Friday, February 11th, 2011
Today Show,
I write in response to the interview you aired this morning at approximately 0830 (8:30 A.M. EST) entitled “Pint-Sized Hero.”
While I often enjoy your show, the story and interview on your show this morning about the “Pint-Sized Hero” frustrated me to such a level that it compelled me to contact you (and post this matter to one of my blogs as well). This story of the four year old that sought help by walking away from the solo vehicle accident - wherein her mother had lost control of the family pick-up truck and flipped the vehicle on the ice covered Illinois (or Iowa) farm road - would seem to be more of a story of absurdity as much as it was a story of the young child’s resourcefulness. Of course, the four year old walking off into the snow covered countryside seeking help from strangers to assist her mother and younger brother in/with the overturned and wrecked vehicle was quite impressive. (Apparently this accident happened at nighttime and in the dark - which makes the matter all the more impressive to the credit of the four year old, and incredibly more dangerous too!) No doubt, the four year in your story old seemed to have more intelligence than her mother.
However, I mean…, was the mother nearly as mentally-deficient, reckless, and irresponsible as the story made her sound? This story made the mother seem to be such an extreme idiot - which she surely was by any account of the story: no safety restraints on the toddler children while driving on the ice covered road and obviously she was too stupid/simple-minded to slow down on the ice covered road (for which she was cited for the multiple counts of infractions, as you reported and she admitted) - that I had to write to ask you if the mother was, in reality and in person, half as stupid and irresponsible as your truthful story made her seem to be (a story which she conceded to be truthful and she did not contest, by the way). I’m curious, did she seem in person to be as irresponsible (as this story seemed to suggest) to such a level whereby she should not be trusted with the welfare of the young children? By modern standards, the apparent and continued level of recklessness displayed by this mother on nearly every possible front during the reported incident makes me wonder if she should be trusted with the well-being of any young children.
Again, the mother in this story seemed so idiotically irresponsible that I became frustrated to where I believed myself compelled to write you this note and to post it to my blog as well. I’m curious, do tell if the mother was really as stupid as the story showed her to be, if you would. I am aware we all make mistakes, but when the lives of young and innocent children hang in the balance, well….. (Afterthought: Then again, maybe the task at hand was simply too much for the young mother and the father - or lack thereof - should be the focus of any blame?)
Furthermore, if this story was meant to be one of inspiration or whatever, I think you should reconsider who you have determining what and how you report your news stories. In all likelihood, maybe you should hire me for a real person’s point of view as to what stories you report and what is the true issue of the story, as your show now also seems challenged in this regard. I also can’t help but to wonder if your program’s decision maker/programming director somehow identified with the apparently simple-minded mother in the story and interview. Please let me know any thoughts or comments you may have on the issues herein, if you would be so kind.
Thank you,
Adam Trotter / AVT
[my email address was included in my note I posted to Today Show's Website]
See my comment on Today Show's/MSNBC's Comment Board at:
http://today.newsvine.com/_news/2011/02/11/6032991-girl-4-treks-quarter-mile-through-snow-to-save-family-?threadId=3050781&commentId=51582861#c51582861
See the story at:
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/41529779#41529779
Girl, 4, treks through snow to save family
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/41529753/ns/today-today_people/
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