About a month ago I read an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer about a police officer who was shot. He died, leaving a wife who was 5 months pregnant then. This story stood out to me because I could clearly see the victim myth described by Dr. Lule. The Victim myth is one where tragedy strikes unexpectedly, for instance an innocent man is killed in an airplane crash, leaving behind a wife and five children. The story will then seek to find how loved ones are affected by the tragedy, and as the story progresses, the victim is frequently raised to a hero status.
This article brought officer John Pawlowski back to the attention of readers by capturing moments during the hearing. Pawlowski's wife "took her seat in the front row, where she immediately began crying, dabbing a tissue to her eyes." Pawlowski's partner "nervously testified". It's interesting to see how this piece of news is told as a story because according to Dr. Lule, humans grow up immersed in myths. We subconsciously recognize the myths behind certain news and are drawn to them.
My heart goes out to officer Pawlowski's wife. I hope the guy who shot the officer will receive his due punishment.
http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20090327_At_emotional_hearing__a_cop_s_death_retold.html
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