Writing Portfolio Entry 12:

Technical English 2310:
 written response to the Heaven is For Real: Fox & Friend's video

"This response should look into the Academic and persuasive validity of the video"

The first time I saw this video I felt a mix of both confusion and concern. Beyond coming across as yet another "shock and awe" news piece, there are some ethical issues and major holes in the claims that take place in the video.

First of all, there is a disturbing lack of proper academic hedging. There is no way to absolutely prove or disprove what the little boy claims to have seen during an emergency surgery that took place when he was just four years old.  But it becomes questionable when both the family and the newscaster are choosing to take this story as absolute fact. Not once was it said that this "may have taken place", "That he might have seen haven" or that "he may have seen John the Baptist." This was all stated as absolute, affirmative truth. The newscaster did not ask any questions to counter what was being said, she did not try to drive to the issue, or ask the father and son why they were on TV now, promoting their new book, years after the actual event had occurred. She seemed more than willing to just add hype and excitement to the interview by being fully, and almost to the point of seeming ignorantly engaged in the conversation. Suddenly this interview has become "entertainment" and is no longer news that is looking for actual facts or important opinions.

There are also issues with the seemingly very Pro-American answers that the father and son gave. In the newscaster's comment about people in heaven, the boy responds with the answer that "... there are no old people in heaven, there are only young people in heaven." The young man also claims to have seen Jesus in heaven and said that Jesus had " ... sea blue eyes ... ", and that in meeting God, that he was so big, he could fit " ... the whole world in his hands ... ". Every wants to hear that Jesus was a handsome, blue eyed savior--from the middle east no less--, has a Father that can hold the world in his grasp, and that we will no longer have weak and aged bodies when we go to heaven. It is also said in the interview that the young man met his two unborn sisters in heaven. What a comfort to know that they are up there, and that every unborn child will be up there, and that he got to meet them.

Once again we have to question the motives behind this kind of publicity. Why are we only hearing about this now? Is this just a publicity stunt to get books sold and draw in more viewers to the network? Was this scripted? Has this family been through so many traumatic events that it has emotionally scarred them to the point that they are having a hard time grasping reality of the tragic and near losses they have had in their family? Why was the mother not there for the interview? Why did the newscaster not try to poke holes in this story? Who approved the airing of this story in such a way?

The potential for serious consequences in the airing of this story is huge.  I have no academic confidence in the legitimacy of this story, or the claims there in. Nor am I persuaded to believe it when I see that the young man has trouble seeming genuine in the interview, looking off camera on occasion and seemingly far too comfortable to be in this situation for the first time.

It is possible that there could be a very large out cry either for or against the claims made in this video both by the Christian populous. I could see other networks being very disappointed in Fox & Friend's choice of airing content and standards. It could either tear the Burpo family apart, and could put a major dent in the Fox network's audience and ethos. It could cause financial fall out on the book that was written Heaven is For Real by the Burpo family.

Being a Christan myself, this was hard to watch and analyze. I did not find any proof or anything beyond subjective truth through out the video. There were no major claims that were verbally connected to any scripture from the bible.

In the end this is a highly volatile subject and without further dissection. and substantial proof, it could cause the down fall of an American news casting company and family.