Story carries message of consequences
Several readers have called or e-mailed The Enterprise to express various levels of outrage about a front-page story in Sunday's paper that provided additional information on Willie James McCray, the man charged with intoxication manslaughter in connection with the death of Beaumont Police Officer Lisa Beaulieu.
The story and a photo of McCray with his girlfriend and their child ran alongside a story about the fallen officer. More than 3,000 people have accessed the story on-line in the approximately 36-hours it has been posted. Those expressing outrage have characterized the story about McCray as "glorifying" a man responsible for the death of a public servant doing her duty.
Although some have acknowledged the newspaper's responsibility to tell both sides of the story, none have expressed support of The Enterprise's efforts to do so.
The story, in addition to quoting a family member about McCray drinking that evening, also lists his criminal history and previous arrests. His friends and family shared their stories and their own sense of loss, but the facts presented supported some less-than-glorious life choices.
Through both images and words the story sent a very clear message: There are consequences to your actions. I don't know how any person could look at a happy photo of a couple and their young child on the front page of the paper and not realize that the man in the photo – through his own actions – has radically changed his own life and the future of his daughter and her mother.
I think it sends a very clear message of the potential devastation of drinking and driving – for both the victim and the perpetrator.
As the season for proms and graduations approaches, I think the timing of the message couldn't be more appropriate.
Darryl Ieans, 32, described in the story as McCray's neighbor and longtime friend, probably offered the most accurate summarization of the situation: "Her life is over, and his life is going to be damn near over, too."
Lisa Renee Ligda Beaulieu's death is a tragedy that has touched many, including those of us at The Enterprise. It is a horrible, senseless loss of someone, who by all accounts was a beautiful, wonderful, caring, giving person. By sharing the story of Willie McCray's actions that night, we can hope that others will not make the same tragic decisions he made.
I can't think of a more fitting tribute to Beaulieu than that – to know that her death was not in vain and that it might keep others from making that same choice by recognizing the terrible consequences it could render.
View a video of the funeral procession and read about final tributes to her here.
The story and a photo of McCray with his girlfriend and their child ran alongside a story about the fallen officer. More than 3,000 people have accessed the story on-line in the approximately 36-hours it has been posted. Those expressing outrage have characterized the story about McCray as "glorifying" a man responsible for the death of a public servant doing her duty.
Although some have acknowledged the newspaper's responsibility to tell both sides of the story, none have expressed support of The Enterprise's efforts to do so.
The story, in addition to quoting a family member about McCray drinking that evening, also lists his criminal history and previous arrests. His friends and family shared their stories and their own sense of loss, but the facts presented supported some less-than-glorious life choices.
Through both images and words the story sent a very clear message: There are consequences to your actions. I don't know how any person could look at a happy photo of a couple and their young child on the front page of the paper and not realize that the man in the photo – through his own actions – has radically changed his own life and the future of his daughter and her mother.
I think it sends a very clear message of the potential devastation of drinking and driving – for both the victim and the perpetrator.
As the season for proms and graduations approaches, I think the timing of the message couldn't be more appropriate.
Darryl Ieans, 32, described in the story as McCray's neighbor and longtime friend, probably offered the most accurate summarization of the situation: "Her life is over, and his life is going to be damn near over, too."
Lisa Renee Ligda Beaulieu's death is a tragedy that has touched many, including those of us at The Enterprise. It is a horrible, senseless loss of someone, who by all accounts was a beautiful, wonderful, caring, giving person. By sharing the story of Willie McCray's actions that night, we can hope that others will not make the same tragic decisions he made.
I can't think of a more fitting tribute to Beaulieu than that – to know that her death was not in vain and that it might keep others from making that same choice by recognizing the terrible consequences it could render.
View a video of the funeral procession and read about final tributes to her here.
posted by Sheila Friedeck at 11:13 AM
2 Comments:
If you stand by the article then why did you remove it?
Why did you headline it "Policewoman's death Could Forever Change 24-Year Old Man's Life" like it was the policewoman's fault his life is changed for the worst?
I mean people say my Dad, Uncle, Teacher, God, Jesus changed my life forever...for the good usually.
You're very headline seems to divert attention away from the fact that the young man's own stupid actions changed his life.
Yet, you say that this article is a tribute to Officer Beaulieu in that it may prevent others from making such stupid decisions...
Why don't you people at the Enterprise own up to the fact that it was a stupid decision to publish the article in the first place (on the day they laid her to rest) instead of trying to justify it with a bunch of hogwash.
S.
Dear Anonymous:
While we appreciate your comments, I feel it is important to clarify that we DID NOT remove the story in question from our Web site. It just cycled off of our home page as part of the routine process that happens with our continual updating of the site.
The story is still available under the "Top Reads for the Week" section that notes more than 3,000 people have accessed the story on-line.
The URL, for those who would like to form their own opinions is:
http://beaumontenterprise.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18276644&BRD=2287&PAG=461&dept_id=512588&rfi=6
We know this is a very sensitive issue and we, like many members of the community, ache for the senseless loss of Office Beaulieu, but we DO stand by our story.
Thank you for your opinion and your interest in The Enterprise.
Sheila Friedeck,
Reader Representative,
The Beaumont Enterprise
409-880-0748
readerrep@beaumontenterprise.com
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