Did Caylee Anthony Change the Way You Look at Missing Persons?

January 12, 2009

Since July 2008, the case of Casey Anthony and her once-missing - now deceased - daughter, 2-year-old Caylee Anthony, has made headlines around the world. Unfortunately, the coverage it has garnered has been a double-edged sword. While people grabbed onto every headline they could find about Caylee - a child who has often been referred to as "America's Sweetheart" - other cases deserving an equal amount of attention fell to the wayside.

I can name at least 20 children who have gone missing and an equal number of adults who have disappeared since the Caylee case first broke. I can also guarantee that the majority of you have never even heard of half of them. Unless the story is compelling - unless the victim is young, beautiful and the subject of a bizarre or captivating tale - these cases get very little media attention.

If it doesn't make good press, then it doesn't make the press.

During the Anthony case, I covered several other cases of missing persons in an attempt to give them the coverage that they deserved. One of those cases was that of 36-year-old Corrie Anderson, a mother of three from Chautauqua County, New York, who went missing in October 2008. One of the things that struck me most about that case was the initial lack of coverage by the media. I watched local coverage of the case when it first broke. During the first few days, most stations did not even make it their top story. Instead, Anderson stood second to local sports and weather. Taking that into consideration, put yourself in the family's shoes and think about how you would feel if your mother, sister or daughter went missing and you had to beg the media to help you.

Don't get me wrong; Caylee was deserving of attention, but the people who stepped forward to help in her case are unfortunately absent in so many others. For Caylee, thousands of people from around the world sent in donations, joined in the search effort and did whatever they could to help locate her. While I applaud each and every one of those people, I am also saddened that other cases do not merit the same attention.

I have been on dozens of missing person searches and I can say from my own experience that we are generally lucky to get 50 volunteers to show up for a search effort. If you get 200, you are doing great. I often wonder how different some of the searches I have been on might have turned out if we had seen the number of volunteers that we saw in the Caylee Anthony case.

Nevertheless, I would like to think that Caylee did not die in vain. I would like to think that she showed the public how easy it is to hurt for someone whom you never have met - the case highlights the compassion of strangers and their willingness to get involved. Now, if only we could take those lessons and apply them to the countless other cases that are out there in need of our help.

Remember Caylee, and the next time you see a missing persons report, take the time to listen to what is being said. If it is in your area, devote at least one day to a volunteer search effort. Whether you serve food at the command post, pass out flyers or actively join in the search, a single day can make all the difference in the world.

In closing, always remember that at any moment you or someone you love could easily become the next subject of a missing persons case. If that were to happen, would you not want all the help you can get?

Related Links:
Investigation Discovery: Top 10 Missing Children Cases
Investigation Discovery: Full Coverage of Casey Anthony Case
Investigation Discovery: Full Coverage of Corrie Anderson Case

Comments

[007]

YOu are so right. Good article. Thank you, David!

[Terri Diane]

I do agree , every missing Person / child , needs 100% attention, No matter if they are Black white red yellow or what may have you Pay attention and if it is in your
town / neighborhood , get Involved helping to find that person.......

[John]

Your reports have most definitely changed my view about missing persons.

I posted here a couple of months ago my surprise at how many missing person reports are filed with the police in California alone for a single year...hundreds!

I will most certainly pay closer attention and help when the opportunity arises. Your work on this site isn't in vain.

[J2THAWO]

You grabbed out attention by being the number one news story on Google News, but you youself did not take advantage of it by only posting a link. People are sometimes lazy and you should have put that list on this page with photos of all 20 children and all 40 people. Remember this is a generation of people who stand in front of the microwave and shout "Hurry Up"

[cb]

I think that the Casey Anthony story has attracted and maintained so much public interest because Caylee was missing for so long and yet her mother never reported it. And Caylee was adorable, as most toddlers are.

Add to that the fact that nearly every other day there is a new twist, new leak, and contrary to other cases , the public is privy to it all. So much actual evidence can be evaluated including recordings and transcripts of testimony. It goes on and on and on. Just when you think you have heard everything, someone related to the case does something bizarre , surreal or some other incredible information is released. It is compelling like a novel. Only in a novel , you might not have adequate suspension of disbelief in order to accept the length to which Casey may have lied, or the characters that have inserted themselves into the mix.

In most of the other cases, background history, in detail, is not released. Information is scant.

However, I do agree that the media's determination of which missing are reported on is predicated on whatever they believe is valued by the culture at large . Based on coverage, I would suggest that those qualifying factors or attributes would include the following: being young, white, female (and pretty), and most importantly, be from (at least) a middle class socioeconomic demographic.

How much national coverage do you see of missing latino, black, or other ethnic peoples, (Jennifer Hudson's nephew not withstanding, celebrities tend to trump all of the other qualifying attributes)? Surely they go missing as well. And what of the poor?

On empathy, compassion and involvement as addressed in your article:

In a world where suffering is plentiful, in different degrees, for a variety of reasons, why wouldn't you offer help in whatever capacity, or circumstance, that you are able? It would be nice if people would be more generous with their hearts, time and/or money, for those in need, in general. Everyone will suffer in some way at some time. It would be nice to know that everyone could have someone looking out for them.

[Cat]

"Nevertheless, I would like to think that Caylee did not die in vain."
David, I completely agree. Baez requesting Tim Miller divulge private information of volunteers will indeed defer many.

Could it possibly be true in this case that the public cares more?

"how easy it is to hurt for someone whom you never have met."

[Buzz]

Two things that have happened as a result of the Caylee Anthony case. New contributions to TES and Christmas toy contributions in honor of Caylee. Not bad for a 2-year-old.

Is this perfect in the whole world of missing persons? No. But little in life is perfect.

[lke55]

You are correct. Now if the media will put forth the same efforts they have with Caylee, it would certainly put the spotlight on the other missing. Caylee caught my attention because she reminded me of my now 32 year old daughter. It is now time the media to focus on others rather than looking for a motive in the poor meter finding the body. With over 4,000 volunteers looking for the child, it was time the body was recovered. Maybe it was the reward money, so what!!! He was living and worked in the area. I live in another state and Caylee was on my mind daily. There is more constructive reporting now for the media. Now the media is seeming to want to find ways for the defense to develop doubts about Casey....which will never happen.

[GINNY MEADE]

I FEEL THAT THE CAYLEE ANTHONEY CASE HAS MADE ALL OR MOST ALL OF US MORE AWARE OF MISSING PEOPLE NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE. IF WE ARE UNABLE TO ASSIST IN SEARCH PARTIES IN OUR LOCATIONS WE CAN AT LEAST PRAY FOR THE ONES WHO ARE SEARCHING. THIS CASE HAS MADE ME MORE AWARE OF YOUNG PARENTS AND THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARD LITTLE ONES AND IF I CAN BE OF HELP TO A YOUNG MOTHER I AM WILLING. WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY WHERE EVERYTHING IS SO FAST AND SO EXPENSIVE THAT MOTHERS HAVE TO WORK JUST TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND NERVES CAN SURELY GET OUT OF CONTROL, SO WE ALL SHOULD BE MORE AWARE OF WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND US WITH YOUNG FAMILIES AND TRY TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN AND ALSO THE OLDER GENERATION. TODAYS SOCIETY THINKS VERY LITTLE OF THE OLDER PEOPLE. IT ISN'T LIKE YEARS AGO WHEN OLDER FOLKS WERE TAKEN CARE OF BY THE YOUNGER ONES,
THINGS HAPPON TO OLDER PEOPLE AS WELL AS YOUNGER ONES ANYMORE.
THANK YOU DAVID FOR YOUR MESSAGE TO US ALL.
GINN.

[Questioning Minds]

I am not sure if I get this ... are not you the media? Last time I checked Discovery Channel was the media.

-Edited by David Lohr to include: I am not mainstream media.-

Now on a search, have you searched or just reported?

-Edited by David Lohr to include: Whenever I go to a search effort I am an active participant.-

Lastly, it would make more sense to write an article to garner the masses to search rather than complain that only certain searches get the attention. John above makes a great point. You could have linked to all these other cases of missing persons that are not covered, but instead its just easier to complain. FYI, linking is like blogging 101.

-Edited by David Lohr to include: We have a missing person category on this blog. We also have links to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Here is a link: http://www.missingkids.com. I will also go back to edit the article so that it is included -

We all know that the media does not cover ever MP story, it does not fit their "ratings" model. That being said, just because you or the media does not cover a MP story does not mean there is not a successful search. I would dare say that in many cases, the media creates too much of a distraction. Its the law of diminishing returns.

-Edited by David Lohr to include: I highly suggest you do some more research into missing person cases. I think you might find the numbers a bit startling. I also suggest you contact some of the families to find out their views on media coverage-

[Trisha]

I completely agree with you on the media coverage of other missing person cases. I discovered your posts while following the Caylee Anthony story and refer to your site for more objective input rather than what is on the commercial news. While I was also drawn into the Caylee story, there was not much I could do for her or the other cases you reported on. I would very much like to participate and volunteer in search efforts for missing persons but the information is not published, except for large cases. If you could direct us to where we can get involved for our local cases around the US, maybe we could help more (texas for me).

-Edited by David Lohr: I would suggest you join Texas EquuSearch. They operate all around the U.S. There are also other groups such as the CUE center in N.C. and another that is starting up in Pennsylvania. I am currently working on a missing person resource kit, which will answer this and other questions. It should be online by Feb. or March. I will post a link once it is finished.-

[Joice, St. Louis, Missouri]

i always frown when i see others criticize people who go out of their way to help others.

i have followed mr. lohr's work for many years now and have witnessed him do more for missing persons then any other media source out there.
how many reporters do you see put their own money up for cash rewards? how many reporters do you see actually join search efforts? mr. lohr is is no reporter.....he is an hero.

i admire him and i hope he continues to do all he can despite the naysayers.

[azi]

David, I have been following Caylee's story from the very beginning and have found your coverage of the search to be the most objective and factual, all attributes for which I applaude you and am very grateful. I agree with you wholeheartedly that the expansive media coverage of the Caylee/Casey Anthony case (including yours) is the direct cause of my strong interest in this case, and that perhaps I would be as drawn, if not more, to other MP cases with equal coverage.

I must say that I still have a great feeling of unease with this case. While, much to our great horror, Caylee's body has been found, I feel that something is just not "right" with the way she was discovered. Unfortunately, There has also been a lot of sensationalistic media coverage on the Caylee case which has lead to confusion of the facts, and that, too, puts Caylee's case at a great disadvantage in comparison to those without the unnecessary media hype.

Thanks again for not giving up on reporting the facts of this case, even after Caylee has been found. After all, the case is still not closed.

[Lexi]

David,
I totally agree that other cases don't seem to get the exposure they need. The Anthony case has opened many people's eyes to missing people. I am more aware than ever of initial media reports....problem seems to be that I never hear anything after the first couple of days. In so many cases, if I don't read about it on a blog like this, I will never know how the case ended or if the person was ever found. The little boy in Kansas missing for ten years is a great example. I think the case is so shocking, but I wonder if anybody will keep us posted on what happens next (after they question social workers etc.)

All I can say if it were my child missing...I would be screaming from the rooftops. Thank you for your hard work and for keeping us as up-to-date as possible.

[searchng4jenn]

I just read what David wrote, and I must say it has been since they found the skeletal remains of Caylee since I have been here. My sister Jennifer Rivkin has been missing since May and there are still no answers for my family as far as why she disappeared. Sadly, I have sent numerous emails to Tim Miller and Barbie at Texas Equusearch and I have not been able to get any information from them either as to when they will return to NC. Jamie Fraley is another missing girl in which they were suppose to start a search for her. Nothing for her as well. I just don't understand, what category you have to be listed under to be important enough to get media coverage or get responses from people you are begging for help from? I sat today and wrote my letter to America's Most Wanted in hopes that just maybe Jennifer will receive nationwide coverage for her disappearance. I can only pray that some day some way we will have answers, but how long will we as families going through this will suffer? There is not one day that goes by that I don't think of her and ask myself what has happened to her?

[niki]

THE ONLY REASON THIS CASE IS TALKED ABOUT MORE THAN OTHERS
IS BECAUSE WE KNOW WHO THE BAD GUY IS!!

THE MINUTE WE REALIZED THAT CALEY WAS MISSING MORE THAN A MONTH BEFORE BEING REPORTED BY HER OWN MOTHER THE WHOLE WORLD
WAS HOOKED.

THIS WAS NOT A MISSING PERSON THIS WAS ALWAYS A MURDER CASE DISGUISED AS A MISSING PERSON CASE.
THIS IS IN ALL IN PART TO THE PACK OF LIES PROVIDED BY HER MOTHER.

I TRULY FEEL SORRY FOR ABDUCTED CHILDREN BY STRANGERS. THEY DO NEED ALL THE COVERAGE THEY CAN GET, BUT USUALLY THOSE CASES HAVE VERY FEW LEADS AND BECOME COLD CASES.

CASEY ANTHONY IS THE GIRL NEXT DOOR TURNED SOCIOPATH.
THAT WILL ALWAYS BE MORE RIVETING THAN THE TRANSIANT WHO
COMMITTS THE CRIME.

ITS THOSE WHO LIVE AMONG US!!

[David Lohr]

Searchng4jenn, please contact me at: davidlohr@davidlohr.net. Let me see if I can help get the ball rolling. I would also like to tell her story here.

Regards,

David Lohr

[catie]

Nicely written. It is sad to think others weren't given some of that media attention that was wasted on nonsense like what casey is eating in prison..

[Diana]

David, Thank you for attempting to help Searchng4jenn! What a sad story and you know those two missing women are probably connected in some way!

[Jennifer]

I so agree with you! I have paid more attention to missing children, and adults. The little boy in Florida who is missing right now whom is 6 years old deserves so much of this media attention. Right now, we know where Caylee is and to be honest, I would rather see his story out on the local and national news than some physic arguing with Nancy Grace about her Verizon Bill. I think we should all take a step back and start demanding that others get more attention.
You have a kind heart in writing this post, and I appreciate it!

[Lisa]

Caylee wasn't a missing person. She was killed.

-Edited by David Lohr: She was missing until her body was found.-

[jenny]

David, BRAVO, Very well said. After reading your post, my eyes are wide open. Thank you, for reminding us, other missing children and families need our help.

[Pamela]

David, Thank you for your insight to this case and others of missing persons. I have had the unfortunate opportunity to help search for a missing teen where I live and still to this day she has not been found. No clues, nothing so when this case was first aired I prayed like crazy that this child would be found soon and alive. With all of the Missing children and adults alike I actually have felt that the cable companies need to dedicate two channels to nothing but missing persons. One for Children and one for missing adults. When there is an alert the station beeps like they do on normal channels for Amber Alerts. The little Caylee Anthony case has not just brought this to mind it has been on my mind for over five years. If I knew where to go or who to talk to to achieve this task I would. Thank you to you for your information about this terrible tragedy to the little girl.

[Robert Livingstone]

It is so sickening to me that the biological father of this child is not part of the story..Is all we hear is the same story about this dysfunctional family and the fact that this child is now dead. This could have been prevented if the biological father took responsibility for his child. Why is this never mentioned????? Why does Greta, Nancy Grace and the rest of the media ignore the posts from http:///Dictionaryfordads.com? If this site is promoted and reinforced with within the media maybe the chances of this ever happening again can be decreased!! Armin Brott likes our site and is putting it in his new book being released in April.. I ask the news media to do the same. Do we want to glorify this or hold all responsible parties accountable. This story may be able to help other men make a decision to be responsible for their behavior.. Would that not be the best possible outcome to this story....... There is no mystery here.. The baby is dead and the mother is a Sociopath... http://www.dictionaryfordads.com

[Evette]

Excellent story Mr. Lohr with which I wholeheartedly agree. The numbers are truly staggering. I make it a point to look at www.missingkids.com periodically because the children can be anywhere. On a side note:

Media attenion is grossly unbalanced. There is no sense of fairness, balance or completeness with the majority of reporting on missing children and adults. Especially if analyzed in the context of race and gender. Sadly, socioeconomic status plays a role in who gets attention versus who doesn't as well. Missing women are covered more than missing men. With regards to children, I agree with J2THAWO. There is a glaring discrepancy in the coverage missing children receive depending on their race/ethnicity. Sad but true. The Jahi Turner and Elizabeth Smart cases are a perfect example. The show Without A Trace, had a great episode a while back that highlighted that very situation.

Caylee Anthony certainly deserved the attention of the media and the public she is receiving but so does every missing child or adult( I too have watched most of the Anthony case coverage, prayed and tried to piece together the puzzle). What boggles me is the amount of time shows like Nancy Grace waste reiterating the same information. Her show hasn't covered much else or anyone else in months. Who cares what the "tot mom" is buying at the commissary even if it hurts her character. And showcasing the same idiot guests (bailbonds man) that have a tendency to detract from the heart of story and lessens not only the shows credibility but that of the host whether or not she's a former prosecutor. Nevertheless, I like Nancy but use some of that time to highlight other cases. The show is 60 minutes for goodness sakes. I noticed that a A few times one or two pictures of missing children were briefly shown. Really! I'm sure the families are grateful because it's probably more then they've received thus far but they deserve more. John Walsh / AMW gets a lot done in 60 minutes and quite effectively I might add.

Most of us care immensely and are interested. We are more than willing to keep an observant eye, assist if possible and get involved.

[Marsha]

Part of the reason that this case gets so much attention, is that many of us felt that we knew that Caylee was deceased as soon as we heard Casey interviewed by the police (all lies) and found out that Caylee had been missing for a month and unreported until Cindy found out about it. Everything that has followed has pointed to a murder (post-kidnapping partying mom getting tatoos, buying sexy underwear and beer with stolen checks, refusing to help her parents find the child, etc.). Even the latest jailhouse video (August 14th) where Casey laughs while Cindy cries and Casey whines about how- "My entire life has been taken from me" and screams about how- "I should be seen as a victim". This is definitely not your normal grieving mom with a missing chld. Tim Miller of EquiSearch said that Casey smiled, laughed, and "acted like she had just won a cheerleading contest" after she got out of jail. She also showed no interest in trying to help him find her child. I have never seen this as a missing person search. At least Susan Smith reported her supposedly missing children right away, told a plausible story (car jacking), and faked copious tears. Casey was too dumb to even do that. She thought her ridiculous lies would be accepted by the police just like her previous lies had been by her friends, lovers and family.

[atl159]

I don't know about everyone else, but where I live, Amber alerts are posted on electronic billboards over the interstates when there are known vehicles to look out for. Any Wal-Mart store I have ever been to has an entire bulletin board devoted to missing persons, no matter how old the case. We get mailers with our coupons and whatnot with missing persons info on them, no matter how old the case. Myspace puts a big alert at the tops of homepages when there is an Amber alert in the area.

I agree that the media could do more to help gain public interest in missing persons cases, however I don't think attempting to address every single individual case would be realistic, or fruitful. You have to consider that in a lot of these cases, there simply isn't anything to continue reporting on, and if an attempt were made to do so, the news would have to be nothing but a continuous stream of missing persons cases over and over, and that would NOT keep the general public tuned in.

In the Casey and Caylee Anthony case, there has been an ongoing flow of new developments, in a strange and interesting crime/murder mystery case- this has NOT just been a missing person's case, due to the way it all began (with Casey not reporting it, and then lying, etc.) the idea from the beginning has been that Casey did something with Caylee, not just that a little girl in Florida was missing.

I think relying too heavily on the media is an unrealistic way for anyone to live, and I personally don't expect the media to make the world a better place any time soon. That responsibility belongs to all of us, and those of us who actually care enough to pay attention to all those billboards, bulletin boards, post cards, and myspace alerts are the ones who actually accept our responsibility, instead of sitting back and blaming something or someone else for not making it "easier on us." Blaming the lack of media coverage for the apathy, selfishness, and laziness of the general public is entirely unrealistic and is doing nothing more than justifying and perpetuating it.

There are plenty of opportunities out there for people to stay informed and help- but the sad truth is that just like with anything else, most people just don't care to become involved with something unless there is a reason to be interested, a compelling story to follow, and the media will never be able to do anything about that, unless they are willing to start making interesting stories up.

Any news report I have ever seen about a missing person has been followed with information on missing persons websites to check out. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink....

[RFalcon Better Tomorrows Crimes Against Children]

To be real, often I get so very little time online to read a lot of stuff in Blogs or an over saturated pack of material, although I would like to see us tag team on some of these cases. Crimes Against Children started when there was a male predator sex offender literally brags about his exploits with teen kids in the center’s attic, it was President George W. Bush that helped me. I tried the Administration, I tried the police I was told I needed pictures / video before they could act. Long, long story the good news is the board of directors went in and clean the whole bunch of them out, but that took a call from our Presidents office to the Senator’s who made fast immediate change. That is how Crimes Against Children started. Shortly after that a little girl was abducted out front of the steps of her porch, I still get watery eyes just thinking of her, days later they found her raped, naked body in a bitch, how any man could do that to a child. It put a fire up under me to get Congress to make changes, and the fighting for children that has been me in a lot of cases. Shawn’s case I fraught hard to keep his case open, from Operiah, to John Walsh they have used the Crimes Against Children Name The Gov. which was nice but this all never was about me or anyone who has helped me. I always felt if a child like Shawn was brought home to his parents it was all worth while. Thankfully like Shawn there have been success stories that someone somewhere saw the right information at the right time to make that difference. We can not allow these children cases to fall through the cracks. John Walsh has taken great strides in doing so much for children as well as missing people. We are expanding this year, I have done all this on my own for years now. I need people because as you said the period of time is crucial, the long-term cases either these fall into the reunited child to the family, or worse case, closer needs to be for that family No one can assume anything, that is how serious this all is we cannot give up when children like Shawn could be held by a child molester.
Better Tomorrows
Http://BetterTomorrows.Tripod.com
E--Mail: RF90035@yahoo.com
Crimes Against Children
Click Http://ZachNe1998.Tripod.com
Please use this email for Children Information only:
CrimesAgainstChildren@Lycos.com

[Better Tomorrows -- RFalcon -- Crimes Against Children]

I am glad there are people like you who have places like this. Personally I spend hours online each and every day hopping to make changes that will affect the overall system, not just in how we deal with child abduction cases but also the time people serve that commit these crimes the Problem is massive we cannot give up on the children. It is so critical as much information is out there, I work on these cases it’s hard, there are success stories John Walsh Publishes the most I think go to WWW.AMW.com click Missing children, John has done so much for the advancement in child cases.

[Gracie]

Did Caylee Anthony change the way I look at missing persons? Definitely.

Not only did she capture my heart, but for the first time in my life I actually researched whatever information I could find about the case. Typically (Lacey Peterson and Taylor Behl) caused me to watch every news report on t.v. I didn't go so far to think much more than what the media fed me. (Taylor was a hometown girl, but out of my "scope" of friends and family.)

I did not go to FL to search, but each time I saw a little girl about the height and build of Caylee during those first weeks (although my gut told me I was reliving a repeat of Susan Smith's fairytale), I made sure I studied her face to see if there was a resemblance with Caylee. Unfortunately, we all know how that worked out.

My family shared my concern, and began a family conversation of what we should do the next time, God forbid, something happens in our area. We are not people of "means" or "ability", but will use our "availability" in whatever way we can to help. From the sidelines, we will pray. From the playing field we will offer what we have and will make the missing part of our own.

I truly wish David Lohr could bring this website to major media outlets in the form of his own reality show. I am typically glued to TruTV, Greta's or Nancy's shows, and I know they are clumsy at best in their coverage. Often their station managers or advertising/ratings decide what is popular enough to program in. In the era of mega cable programming, from the mind numbing "how they make paperclips" to real estate offerings, I would hope there could be a new, more easily available program focusing entirely on the missing.

I wonder how much LE and those close to the CA case followed the thought trails here, and wonder if there were some insights that could propel a swift and harsh judgment for Casey Anthony. In my heart, I hope so.

Thanks, David, for making this not only about the one child that captured our hearts, but all those others that we need to step up to the plate and go to bat for. I certainly will be using my time in whatever ways I can to help the missing in the future. Caylee showed concern for her Poppy in that nursing home video, and it is the least we can do to show ours for others.

Gracie

[ElleC]

It's worse when it's a child that goes missing, particularly a really little one. That's part of why this got so much media attention. The other point is that people, are morbidly facinated (and horrified) with the reality that some mothers can (and do) kill their own children.

I don't think this sad tale got as much coverage because of anyone's looks, it's more to do with Caylee's age (2) and the fact that her mother killed her.

[Connor Niles-Macumber]

I am just going to say my thoughts in a simple manner...I am now going to help locate Corrie Anderson. I live in upstate New York and was not even aware of this beautiful young woman missing. So thank you for shedding light on her.
That is the bottom line of this post. You help create an awareness that had not been there before.