Madelaine McCann - why more worthy?

[bobbysands81]

What is it about the tragic disappearance of this little girl that is deemed more "worthy" (by the media, public and famous people) compared to the thousands of kids that disappear and/or are killed every year throughout the world?

In Ireland we've had our own fair share of high profile disappearances - Trevor Deely and Philip Kearns are two young males that spring to mind, as well as many women too but we've seen nothing like the media hype that has followed this story - it is Diana-esque. Shops in small regional towns in Ireland have Madelaine posters in their windows, women running the mini-marathon last week had Madelaine t-shirts, there was even a Madelaine banner on the Hill for the Dublin v Meath game. Although all these people mean well, I find it impossible to think that their actions will make the slightest bit of difference and would wonder why they are feeling the need to do what they are doing. I understand that of course people will strongly empathise and sympathise with what's happened, and will probably want to try and help in some way, but at the same time I question their motives and ask what is it about Madelaine that has made you act in this way? Have you ever been toucjhed so much by someone else's disappearance? Will you be touched again by someone else's disappearance in the same way? After all, this incident has no direct bearing in your life and happened in a foreign country.

It's a bit galling to see her parents swanning round the place and being feted as some sort of heroes as they trapse their way around Europe. Was it in Morocco the other day that they were applauded by 100 local school children? I don't know what's worse, the fact that some poor children had to meet this tragic girls parents or the fact that Irish media sources somehow find this story newsworthy?

Famous people are falling over themselves in an effort to be seen to be linked to the story due to the amount of positive press it will get them. I don't see members of the England team highlighting the plight of the thousands of kids who have died in the phony war in Iraq. So what is it that makes this case unique?

Is it that the parents are middle class doctors? Can journalists writing the stories about the family somehow identify with the plight of the McCann's and think to themselves that that could easily have been them? It's interesting that the parents are getting such an easy time of it from the press. I'd imagine a tracksuit wearing, chain smoking, beer swilling single mother would have been hung, drawn and quartered on the front page of The Sun if she had left their THREE children unattended as she ate, drank and got merry a couple of hundred yards away.

Whatever remote chance that Madelaine was still alive, before her parents embarked on their trip of Europe, is surely gone now.

Maybe someday her parents will get closure on their young daughters tragic life.

[Rapisco]

I'd imagine a tracksuit wearing, chain smoking, beer swilling single mother would have been hung, drawn and quartered on the front page of The Sun if she had left their THREE children unattended as she ate, drank and got merry a couple of hundred yards away.

Whatever remote chance that Madelaine was still alive, before her parents embarked on their trip of Europe, is surely gone now.

Maybe someday her parents will get closure on their young daughters tragic life.

Bobbysands81,

i could not agree with you more, although i have been shot down on many occasains for expressing my view on these tragic events.

They were silly and stupid to leave their THREE KIDS alone for even a minute. This is not the time for blame but i have little sympathy for the parents. Its cold i know, but thats how i feel.

Selfish, springs to mind. :twisted:

[drbob1972]

just out of curiosity are either of you parents ?

[popper]

There is such a thing as empathy. People identify with the parents of a small girl abducted by god only knows what sort of monster. You, however, can rise above it all to see the bigger picture of class relationships

[bobbysands81]

There is such a thing as empathy. People identify with the parents of a small girl abducted by god only knows what sort of monster. You, however, can rise above it all to see the bigger picture of class relationships

I understand popper, but the question I am asking is what makes this instance more worthy than the thousands of others???

[Cookie68]

What is it about the tragic disappearance of this little girl that is deemed more "worthy" (by the media, public and famous people) compared to the thousands of kids that disappear and/or are killed every year throughout the world?

<SNIP> After all, this incident has no direct bearing in your life and happened in a foreign country.

<SNIP> It's a bit galling to see her parents swanning round the place and being feted as some sort of heroes as they trapse their way around Europe. Was it in Morocco the other day that they were applauded by 100 local school children? I don't know what's worse, the fact that some poor children had to meet this tragic girls parents or the fact that Irish media sources somehow find this story newsworthy?

Are you a parent? If you had a daughter you would be deeply moved by this story. I wouldn't let mine out of my sight for a minute when I'm abroad (had a bit of a scare once or twice). It's a lesson for parents everywhere : there are sick people out there. The only thing that most people can do for the parents is to show some kind of support.

You seem to be politicising this question by pointing out that it happened in a different country. Are you suggesting that what happens in England or Northern Ireland is irrelevant to people in Dublin? Or things that happen in Colombia or the Basque Country for that matter?

[popper]

There is such a thing as empathy. People identify with the parents of a small girl abducted by god only knows what sort of monster. You, however, can rise above it all to see the bigger picture of class relationships

I understand popper, but the question I am asking is what makes this instance more worthy than the thousands of others???

Well it is not that common in western Europe for a start so that is one reason. Any child of that age being abducted would be news in most EU countries although it is probably more common in the newer member states. Undoubtedly the media see it as a big story but they haven't created it. Anyone who has children will tell you that it is probably the only news issue that interests them. I don't see that this is necesscarily an unhealthy thing.

[michael1965]

There is such a thing as empathy. People identify with the parents of a small girl abducted by god only knows what sort of monster. You, however, can rise above it all to see the bigger picture of class relationships

I understand popper, but the question I am asking is what makes this instance more worthy than the thousands of others???

Because there aren't thousands of others. You quoted two cases from this country, neither of which was a vulnerable four year old child. I remember the Philip Cairns case. It was in the news for months/years. Arguably, it never went out of the news. Anyone old enough to remember the time, will instantly recognise his name.

[White Rose]

There is such a thing as empathy. People identify with the parents of a small girl abducted by god only knows what sort of monster. You, however, can rise above it all to see the bigger picture of class relationships

I understand popper, but the question I am asking is what makes this instance more worthy than the thousands of others???

What thousands of others?
How many children have been abducted (by abducted I don't mean taken by 1 parent to live in another country) in Portugal in the last 10 years?

In Ireland hundreds of children go 'missing' every year. These are either teenagers who run away from home or foreign children who leave ireland to join up with relations in England.
I cannot remember the last child abduction case here- Robert Houlihan maybe if you count that as an abduction or the little Donegal girl 25 years ago

[Cookie68]

I remember the Philip Cairns case. It was in the news for months/years. Arguably, it never went out of the news. Anyone old enough to remember the time, will instantly recognise his name.

Philip Cairns went to my school. The case has cast a shadow over the whole Rathfarnham area. It is still discussed, rumours abound, the parents are still raising awareness of it. God bless them.