Clandestini
The island of Lampedusa is once again overwhelmed as there has been no let-up in the flow of boats carrying would-be illegal immigrants towards it: two boats were intercepted last night and two this afternoon, the first a dinghy carrying 41 people, the second a dinghy carrying 31, among them 6 women and 4 children. A further 12 clandestini were stopped after they had landed and it is possible that other members of their party had escaped into the countryside. Will this desperation never end?
Madeleine
Some of you may have noticed that I have removed the "Madeleine" button from the sidebar as sadly it seems very unlikely now that this case will have the happy outcome we all hoped for. If the Italian press were slow in carrying the story at the beginning, they are certainly carrying it now and the little girl has become known here as "Maddie". I do not wish to prejudge the case, but what is even more incomprehensible to Italians than it is to the British is the fact that the children could have been left alone in the apartment in the first place. Here eyebrows would be raised even if there had been a babysitter, as generally you just take your children everywhere with you. Fellow blogpower members Benedict White, Guthrum, morningstar and Critical Faculty Dojo have all posted regarding the matter in the past few days and they all have something interesting to say. Meanwhile my thoughts remain with everyone involved in this heartbreaking case.
18 comments:
I think that when a child disappear there is never an happy ending. This is our strange, cruel world. Denise Pipitone from Mazara Del vallo is another sad case. It's been 3 years and the child is still missing.
Will the desperation ever end? I fear not, as long as there are people willing to take the chance. Can you imagine what their lives must be like to take these risks? I wonder if they are told lies by the people who bring them.
I'm afraid I have never understood the fact of the McCann children being left like that, unattended. Those parents made an horrific mistake but they certainly didn't deserve this. All in all, a terrible affair.
regards
jmb
Ciao, Paolo. I agree but it is so very sad. Friends here told me about the case of Denise and then I read about it. Who can imagine how her poor parents must feel?
Hi, jmb. I just don't know: I imagine some of the poor souls are told, and believe, lies but others, I read, know the risks oly too well - and are still prepared to take them. Re Madeleine, we still wait and hope but it seems to become less hopeful by the minute. Poor little girl.
It is difficult to comment on both your articles, Welsh.
Both are very sad affairs. That is all I can say.
I've wondered for a long time why the parents steadfastly refused to show any sign of regret or remorse about leaving the child alone.
I understand they probably don't want to admit to any wrongdoing to ease their consciences and salvage their pride, but that sort of parental irresponsibility is inexcusable.
No parent deserves to lose a child. I absolutely empathize with their suffering. But their refusal to admit their indiscretion borders on the absurd.
The on-going saga of Madeleine is heartbreaking Welshcakes, I totally agree with all you`ve said. Heaven knows what the outcome will be, it`s just unthinkable !
On a lighter note, I cooked your Pork and Orange Dish last night and it was absolutely delicious,(thanks), washed down with a bottle of Prosecco. I ended up making a big dish of Parmesan and Parsnip Mash, baby carrots, miniature turnips and greens. It was too cold for salad stuff; so, some comfort food was in order ! Di. xx
I remember how worried I used to get when the dog used to run off when I took for walks as a teenager.
Half an hour of pure hell.
When I'd get home, he'd be there.
Not even close on the scale, but I can see the stress and the horror of it.
Yes, two heartbreaking stories, and I shall certainly look up those other links on Madeline. It's strange that English families want "quality time", while, as you point out, European children would quite naturally join their familes for dinner - and they would not be expected to eat chewey chicken nuggets and chips.
Hi, Lee. I know - it is all so sad one is left virtually speechless. Hi, Ruthie. To be fair, they have said in an interview that they will always feel guilty about that moment and I read today that they were told, at the beginning, not to betray emotion in TV interviews as if the abductor was watching, it might give him / her pleasure. So that partly explains it. It was, of course, irresponsible and I hope they do not have to reproach themselves for the rest of their lives but it is increasingly looking as if they will. Yes, heartbreaking, TB. And it could be that a great wrong is being done to the parents. I'm glad the dish turned out OK and the mash sounds great! Can't get parsnips here. Crushed, that's actually a good comparison. Hi, Ellee. Yes, it's a striking cultural difference, I think, and it may initially have been the cause of much misunderstanding in the case.
is there a famous writer called Somebody de Lampedusa? I think he was Italian and wrote one lauded, classic book (novel)... Know who I'm talking about?
Hi, Gleds. Yes, indeed. Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, who wrote "Il Gattopardo" - "The Leopard", about a Sicilian prince who cannot come to terms with change at the time of Italian unification. It's a wonderful book and I first read it as a teenager, before I knew I would study Italian or come here. There is also a film, starring Burt Lancaster, and a lot of it was shot around here. There is a fascinating biography of Lampedusa by David Gilmour. It's called "The Last Leopard".
That poor baby. Maddie you look at her face and you want to take her in your arms! Here there is news that the parents might be responsible for her death. I can only pray that this is not true. I can not imagine any parent doing something so horrendous but we all know it is possible. My prayers are with that beautiful baby and I can only pray she is in a much better place!
M
...what is even more incomprehensible to Italians than it is to the British is the fact that the children could have been left alone in the apartment in the first place...
Amen. Irresponsibility that Latins just would not stoop to.
Hi, M. I think we are all praying that that is not true. There is so much speculation and the continental papers are reporting as "fact" things which just cannot be verified - or not yet. We still all hope against hope that Medeleine will be found alive, of course. Hi, James. Yes, that, all along, has seemed incredible. Here they would have been immediately prosecuted for "abandoning minors". But as I Tom Paine commented at the beginning [at Ellee's, I think] we must remember that crime is the fault of the criminal.
Frankly, WL, I do not know what to think on the Madeleine case.
I don't think anyone does, eurodog.
One of my first thoughts on hearing about Madeline's disappearance was to think why did her parents leave her (and the other babies)? We couldn't/wouldn't have left ours. But I didn't want to say that at the time as it seemed so judgemental - and probably still is. It is a puzzling case but an oh so sad one.
Hi, Liz. I think that's what most of us probably thought but of course, we all just hoped she'd be found quickly. There seems to be a new twist every day now.
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