Response to Features

The first story was really interesting; when I think of features I tend to think of a story on one particular person or trend. This story was so powerful and emotionally charged because it presented a horrific trend, that most people are seemingly unaware of, and told intimate stories of multiple parents plagued by guilt for accidentally killing their own children. It introduced each subject as guilty and non-guilty verdicts, going on to tell of their heartbreak and how unfair it is to charge a grieving parent of something completely unplanned. I really liked how Lyn Balfour’s story carried the reader through the entire piece, and connected the dots between the victims and legality. The story also came full circle at the end with Lyn Balfour’s promise to give the Harrison’s a child, if they could not adopt.

I was somewhat confused as to why 3 different features were written about Imam Shata on the same day, but also enjoyed how different they were. Much of the information was the same, but they told 3 completely different stories. My favorite was the last story, “Tending to Muslim Hearts and Islam’s Future.” I liked the anecdotal aspect of leading into the story with the description of the man he is trying to find a perfect mate for. I was instantly drawn in, not exactly sure where the story would take me. This story showed a warm, welcoming side of the Imam, which was expressed in the other to, but not to such an extent. In the last feature, he seemed like his only mission was to spread happiness and understanding, and had really grasped what it means to be a Muslim leader in New York.