Watch Patty Hearst tonight on CNN, 9PM EST

[Motley13]

At the time I thought it a terrible miscarriage of justice. She was convicted mainly because she was a rich girl. I'll have to see if my judgement has changed.

[samnsara]

1. it was so disturbing when it actually happened..think I will skip this program and

...Tanya!

[lkinwi]

2. I agree. I always thought that it was a Stockholm Syndrome kind of thing.

I was surprised when she was convicted.

[JenniferJuniper]

5. The clowns who took her were not sophisticated

enough to effectively brainwash anyone.

She was kidnapped, no doubt. But over time she began to relate to the group's "causes", fell in love with one of it's members, and began to participate in some of their violent criminal endeavors.

It was a complex situation, no doubt, but there was a voluntary aspect to her participation.

[yallerdawg]

3. Someone pointed out...

she didn't become a "terrorist" until she was kidnapped. There was a clear, distinct 'before and after.'

It will be interesting to see if more has come to light to explain that.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

4. I would really like to see this.

Alas, I don't have regular TV, so I just hope this becomes available on another platform soon.

The upside of having so many channels and outlets available is there's a lot of good stuff to watch, regardless of your personal standards or interests. The down side is that it's not possible to watch everything, and most of us don't get all channels, so we invariably have to pass on something good.

[no_hypocrisy]

6. Not to take away from the compelling saga of Patty Hearst,

but I find the story of one of her kidnappers, Angela Atwood, to be just as interesting, if not more.

Angela DeAngelis (yes, that was her maiden name), grew up in the town next to where I live, North Haledon, NJ. I've taught in the school she attended. In High School, she was Honor Roll, head cheerleader, Queen of the Prom, star of the school musicals. Most Likely To, etc.

She graduated and enrolled in Indiana University and knew Jane Pauley. Continued to study theater. Married Gary Atwood. They left Indiana with Bill and Emily Harris, to live in California. Angela separated and divorced Gary because he wasn't radical enough for her anymore.

She was teaching literacy in prisons when she became involved with a guy who was eventually arrested and jailed. And he was her entree into the Symbionese Liberation Army.

You likely know the rest of the story, esp. how she died in the shoot-out and fire in Los Angeles. She's buried in a Catholic cemetery in Paterson, the same one as Fr. Mychal Judge (Saint of 9/11). Buried with her family with just the name "Angel", her nickname.

I can understand how Patty Hearst suffered from the shock of the kidnapping and being held a hostage and being raped. I can also appreciate Stockholm Syndrome.

But to me, I just can't understand how Angela DeAngelis Atwood voluntarily and willingly went from Prom Queen to terrorist. To me, THAT'S the story not being told.

[Pendrench]

10. Thank you for posting this - her story sound incredibly interesting (and sad).

It makes you wonder if there was some sort of "trigger" (if that is the correct term) that unleashed an aspect of her personality that was always there or if it was a slow evolution.

Tim

[Motley13]

7. she was raped, kept in a closet

she weighed about 87 lbs when captured, her captors wanted HER face out there

that is what I remember.

[gibraltar72]

8. I also thought

she got a bad deal. I could see a scenario where being in captivity it would be easy to break some people. I never bought that she was willing. Just a person who was badly broken.

[Xolodno]

9. Her sin wasn't as cut an dry as most want to belive.

One, yeah, she was kidnapped and given her abuse...Stockholm Syndrome was very probable. Only back then, wasn't well understood.

Two, she came from wealth...to those of lower class, "poor little rich girl"...to the wealthy, "she's damaged goods and violated by filth". And was probably well aware of the latter, hence, she probably thought her life...socialite life to be specific, and what matters most to the class at that time...even today, was over.

Three, her upbringing probably didn't help her, I'm guessing here, but she probably thought her wealth and influence made her immune to the justice system to an extent. Which probably led others, including Robert Mueller to think, she was in on the crimes.

Four, she probably did go willingly in certain instances....sort of. She had a sheltered life and an expectation of fairness, only, she had her world torn down finding out it wasn't. So in "outrage"...along with the "revealing" of her wealthy friends and family...rebelled, just not in a good way.

Not justifying her...nor am I condemning. She was clueless...much like another daughter who currently resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Lane, or the wife of a French King who made all the decisions...but suffered the same fate as his when she uttered "let them eat cake".