
Madeleine McCann: The X Factor, Mourning Sickness And Celebrity Tears
MADDIE WATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann, Kate McCann and Gerry McCann
THE Dianification of Britain has passed what historians will come to call the X(Factor) Point, the day when the pro-John Sergeant focus group met the lachrymose X Factor warblers in an all-singing, all- dancing tribute to Baby P.
Hey. It’s what Madeleine McCann would have wanted, so too out Princess of Hearts, say the jobbing mourners as the DVD, CD and ribbon hit the shops and broadcasters feel impelled to play it lest they lag behind in the celebrity caring stakes.
There is no escape. There is escapism, because while you watch to see the rubbish singers and the rubbish dancers fail, you are not allowed to point and laugh. That could be you. There for the grace of God…
And having exhausted themselves cheerleading and ululating with mourning sickness, the hacks have noticed.
DAILY MAIL, AN WILSON: “Why I weep for crybaby Britain”
It’s a sign of moral emptiness that we let ourselves be gulled by cheap tears on TV, yet cast those with self-control as uncaring villains
The story is illustrated by a “compare and contrast” pictures Kate McCann [not crying] and X Factor contestant Eoghan Quigg [giving it the full Jeremiah].
Wilson then plays tabloid bingo, making his point but missing the clearer one that when fact is blurred with fiction - when you can talk about child abuse and a missing child in the same breath as a weeping wannabe - all sense of proportion has been lost. It’s all fish and chips.
We are too often taken in by tears, and the consequences are far reaching. Karen Matthews, mother of poor nine-year-old Shannon, made tearful appeals on behalf of her daughter we all now know she had kidnapped - and her baleful pleading convinced much of the nation.
In contrast, Madeleine McCann’s mother Kate showed control. Among the many haunting things about that case was her extraordinary poise.
Indeed. But she did cry. The Mirror was there. Tears to entertain.
* HER face crumpled in despair, tears streaming down, Kate McCann lays bare her utter grief at being separated from her daughter.
* “Tears of relief and sadness as McCanns come home”
* “Never has such a terrible personal ordeal been played on so public a stage. Yet, every night, after the backbiters have done their worst, Kate must stand in Maddie’s silent bedroom and shed her tears in private.”
* “SO EMPTY: Kate tries to explain her loss on TV”
“TOO MUCH: She can’t hold back the tears”
“SOBBING: Kate and Gerry on TV”* Some days I just can’t stop the tears, says Maddie’s mother” (Daily Mail)
* “Kate McCann has been told by British police not to cry in public for fear it could play into the hands of Madeleine’s abductor”
Yet this very self-control was what made the more ghoulish members of the public brand Mrs McCann a villain, and even nurse the palpably false suspicion that she’d had a hand in the tragedy. The ghouls would have preferred her to sob.
That much is certain. And the ghouls wallow in it, experiencing the tragedy of a missing child. Bring the kids. Make a day of it. Leave a teddy. Bang on the peado van. Watch the parents.
BLACKBURN CITIZEN: “Thousands join East Lancashire group’s prayers for Madeleine McCann”
THOUSANDS of people around the world joined an East Lancashire group’s online prayer day for Madeleine McCann.
This is stay-at-home caring. It’s caring in the bedroom or the hole under the stairs.
Madeleine’s mother Kate McCann is thought to be one of the 20,000 Christians who joined the Accrington and Burnley-based prayer circle in a day of remembrance for Madeleine and all missing children worldwide on Friday
Can you hold hands and form a circle over the internet? Thought for today: Prayer circle. Paedophile ring. Is this group a rival to the Madeleine McCann Prayer Circle?
The prayer circle known as ‘music download revolution’ has been up and running for a year and members say they are becoming increasingly popular. The core of the organisation is the Christian music download site, from which the group’s campaign to raise awareness of child trafficking has attracted global attention.
Yeah, it’s PR. Show how much you care and don’t; forget to download Jesus Was My Rock God on the way out. How very tasteful.
John Wearne, who belongs to St Paul’s Church in Accrington and co-runs the site, said: “Eight jumbo jet loads of children disappear every single day for the purposes of sex trafficking and the church has a responsibility, a duty, to impact this evil.”
By selling records, a little in-flight music?
“We still believe that Madeleine is out there and we believe in spiritual warfare and that prayers for her will help bring her home. I have also spoken to Madeleine’s mother, Kate McCann, who is happy we are promoting this for her lost little angel. She confirmed to me that she would be joining in.”
Promoting being the operative word.
HAWICK NEWS: “Teenager’s ‘despicable’ crime”
Residents willingly donated for charity, told they were contributing to the Madeleine McCann fund. When police received a call raising suspicions about the collection, Dale Armstrong’s “despicable” crime was uncovered.
Making money from the missing child. Pray for them. (And pass the collection bowl.)
At Jedburgh Sheriff Court last Thursday, 16-year-old Armstrong of North Bridge Street, admitted, along with 18-year-old co-accused Gareth Trainer of McLagan Drive, obtaining money by fraud from an address in Wilton Glebe, and two addresses in Wilton Terrace, on September 13.
Depute fiscal Alasdair Fay said Armstrong and Trainer, who was her boyfriend at the time, pretended to residents they were collecting on behalf of missing toddler Madeleine McCann.
They cleaned up, right?
“They managed to get donations totalling £4, until police received a call raising suspicion,” explained Mr Fay. Defence lawyer Rory Bannerman described Armstrong’s behaviour as “a gross act of stupidity.”
Four pounds. That it?
Sheriff Kevin Drummond sentenced her to 80 hours’ community service, describing the offence as “despicable.” A warrant was granted for the arrest of Trainer.
BAD IDEA: TalkSport Get £20,000 Reminder Why Not To Employ Really Crass, Offensive People
TalkSport has been fined £20,000 today, thanks to rightwing nut-job James Whale (pictured in attire not befitting his age, left) telling everyone to go and vote for Boris Johnson on his show earlier this year.…
That’s Gaunty’s old gig…
But perhaps the finest example is Mike Mendoza, who was suspended for a week in circumstances that would see you fired, from a cannon, in other lines of work. On the search for Madeline McCann, he mooted that: “Paedophiles in general are the type of people that surely would not follow football… not many gay people to the best of my knowledge are great football fans”. Gays and paedos - it’s easy to get them mixed up, isn’t it?
Just as now it’s easy to mix up a budding celebrity with a grieving woman…
Posted: 9th, December 2008 | In: Key Posts, Madeleine McCann, Media Comments (124) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments





December 13th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
GAYS ARENT ANY DIFFERENT THAN A MARRIED COUPLE BY THE WAY YOU COULD OF HELPED MADELEINE MCCANN BY WRITING SOMETHING LIKE WHERE TO LOOK HAVE YOU USED A DIME OF YOUR MONEY THAT PEOPLE GIVE YOUR NEWSPAPER TO FIND MADELEINE HAVE YOU CHECKED FRANCE OR AMSTERDAM? maybe god doesnt need you either and he’ll replace you with someone he does need.
December 13th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
coolandcalm observed - Peggy…… evolution of language is just that and nothing to do with ‘poor’ anything. Words change meaning over time, the same way that new words come into language and others become obsolete.
Change of common usage is good and helps language continue to evolve.
……………..
So are you implying or inferring that I have little or no knowledge of the English language? Which is it?
December 10th, 2008 at 9:16 am
I belong to Glasgow, too
December 10th, 2008 at 3:52 am
Apparently - somebody has got enough stuff to re-open the case ……….. and it’s having a test-run with some lawyers right now. Ay up! I wonder if they have found some Alien-prints?
December 10th, 2008 at 1:57 am
Hi coco - does this mean that the case is not closed and forgotten then? do the PJ have any authority to re-open the enquiry even though the files have been released and the “suspects” not now having that status?
December 10th, 2008 at 1:53 am
Annie1 Hi! The Files are being debated rather fiercely - especially the time-line now that there is so much more in the public domain. Many original documaents on display - from great sources. Looks worse than last September to me - much worse! No wonder they have vague memories of what was probably the worst day of their life - up to yet!
December 10th, 2008 at 1:47 am
hello everyone - no more news on anything McClan then? They all seem to have gone pretty quiet - is it maybe because they do not want to be seen to be mustering in on the Matthews case? or maybe do not want to court comparisons maybe? I must admit to not reading much news the last few weeks - have I missed anything?
December 10th, 2008 at 1:18 am
Karen! Who has done what? My neighbour came in - so I have been gabbing.
December 10th, 2008 at 1:16 am
Montaillou Kitten! I know some mega-lovely Glaswegians - I think Arseputin is a definite one-off.
I have often wondered if he was taken out of a lunatic asylum and planted in an air-less room with a pc - not a lap-top! A proper pc - so that he could still fiddle with his trouser area when he posted to us - and got paid in lager and bitter to annoy us and get us shut down so that poor MM’s memory was lost forever and ever ……
SAUL! Bring my fucking keys back now! This instant! I cannot remeber if I fucking washed them. If you can’t remember where they are - get Eddie on the case. You whippet. That’s two cups of fucking Ovaltine for you tomorrow - even if I have to get your Dad to hold you down!
December 9th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
They did it!!!!
Good luck Lone…
December 9th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Coco said: Glaswegians are lovely - as long as they know who you are!
Coco, are you in your right mind or has Saul been doping you with something rather nasty. You’ve got to know that Raspy comes from Glasgow. Would you like to retract that statement???
December 9th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Auntie Jane says whatever you do, don’t drink the Ovaltine, but I so wanted to be an Ovaltinie.
Keela knocked it out of my hand. She is such a boistrous pup.
Shall I put the ketle on again?
P.S. I have hidden the car keys.
December 9th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Yes SAUL!!!! And we all know why I can’t get out of bed don’t we?! Have you told the other posters about what you do to Mummy? Calpol?
December 9th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Steph says:
The pigeon is frightened to say what it thinks, the pigeon is a well known McCann critic, a critic without courage.
Now I know this is a complete wind up and smacks of Garth.
All I can say is this is an opinions board right?
My opinion is and has always been that the McCanns have made bad decisions about parenting on holiday and obviosuly on the night Madeleine went missing. That is a criticism and I don’t know anyone on here who disagrees with it and I mean everyone. Steph, yesterday, stated that they were no more guilty than being negligent. Now in my eyes negligence is pretty serious when it come to babies. If you don’t like my stance Steph then tough luck. I know the difference between right and wrong and state that reguarly. I don’t accuse the McCanns of anything other than that and it’s only your naive mind that thinks differently. I don’t answer Stephs question because it’s it’s not a question its a fabrication and is asking for a response to try and trap me. That’s not going to work. If you asked me plain and simple without all the rest of the crap I might answer you but because your use, typical of your sort, tactics then I probably won’t bother. However to say that I’m frightened to say what I think you must be off your rocker. Steph if being a critic is wrong then do say so but it would be rather hypocritical of you to say so when you yourself have accused the McCanns of negligence. If I were you I would try to sort out the muddle in your head before trying to make me look stupid because it’s backfiring on you rather spectactuarly
Anyway, back to the real and normal world of reponsible parentign behaviour. I did have to run off earlier! I’ve just got back form the hospital. False alarm though! A slight drop in the strength of babies heartbeat meant a quick dash off to have a check up but its up to full strength again now but mum is ever so uncomfortable and i’m looking after her as best I can x A sweep on Monday if no news before then
December 9th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
We could try the phonetic spelling bit, but I doubt it would help very much; I am a bit reluctant to run the gauntlet of pedantry on this thread. A N Wilson might not be able to distinguish between that and a paedophile…
December 9th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
helloooo all
December 9th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
I think I smell. A Saulmate. (oh, sorry, I’m criplpled with badspellypunctuationism and I seem unable to make myself understude)
December 9th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
I’ve just had Marjie Clarke and Derek Hatton on the phone.
Auntie Bette snatched the phone off me and told them to bugger off back to Brookside.
If that was closed they should try Hollyoaks.
December 9th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Mommie, I think I smell a dead rat! Can’t we have sugar puffs like the other kids?
Auntie Bette says you won’t get out of bed.
December 9th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
One would just like to apologise if I have offeneded anybody with an allegiance to Liverpool. Only Boris and I know how sensitive Pudlians are. I have many friends from Liverpool - who fucked off as soon as they could!
I am only having a giggle!
Mancunians are exactly the same as Liverpudlians! Except they seem to have a conscience!
Glaswegians are lovely - as long as they know who you are!
December 9th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
I saw that Steph on ‘Allo ‘Allo.
Eehh, he was dead funny as he was just pissing by.
The SS should have used Eddie and Keelas grandma and grandad to sniff out those pesky spitfire pilots.
Rene has got some East European bird in to do a quiz. Should get them banging the doors down to get in.
December 9th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Did Bette Davies drink Tia Maria and Baileys?
December 9th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Mommie Dearest!!! Mommie fuckin’ Dearest!
What are you trying to say now Saul! That I look like Joan Crawford? That I look like Joan Crawford? That I look like Joan Crawford? That I look like Joan Crawford?!!
Well …….. maybe a little! Is it the way I pluck my eye-brows into a severely defined arch? Is it Darling? Tell me!
Is it my eye-brows that make me look like Joan Crawford?
Oh - if only I was heavily-bosomed and had big bushy eye-brows like the fat tart from Dewsbury!!! I wouldn’t have to be answering all your silly questions Darling. Drink this Saul - and I will sing you a lullaby!
Fuckin’ drink it!!!!! All of it!!! Get it down you!!! X
December 9th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Saul! Do you reckon that any of the Clan knew RM - Even in passing? Mind you - if I was RM - I wouldn’t want anybody to know that I knew a shower of sh*te like them! (Don’t answer!)
Saul - Do you think that Steph the Mefff knows any of the Clan? (You may answer this question.)
KM - Do you have a fuckig clue how badly your not answering a certain set of questions could impede progress in discovering the whereabouts of your daughter?
Errrrrrr …… Yeah - but I’m not going to answer anyway coz I’m from Liverpool and I am genetically programmed in how to speak to the Bizzies!
December 9th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
But Mommie Dearest, if the doggies lay on my jim jams, it makes them nice and toastie when I put them on.
Besides, Osama Albert and Salman are not exactly the three kings I was expecting this time of year. I’ve had more fun at a pub quiz!
Mind you Albert is pretty good when any sums questions come up.
December 9th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Christ Saul! When I gave birth to you I didn’t expect all this!!!
I always told your Dad that I shouldn’t have kids because you can’t take ‘em down the pub or sit about having a weed!
Blame your Dad - and don’t mention why I was at the bottom of the garden eating my English/Welsh rare-bit!
I am goig to tie you up on the radiator-side of your room tonight - but I will use elastic rope so that you get to the loo.
And don’t have the clone doggies on the bed! I mean it!
December 9th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Listen you clotheared bint! I asked you why you buggered off and left me alone last night. Then you go and do it again. Eddie and Keela have been Tsk Tsking all over the place.
December 9th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Where are you all? Giving birth or in traction? Get on here now!
December 9th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Brilliant new breed of clip-on prosthetics have just come out! They just clip on where your limb is missing!!!
Gonad LF - You should ring up and get a set of clip-on bollocks or a clip-on peeny!
December 9th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Greece looks great tonight! Really lively! Why can’t we have a bit of anarchy in the UK? Is it coz it’s too cold to fuck about over here?
December 9th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Bugger! Bugger! Bugger! One of my other kids has gone missing now! Can you believe it?
Bugger! What do I do first? Mop and clean or delete my phone messages and dialled numbers?
Oh bollocks! I haven’t even drawn up a fuckin’ time-line of mine and my pals events of today …….. Bugger, bugger, bugger! And wouldn’t they all just be bloody doctors and other professionals! Fuckin’ typical! Why don’t I just bugger off right now and live in a council house in Dewsbury?