This is one of lifes inponderables. Would the other children be damaged if they did or didn't take the actions they are taking. Whichever way they go then they will never know if the other way would have been best.
But thats just life........if we only took the other fork in the road
Dave_Notts
I completely agree with you. Furthermore, I have no sympathy for the McCann's and I have to question if the reason why they were able to harness the media attention is because both of them are doctors. In addition, the Madeline story takes media energy away from other children in a similar situation preventing their stories from being told.
If the Portuguese Police have done all they can, and the crime is not solvable; I can't see what more the McCanns are going to produce other than growing more resentment for themselves. That would be from the people who are most likely to help them.
Also they could shut this whole thing down and just quietly grieve and live out their lives. Which I think is what most people would choose to do now, and that's because most people have to. That would be the understandable thing to do
The general public has to acknowledge the appearances of the McCanns and behave accordingly, but that's also holding many of us to emotional ransom. Most of us have enough to do running our own families, there is a limit to what can be asked of us. We can't actually do anything for them.
So in some ways they appear to have hardened their endeavour, perhaps it might equally work for them to accept their lot and follow that route. There's nothing wrong in that.
There is no way on Earth you can justify leaving your children, while you go out with your friends for a meal.
If the restaurant doesn't allow children, pick another restaurant.
The adults made a decision to leave their children home alone, so they could have a night out.
Had the hotel/apartment set on fire, would you still be seeking to justify their actions.
I THINK NOT.......................................
Edited to add (I do hope they find her)
"They need to be held responsible for their actions".
The Portugese authorities thought otherwise or they would have been charged.
Dave_Notts
James Bulger could not have been taken is he had been on kiddie-reins. There is a stage between pushchair, too heavy to carry and being safe to walk alone - James was in that stage. That's where reins come in - or that wrist strap thing with the velcro.
It was a tragic lapse, it could have been prevented. I can't comment on whether the reposnible parent should be 'punished' cos they lost their child. But what about the rest of teh family? They lost their brother, grnadson, nephew, etc etc etc. How must they feel that another loved one is at least partially reposnisble for their loss? I can't begin to imagine that pain.
There is no similarity between the Bulger case and the dissappearance of Madelaine McCann, and to try and compare them is insulting to his memory.
It has nothing to do with a lapse in concentration - how many people "concentrate" when they take their children out. Not many... infact probably none. You cannot fail to do something that you had not set out to achieve - but you can fail to take proper care where a reasonable person would have done.
It is my view that any child can be taken away, it takes seconds. However to leave children alone as in the McCann case is down to wrecklessness, poor judgment and a conscious decision to do that which a reasonable parent would not have done.
I don't equate the two in any meaningful way, beyond teh loss of a child. Both were preventable.
I do wonder how many parents changed their behaviours as a result. Did more parents buy and use reins after Jamie was taken? Did parents arrange proper babysitting etc after the Mcann case? I'd be curious to know.
All kids have to go to school unless you have the ability and the financial capacity to home school. We do assume that whilst there they are safe if for one second I thought they were not they wouldn't be going, simple as.
