Clueless In Portugal: Madeleine McCann
MADELEINE McCann is missing.
Someone knows where Madeleine McCann is. But they are not telling. They will not end the agony. They will not end the nightmares for Madeleine and her parents.
Perhaps the Express can help? Perhaps not. “PARENTS’ AGONY: POLICE CALL OFF HUNT FOR MADDY,” says the headline.
But the story is not quite so. The hunt is not over. And over in the Mail, beside a picture of smiling Madeleine, another headline: “Madeleine: Are the Portuguese police about to give up the hunt?”
The Express says they already have. It’s on the papers front page.
“The searches are coming to an end,” detectives say in a statement. “The places being checked – the results are zero.”
The British papers wanted facts. These are the facts delivered in blank verse.
But it is not over. The hunt continues elsewhere. And the people are looking out for smiling Madeleine, who will be four tomorrow.
Nuno Lourenco is in Sagres, 16 miles from Praia da Luz. He sees a man taking pictures of blonde children.
Lourenco takes a picture of the photographer. But reports are that he that he obscured the image with his thumb.
Claus Montex sees the same man. “When the man was challenged he ran off, but he came back a bit later went back to the beach and carried on taking photographs.”
And there is a woman. “MADDIE SEEN WITH BLONDE,” says the Sun’s front-page headline. A blonde girl has been spotted with three adults.
The adults are believed to be British. One is a blonde woman. The other two are men. Caught on CCTV the three are seen at a Galp petrol station on the motorway heading out of Praia da Luz.
Is this Madeleine McCann? Are these the devils? What does the Mirror think? “DID A BRIT WOMAN TAKE HER?” asks the front-page headline.
The paper boasts of having two journalists in Praia da Luz. Same as the Mail. Same as the Sun. Same as the Express.
That’s eight tabloid journalists, all well-versed in door-stepping techniques and getting people to talk. But none has an insight. All they have are the same quotes from the same people. And questions.
No new leads. No reward offered. No new angle. No new clue. Just stories of Madeleine’s parents’ suffering. Comments on Madeleine’s parents. Pictures of smiling Madeleine. Pictures of Madeleine’s parents. Slights at the Portuguese.
All addding up to what Mick Hume in the Times call “a British public spectacle, an emtional national experience”.
And nothing…
May 11th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
It is disgraceful that the British papers are continuing a story by focussing on distressed parents because they do not have another angle. I agree that it is necessary for the story to stay in the public eye IN PORTUGAL, not over here. The British press try to give the impression that they care about the family but if that was the case they would be leaving them alone. Therefore one can only assume that they are interested in a fast buck and making it off somene elses tragedy if necessary. Thankfully I have not yet heard a British journalist ask Mrs McCann ‘how she feels’, though I am sure it will not be long.
May 11th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
The focus on the parents makes my heart bleed for Madeleine what sort of agony is she gowing through a pure inocent little angel dragged from her bed with strangers who maybe dont even speak her language makes me cry more for her than her parents. But may God Bless them and give them strength and courage to come throgh this terrible nightmare God willing and everyone else in this world also praying and willing she comes back to her family soon what a birthday gift it would be for the whole world if she was safe tomorrow.
May 11th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
Join the Anorak forums - intelligent life is there…
http://www.anorak.co.uk/forums/
May 11th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
Please , Please dear God
Let this beautifull innocent little child be returned to her parents
Let her feel the warmth and protection of them cuddling and holding her tight - She needs to be with them
I cannot sleep or concentrate for fear of what is happening to this poor little angel
She does not deserve this
Which ever monster or deranged person has her - Please show that you are a decent human being and let her go - Give someone a call and tell them where you have placed her so that they can go and pick her up - No one need ever know who you are .
I am sure that you will see it in yourself that this is the good and right thing to do
Anyone out there who knows anything - just think a million pounds - You could have that - Please lets all try to pray and make sure that this heartbreaking situation comes to a good end
its her birthday tomorrow - Please let her celebrate it with her family -
from a heartbroken mother of four year old twins
GOD BLESS YOU MADELEINE xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
May 11th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
I pray for her safe return and for all children in her horrible position.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
I am only 15 years old and even i can not begin to imagine the pain the poor McCann family must be going through.
And yet while we are focusing on the parents.
What about Madeleine??
What is happening to this poor 3 year old.
I hope the Madeleine returns safely and i hope everybody will pray for this young soul to return to her family. Where she belongs.
I certainly will be.
I pray for her safe return. I pray for her family. I pray for every young child who is in the same place as poor young Maddy.
May 11th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
How could the father & mother of 2 years old & 3 years old children be left alone, while they having out for drinking & dinning, how can they do this. They are the only one to blame, and they should be taken to court. I hope the child is fine, but if the worst should happen, the parents should be jail for life.
YOU ARE TO BLAME, not the portugal police, YOU
May 11th, 2007 at 10:30 pm
i hope maddy is ok.my heart goes out to maddys parents.i have a daugther maddys age.my prays go out to parents and grandparent and all of the familys.take and keep strong
May 11th, 2007 at 11:14 pm
Pray for Maddy and her parents and family by all means and if people feel that they are perfect enough to sit in judgement of her parents then so be it. I would urge anyone, particularly anyone going to Europe, to carry a picture of Maddy and keep an eye out for her. It’s a long shot but who knows???
May 11th, 2007 at 11:17 pm
Pray for Maddy, her parents and family by all means and if anyone feels that they are perfect enough to sit in judgement of her parents then so be it. I would urge everyone, particularly those travelling abroad, to carry a picture of Maddy and keep an eye out. Who knows???
May 13th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
i think everyone in this country knows an expat somewhere in the world, we just need to ask them to raise awareness in there country of residence. this little girl could be anywhere by now and the case is hardly known on the continent. i alerted people in Hungary and New Zealand.
hope to see you soon, Maddie!!!!!
May 13th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
Y BLAME THE PARENTS!!!!!!!!! DONT U THINK THEY ARE GOING THROUGH ENOUGH WITHOUT ANYONE BACK STABBING THEM.THEY R BEING PUNISHED ENOUGH GOING THROUGH THIS. SO THEY MADE A MISTAKE.EVERYBODY MAKES MISTAKES!!!!!BUT ITS NOT ABOUT WHAT THEY DID, ITS FINDING THAT GIRL ALIVE, SAFE AND WELL!!!IF U HAVNT GOT NOTHING BETTER TO SAY, THEN DONT SAY IT AT ALL!!!!!!LET THEM HAVE UR SUPPORT!
May 13th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
Poor little girl,Lets home she is gets returned unharmed
http://Madeline-McCann.bebo.com
May 14th, 2007 at 3:49 pm
i feel very sorry for the family,if only she was there on her birthday.i hope they knew where she is. i hope they find her soon
May 14th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
get her back home where she belongs,who ever has hep please give her back
May 14th, 2007 at 11:08 pm
http://SupportingMadeleine.bebo.com
Hey all you out there.
I was just wondering if you could pelase show your support on a little 4 year old girl called madeleine McCann by going on the above adresss and becoming a groupie, leaving a nice comment and a love.
She turned 4 on a day that she is still missing.
Thank you for your kindess and support and reading this.
xxxxxx
Hey
May 15th, 2007 at 9:09 am
Happy Birhtday dear Maddie, the whole world is wishing you a safe and speedy return to the waiting arms of your family.
I have a request of anyone who reads this email:
Envision and imagine with one and all
This scene, as if it has already happened…
Maddy is celebrating with her family as the little church bells ring out in Praia du Luz.
The morning papers around the world read:
Madeleine Found Safe and Sound!
As many ways as you can imagine different scenarios being acted out,
as your mind’s eye envisions the family, the town, the country, the world celebrating together as we give thanks that she is safe.
Open a heart of gratitude and creatively draw upon NOW to paint a
masterpiece in the mind. If enough of us do this we affect outcome, and I truly believe Maddy will be part of a ‘critical mass’ milestone of universal love in action.
Please give it a joyous homecoming,
It only takes 4% of us to reach critical mass.
(Physics: It only takes 4% for a teapot to tempest, meaning onlly four percent of the bubbles need to be present and it ‘boils’ = ‘it reaches critical mass. It is true for change to occur.
With the Godness All Things Are Possible ~ Love Mary in Vancouver, bc
May 16th, 2007 at 12:35 am
I pray every day for Madeleine. We must all continue as God is her only hope now. It is not anyones fault, these things happen because the devil is causing trouble in the world but God is so much more powerfull. So we must all continue to pray in earnest for her discovery, safe return and her protection in the name of Jesus Christ. The media need to keep up this high profile on this case not just to keep us informed but to put presure on the people who have her. Keep it up.
May 16th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
There is a petition open today 16 May to boost the assistance given to the Portuguese Police.
Please sign
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Madeleine/
Thoughts into action
May 16th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
It is obviously a tragic thing to have happened, however is it right that this particular case is presented almost as if this is the only missing child in the world? Children go missing every day in Thailand, India, African countries….the list goes on. Are these children not worth the same mention? How can it be fair that not only one, but several millionaires offer their money to this one child, whilst hundreds of other children are not offered are forgotten. Growing up in India, I remember an instance as a child when a neighbours child went missing(around the same age as Madeleine) but his mother was too poor even to pay for a train ticket to the nearest police station to report it. Where were the rich to help then? at least Madeleines parents can live in the knowledge that everything possible was done to find her.
May 16th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
I completely agree with the last post. Whilst this case is absolutely tragic, so are many others and these do not get any exposure. Why has this particular child caused so much hysteria? People are reacting almost as if she were their own child and now Gordon Brown is offering support. It reminds me of the aftermath of the death of Princess Diana. Also, why have the media remained so quiet regarding the parents obvious flouting of parental duties? Yes, I know they are suffering terribly but the media don’t normally care when they have a story to tell. I really have to agree with others that the class, age, looks etc of the family are the key to this emotional hysteria. Having said that, let’s not forget it’s not Madeleine’s fault that the response is so embarassingly over the top, the poor child needs to be found quickly.
May 17th, 2007 at 10:27 am
fuk maddy!!!
May 17th, 2007 at 10:42 am
How can you all sit there typing this garbage what if it was one of your family wouldn’t you want everyone and anyone to help to find them. Obviously you are just like them that took her. Don’t give a monkey’s and got your head so far up your arse that only shite can come out of your mouth.
Thinking and praying for her safe return and hope that small minded people like the messages above that if it happened to them that they would actually see why they are doing what this is all about.
Sending maddy and all her family loads of support in everywhich way we can. Hoping for your safe return maddy
May 17th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
I’m watching out for her everywhere I go! Anyone I’ve spoken with is doing the same and so is the rest of the world. She’ll turn up eventually. It’s inevitible. I’m in Ireland. Heard her aunt on the radio the other day.
Has she any little habits peculiar to herself? You should broadcast these. Looks can be changed but maybe she sucks her thumb or something. I’m so sorry you have to go through this nightmare.
God help you.
May 17th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
Everyday i am looking on the internet in hope of maddys safe return i hope she is found soon everyone i know is praying for her i am sure she is ok i wish i could be there looking for her but that man who gave a statment i would look everywhere in his house even the cellar sending you all support and praying for you every night
May 17th, 2007 at 11:19 pm
I have cried tears of frustration for the little girl, Madeleine. For the person who knows where she is, please end the agony and let us all know where she is. The days are passing and the hope is dying that we will ever see the beautiful little girl again. All I can do is pray for the safe return of Maddy to her mom and dad, and we will all rejoice, for we all know how precious our children are to us, they can never be replaced. This is why we all need to pray that a miracle will happen- PLEASE GOD BE MERCIFUL.
May 17th, 2007 at 11:31 pm
Er…sorry Stewart..what was that???
May 18th, 2007 at 12:17 am
stewart you are a disgrace!
Anyone wanting to show their support please visit http://www.myspace.com/babygirlxxxxxx
May 18th, 2007 at 7:53 am
I hope little madeleine is found soon and brought back to her parents, they made a mistake yes, but it doesn’t matter right now. if they dont find her soon i will look for her when i go to portugal..i’m going to algarve too. Also please don’t blame portuguese police i’m sure they are doing everything they can, also it doesn’t matter where you are, you still have to be careful…..come back home safe little madeleine
May 18th, 2007 at 9:32 am
We all hope little Madeleine is safe & ok. We all hope that she returns home to her parents safe & well. Our thoughts are with you at Cardinal langley RC high school in Middelton Manchester, England. We keep the parents in our hearts. & they are not to blame. x X x Come Home Darling x X x