As the writer who "breathlessly" broke this story I am amused beyond giddiness to see how quickly the sheep just follow along a narrative no matter what the facts may show.
Now, for the record I am a first amendment advocate who lectures on the topic quite frequently and when I first got word of this story my PERSONAL opinion was that charging this GUY (he is no kid) with terrorism was an affront to the friends I lost on 911.
NOW.... having said that... let's take a look at the story you are criticizing, shall we?
You ASSume when reading this straight news story that the writer was "breathlessly" trying to bias the readers of said story and that said bias was to paint Carmen D'Ambrosia in a bad light as to railroad an INNOCENT FLOWER with negative press.
But..... since my PERSONAL opinion was (at the time)disgusted that he was being charged with "terrorism" ... and the FACTS of the story showed D'Ambrosio in a bad light... it was the FACTS that lead the story not any personal bias. If there was personal bias in this NEWS story it would have favored Cameron.
But this does bring up an interesting point when dealing with people who like to recklessly attack others without knowing the true motives... or even bothering to ask.
It seems from your criticism of my piece, that your beef is really centered around why I did NOT show my bias when writing the story .... since THAT bias is one you would AGREE with. This amuses me greatly.
The satanic depiction on his Facebook page in and of itself means nothing. But when you take it in context with what he was being charged with, his bragging on facebook that he was going to "beat every murder charge", and saying his acts would be bigger than the Boston Marathon, previous threats,complaints by dozens of kids at Methuen High School that they felt he was a threat, and some rather DISTURBING previous posts (which we did NOT report) the satanic imagery BECOMES relevant.
Now let's address another issue. FACTS
It is rare today to find people interested in those pesky facts because most people want to fit a story to THEIR narrative not let the facts SHAPE their narrative.
Tea Party conservatives are writing blog postings and emailing me saying D'Ambrosio was targeted for his "anti government posts". Several other blogs paint him out to be a goofy kid, who was just clowning around and is up against jack booted thug government cops looking to take away his rights.
But the facts show differently.
#1 He is not being charged under the patriot act or any FEDERAL charges at all. He is being charges under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 269, Section 14B. (Bomb Threats/Hijacking threats). Which is commonly referred to by Law Enforcement as a "terrorism statute" But does not elevate the criminal offense to the Federal level.
#2 He has an arrest record and a probation record that shows him to be anything BUT a "goofy kid" or an innocent flower.The neighbors we spoke with ALL said that he was a violent kid with a really troubled home and every one of them said being in jail was better than what he had to go home to. EVERY ONE OF THEM. I did not include that in the story because I didn't think smearing the father was relevant to the story.
#3 He was not charged because of anti-government rapping, he wasn't charged because the evil government conspired against him, he was charged because he sent TEXT messages where he threatened a mass murder (NOT RAP LYRICS) and he then posted similar threats on line. Hiding behind "They were rap lyrics" doesn't cut it in the real world. This isn't high school. I cannot post on line that I am going to go out and rape women and when I get caught get a free pass claiming they were lyrics to a song.
#4 None of his threatening posts SAID they were rap lyrics. to those unfamiliar with Cameraon's aspiring rap career they looked more like the messages we saw from the columbine killers in their notebooks. These were not written in lyric form, and they didn't rhyme (though I agree not all rappers rhyme)
#5 A LIBERAL MASSACHUSETTS JUDGE looked at the ACTUAL EVIDENCE in LAWRENCE district court (the poorest city in MA and the highest minority population with BY FAR the most liberal judges). She said she found his pattern of behavior (oddly missing in your criticism) "Very troubling". I have followed Judge Rooney... she is as liberal as they come!
#6 Police that I spoke with, both the chief and officers involved said they had arrested him because they believed he was a threat and was escalating violent threats on line and in text messages, as well as verbally to students. At no time did ONE officer on or off the record cite anti government opinions as a motivating factor.
Now it is up to a jury if it goes that far.
Cameron D'Ambrosi is not a terrorist by any stretch. Deeming him a terrorist is an afront to every American who died at the hands of REAL terrorism.
But he isn't a "goofy kid" or a victim of the evil government who is prosecuting him for a RAP song either. He is a VERY troubled kid with violence issues, a very troubled home life and the perfect profile of a mass shooter. His postings and his personal behavior landed him where he is. Not some jack booted government agent hell bent on taking people's free speech rights away.
The story I wrote was an accurate depiction of the facts we had at the time. It was those FACTS that determined the direction of the story. I am sorry if they are inconvenient FACTS to those looking for a poster boy for their cause (a cause I actually agree with).
Maybe in course of fighting monsters you have become one yourself.
Facts are Funny things......
As the writer who "breathlessly" broke this story I am amused beyond giddiness to see how quickly the sheep just follow along a narrative no matter what the facts may show.
Now, for the record I am a first amendment advocate who lectures on the topic quite frequently and when I first got word of this story my PERSONAL opinion was that charging this GUY (he is no kid) with terrorism was an affront to the friends I lost on 911.
NOW.... having said that... let's take a look at the story you are criticizing, shall we?
You ASSume when reading this straight news story that the writer was "breathlessly" trying to bias the readers of said story and that said bias was to paint Carmen D'Ambrosia in a bad light as to railroad an INNOCENT FLOWER with negative press.
But..... since my PERSONAL opinion was (at the time)disgusted that he was being charged with "terrorism" ... and the FACTS of the story showed D'Ambrosio in a bad light... it was the FACTS that lead the story not any personal bias. If there was personal bias in this NEWS story it would have favored Cameron.
But this does bring up an interesting point when dealing with people who like to recklessly attack others without knowing the true motives... or even bothering to ask.
It seems from your criticism of my piece, that your beef is really centered around why I did NOT show my bias when writing the story .... since THAT bias is one you would AGREE with. This amuses me greatly.
The satanic depiction on his Facebook page in and of itself means nothing. But when you take it in context with what he was being charged with, his bragging on facebook that he was going to "beat every murder charge", and saying his acts would be bigger than the Boston Marathon, previous threats,complaints by dozens of kids at Methuen High School that they felt he was a threat, and some rather DISTURBING previous posts (which we did NOT report) the satanic imagery BECOMES relevant.
Now let's address another issue. FACTS
It is rare today to find people interested in those pesky facts because most people want to fit a story to THEIR narrative not let the facts SHAPE their narrative.
Tea Party conservatives are writing blog postings and emailing me saying D'Ambrosio was targeted for his "anti government posts". Several other blogs paint him out to be a goofy kid, who was just clowning around and is up against jack booted thug government cops looking to take away his rights.
But the facts show differently.
#1 He is not being charged under the patriot act or any FEDERAL charges at all. He is being charges under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 269, Section 14B. (Bomb Threats/Hijacking threats). Which is commonly referred to by Law Enforcement as a "terrorism statute" But does not elevate the criminal offense to the Federal level.
#2 He has an arrest record and a probation record that shows him to be anything BUT a "goofy kid" or an innocent flower.The neighbors we spoke with ALL said that he was a violent kid with a really troubled home and every one of them said being in jail was better than what he had to go home to. EVERY ONE OF THEM. I did not include that in the story because I didn't think smearing the father was relevant to the story.
#3 He was not charged because of anti-government rapping, he wasn't charged because the evil government conspired against him, he was charged because he sent TEXT messages where he threatened a mass murder (NOT RAP LYRICS) and he then posted similar threats on line. Hiding behind "They were rap lyrics" doesn't cut it in the real world. This isn't high school. I cannot post on line that I am going to go out and rape women and when I get caught get a free pass claiming they were lyrics to a song.
#4 None of his threatening posts SAID they were rap lyrics. to those unfamiliar with Cameraon's aspiring rap career they looked more like the messages we saw from the columbine killers in their notebooks. These were not written in lyric form, and they didn't rhyme (though I agree not all rappers rhyme)
#5 A LIBERAL MASSACHUSETTS JUDGE looked at the ACTUAL EVIDENCE in LAWRENCE district court (the poorest city in MA and the highest minority population with BY FAR the most liberal judges). She said she found his pattern of behavior (oddly missing in your criticism) "Very troubling". I have followed Judge Rooney... she is as liberal as they come!
#6 Police that I spoke with, both the chief and officers involved said they had arrested him because they believed he was a threat and was escalating violent threats on line and in text messages, as well as verbally to students. At no time did ONE officer on or off the record cite anti government opinions as a motivating factor.
Now it is up to a jury if it goes that far.
Cameron D'Ambrosi is not a terrorist by any stretch. Deeming him a terrorist is an afront to every American who died at the hands of REAL terrorism.
But he isn't a "goofy kid" or a victim of the evil government who is prosecuting him for a RAP song either. He is a VERY troubled kid with violence issues, a very troubled home life and the perfect profile of a mass shooter. His postings and his personal behavior landed him where he is. Not some jack booted government agent hell bent on taking people's free speech rights away.
The story I wrote was an accurate depiction of the facts we had at the time. It was those FACTS that determined the direction of the story. I am sorry if they are inconvenient FACTS to those looking for a poster boy for their cause (a cause I actually agree with).
Maybe in course of fighting monsters you have become one yourself.
http://valleypatriot.com/methuen-teen-being-held-on-terrorism-charges-becomes-free-speech-poster-boy