclusions would have been drawn by the same people due to the boy's name alone. I have had people say negative things about people from Latin American countries to my face, not realizing my husband is from El Salvador. I have noticed that negative attitude towards blacks and hispanics is particularly bad here in Central FL. So, while the writer may have been trying to make the story as sad as he could, he was also making people angry at the family.
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Permalink Reply by Shawn Arnold on -
If some are wondering about the referenced article and story I'll add it below.
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Permalink Reply by Shawn Arnold on
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About this tragedy, it's plain and simple awful, the whole 360 degrees of it. Alicia, good point on first responders. I have a friend that's a fireman that recently told me stories that still haunt him, some things never can leave. To those poor classmates that have to continue class less a classmate will be life ingraining. To the family and friends of this little guy, I'm so sorry you are going through this; I can't imagine your pain. :(
As a mom, I can't help but feel relieved this story was published, showers a message to us all. We have a rope swing in one of our trees that we have great and good ol fashion fun on. I will certainly make sure I'm not in other places in the yard while someone is playing on it and it reminds me, actually makes me wonder if I've given them effective safety instructions on playing with that swing.
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Permalink Reply by Alicia (Alsan) on
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Shawn, we (meaning you and me) know one of the first responders - keep her in your thoughts, this one has been particularly hard for her. :( Also, another friend's son is having a hard time understanding the loss of his classmate.
I wouldn't have worried about a rope swing, with a child that age. :( it just goes to show anything can happen and you're never too old for a freak accident. My heart just breaks for this family.
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Permalink Reply by Raquel mcmillan on -
Very sad story. I also felt that the Ledger didnt have to include the "extra" details in the article.
They had already said that the mom/dad lived in the home w/their children. And that many are grown and their children live there as well? Not our business to know. Then also why was it necessary to say that they sat in the living room around his memorial on lawn chairs and buckets used for tomato picking. They may have tried to play the sympathy card but to me just a little to insensitive and better wording would have helped.
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Permalink Reply by bizeemomma on
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Insensitive is right. I just read the comments for the first time, and I'm choking back tears by some of the crass comments made by just a few fools. Thankfully, Wagner's assistant principal is on the job... Because she was commenting right along with others who want to help this family. I mean, my daughter was his friend... And we've been mourning him and praying for his family all week. And to hear the kids speak of him, you'd think he came from the richest family in town. And maybe, just maybe, his family is rich - in ways that money could never buy.
Shawn, isn't there a way the Ledger can have the comments area turned off? (If they aren't already - I'm on my phone and can't tell).
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Permalink Reply by Shawn Arnold on
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bizeemomma, sorry not to see this sooner, I've been picking up kids from school. To answer your question, I'm not really sure. When the Ledger and PolkMoms previously ran on the same software I could have given you all the abilities ins and outs but now the Ledger comments are generated through facebook.
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Permalink Reply by Alicia (Alsan) on
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I have deliberately not gone back to the story because I just knew in my gut some people would be hateful :( It just sickens me what an insensitive world we live in. :(
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Permalink Reply by Grace Smith on
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This was certainly a shock to our school. I am pleased we were able to raise money to help the family. The comments after the story broke my heart.
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