The Strangest Story of the Week

Is this strange or what?   For years the the "Daily Egyptian" the student newspaper of the Southern Illinois University, has been telling the story of little Kodee Kennings,  the eight year old daughter of Sgt. Dan Kennings, off fighting with the 101st Airborne in Iraq.  The paper would publish Kodee's notes to her father, cute little misspellings and all, suggesting that he run Saddam Hussein over with with his tank, and begging him not to die.   The paper also published Kodee's little note to George Bush, asking--much like Cindy Sheehan--whether he had "a soldier of your own in Irak"

Staff members met and became fast friends with Kodee and the Aunt who was taking care of little Kodee while Dad was away (poor little Kodee's mother having died when Kodee was five).   Kodee used to call up the newspaper to chat with her friends there, in her little girl voice.

It was all just too heartwarming to stand until little Kodee's aunt called the newspaper to  report Sgt. Kennings' death.  The news staff was heartbroken, but also began to do some actual reporting.  They found out that Sgt. Kenning didn't exist.  Neither, in fact, does Kodee or the Aunt.   The whole story was a hoax, perpetrated by the "Aunt" and kept up for years.   (The news staffers who thought they were talking on the phone to 8 year old Kodee were actually talking to the "aunt", wow that is so creepy).

Anyway, I can't wait for the oh-so-perceptive-and-skeptical staff of the "Daily Egyptian" to start hitting newsrooms around the country.  (Hat tip, Wizbang)

Comments

[jcrue]

Wow. I am shocked everytime our fifth column hits a new low.

Sick.