Lara Logan Attack Sparks Ugly Internet Debate

The sexual assault of Lara Logan has generated no shortage of Web debate, and much of the dialogue has not been cordial.

Logan, who has returned to the U.S. and is expected to be released from the hospital as early as today, "suffered a brutal and sustained sexual assault and beating before being saved by a group of women and an estimated 20 Egyptian soldiers," according to a statement from CBS.

The network's chief foreign correspondent had previously been detained by Egyptian authorities, raising the question as to whether she should have returned to Cairo's Tahrir Square at all.

Here are three of the ugly exchanges that took place since the Logan incident, and some thoughts from those policing the insensitive commentary.

1. NPR readers versus NPR readers
Reader discussion became so brutal on NPR that the Two-Way blog's Mark Memmott took the opportunity to review appropriate commenting practice.

"Here's a suggestion based on my more than 30 years of reporting and editing experience. Before you submit a comment, ask yourself this question: If I had to put my real name with this, would I hit 'publish'? if the answer is no, the better move might be to hit 'delete.'"

2. Jeffery Goldberg takes on the "Lunatic Left-Right Harmonic Rape Convergence Theory"
The Atlantic's national correspondent took serious offense to a pair of insensitive comments fired from opposite ends of the political spectrum.

Conservative commentator Debbie Schlussel:

"So sad, too bad, Lara. No one told her to go there. She knew the risks. And she should have known what Islam is all about. Now she knows. Or so we'd hope. But in the case of the media vis-a-vis Islam, that's a hope that's generally unanswered."

Liberal journalist Nir Rosen, via Twitter:

"Lara Logan had to outdo Anderson. Where was her buddy McCrystal."

"Yes yes it's wrong what happened to her. Of course. I don't support that. But, it would have been funny if it happened to Anderson too."

Schlussel later clarified her remarks, and on Wednesday morning, after withdrawing his remarks and apologizing for them, Rosen officially tendered his resignation as a fellow at New York University's Center on Law and Security.

Here's Goldberg's final word: "They come from radically different places on the political spectrum, and yet they share a common inhumanity. ... How far past disgusting is this? Way past disgusting."

3. Salon scolds LA Weekly
LA Weekly writer Simone Wilson's piece "Lara Logan, CBS Reporter and Warzone 'It Girl,' Raped Repeatedly Amid Egypt Celebration" contained enough poor word choices for Salon's Mary Elizabeth Williams to remind everyone "what not to say about Lara Logan":

"Wilson managed to mention Logan's 'shocking good looks and ballsy knack for pushing her way to the heart of the action' before getting to the assault itself. She then went on to imagine how it happened: 'In a rush of frenzied excitement, some Egyptian protestors apparently consummated their newfound independence by sexually assaulting the blonde reporter.' Well, sure, what other motive for an assault could there be, given that Logan is, in Wilson's words, a 'gutsy stunner' with 'Hollywood good looks'? And how else do Egyptians celebrate anyway but with a gang assault? It's not like she deserved it, but well, she is hot, right?"

Surge Desk hopes that readers will follow Memmott's advice for those leaving comments on this post.

Check out more coverage from Surge Desk:
Nir Rosen: 5 Facts on the Journalist Under Fire for Lara Logan Remarks
Lara Logan Hospitalized Following 'Brutal' Sexual Assault in Egypt

Also:
Logan Assault Reveals the Very Worst Work Double Standard for Women
Logan Assault: For Female Reporters, the Added Peril of Turbulent Places

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