If you knew the McCanns personally, how would you react to Madeleine being snatched?

Question

Apart from the grief of losing her, if you had known the McCanns as a happy family living their daily lives at home, wouldn't there be more empathy than negativity? I ask this for the simple reason that there is no evidence whatsoever to prove that the McCanns were negligent of their babies back home in the UK, which fact, just doesn't warrant the venom against them out here.

David M: If you've read my posts before, you'll know that i have never ever condoned the McCanns leaving their babies unattended. Being a mother of a 5year old myself, i cannot understand how they made that terrible decision. But they did, and they, worse for them, their Madeleine, is paying the heavy price for it.

The point in asking is question was not about this (which is non-debatable for me, it was wrong), but about the high degree of venom directed against the McCann's every CONSEQUENT move. I figured that there would be more empathy than negativity, If we considered that they WERE NOT in the habit of neglecting their babies.

Edit: Thank you SaturnFive & MichelleG! You restore my faith in humanity!

GerryS: To insinuate that every parent who hires a nanny for their children is negligent is...can't find a word...ok...inane..to say the least! And what about those photographs of Gerry playing with his Madeleine & of the twins playing in the sand with him...Forgotten about those, have you? Selective memory, i call it. As for the pathetic dig at what you call "potential drugging", it really doesn't even deserve an answer....
You could be a potential...ANYTHING!

Answer 1

Hello Faith.
Yes I am sure you are right, I think knowing them on a personnel basis would incline you to feel more compassion/empathy for their tragic situation.
Once again, and for the benefit of David M (at least it makes a change from dave s) if all parents who left their children un-attended in either country were prosecuted then the courts would have to open 24/7.
The mcCanns made a massive and tragic error in leaving the child in the way they did, this has been established on this site so so often it is boring beyond belief.
That does not make them guilty of anything Else in the absence of PROOF.
it certainly does not make them worthy of the vile hate campaign that continues to be forwarded on this site.
Are you seriously suggesting that the people who object to this vile hate campaign are responsible for other parents ignoring the dangers of leaving children un-attended........
That is plain stupidity and to suggest that the poster of this question should feel guilt as a result of her objections is moronic and nasty.
I am of the belief that unfortunatly the McCanns are/were not the only parents who are not as resolute in the care of their children as they should be.
The difference for the McCanns is that some sick and twisted person/s abducted there child.
There is NO PROOF of any further involement or negligence beyond that.
Good question Faith and you need feel no guilt what so ever for voicing your view and thank God their are people like you around who can take a more compassionate view of this tragic situation.
Edit
Gerry s
SUSPECT what you like.
You have no PROOF
Oh and do not hold your breath on an apology will you.
Oooo Gerry swore in front of his Children, oh dear oh dear oh dear, none of us have ever done that now have we.

Answer 2

Faith, I hate these hypothetical questions. I just don't know.

If I put my friends in the same situation, I still can't answer it. It would depend on whom and the circumstances.

One of my best friends and I disagree hugely on this subject. She takes her children out in the car to get them to sleep, then parks her car on the drive for at least an hour every day whilst they have their afternoon sleep. She has her lunch and does some housework, even chats on the phone whilst they are out there. The same friend, by her own admission, has and would leave her children like the McCanns did in an all inclusive resort for dinner.

Now, if her children were taken as a result of what she does. Of course I would be gutted for her. She is a lovely person and in all other respects a brilliant parent. She would have my support and I guess I would do anything I could to help her get through it, but I wouldnt be able to shake off my feelings that what she did made her responsible for it happening.

I have never and would never leave my children with her based on the above.

Answer 3

Had a friend that left her 8 year old home daily for 8 hours while she worked. She and her husband made a very good income but her son always played victum at 11 daycares, in a matter of 8 mos, including mine so they decided to not send him to one anymore. I told her exactly how I feel about children at that age being left alone and therefore we are no longer friends. She had to quit her job because her son is so mean to other children then cries wolf that they could not find a daycare in our town and he could not go to another town because of school. I would like to add 3 registered child sex offenders live within a half mile of their home. She knew this because she was the one that brought it to my attention. So I would do the same with any friend if I found they were neglecting their children in anyway including leaving them alone when they are to young to fend for themselves and act responsibly enough to know how to call 911 or handle any other situation they may face.

Answer 4

Hi faith i agree with you , there is no proof that they neglected their children at home i belive they had a nanny , they made a terrible mistake on holiday and i dont agree with what they did at all , i have 3 children myself and have never left them and wouldnt even consider it , but i dont hate the mccanns or judge them for their actions , they have to live with that guilt every day , all these negative comments by people judging them are taking there fustrations out of the fact madeline is still missing , and they are aiming there anxiety at the parents , if kate and gerry were your relatives would you still hate and judge them ? because if it was my relative i could not and would have to support them , i just hope and pray madeline is still alive , regardless of what people think of her parents ,she is all that matters

Answer 5

Come on!!!!! No one has looked at what they did at home.

The simple fact is that what they did in leaving ALL the children alone is illegal in both countries. If they had not done it the child would still be safe. SO - why do you seem to think that is OK? They failed in their duty of care to their children and their actions allowed the child to be snatched short of actually handing the child to the snatcher they could hardly be more culpable!!!

I am sure if people like you keep saying it then many more parents will ignore the lessons of this tragedy and leave their children alone. If that happens and another child is snatched will you feel any guilt? Because you should!!!

And if the McCanns are such great parents why are they not taking proper care of their other two children who are being carted around and farmed out on others.

This was a tragedy but hiding from the truth does no good and encourages other irresponsible parents to put their children at risk.

Answer 6

I deliberately haven't read any other answers to this question. I think I would feel thesame as for any other of my friends. Deep sorrow and sadness, and worry.
I've seen neglected children, and these children look nothing other than being loved and adored.
I agree with you - they have paid a heavy price for a bad judgement.
They aren't evil people, just desperate parents.

Answer 7

For some people to think about.


1. It is easier to criticize than to be constructive. As a nineteenth century clergyman noted, “Only God can form and paint a flower, but any foolish child can pull it to pieces.” People are not perfect; they are sometimes annoying, disappointing, inconsiderate, and selfish, and they do make mistakes. Thus, it is easy for us to find faults, because there are plenty of them around.

2. To magnify our own virtues. One way to improve ourselves is to develop our talents, skills, and virtues. However, because it is easier to criticize than to be constructive, we may decide not to improve ourselves but instead attempt to make others look smaller by tearing them down; then we will look bigger by comparison without actually becoming any bigger. Secure, successful people do not feel the need to undermine others in order to establish their own worth.

3. To justify our own faults. By pointing out how many other people have faults and that some of their faults are worse than ours, we make our faults seem smaller by comparison. As President N. Eldon Tanner has noted, “Sometimes as I move among people I am almost convinced that it is human nature to magnify the weaknesses in others in order to minimize our own.

Answer 8

Well Gerry, you say that Faith is making a lot of assumptions as usual, but hang on a minute, isn't that what you are doing......as usual!!

Answer 9

How is this a current event? You should post your question else where!