Madeleine's Fund : Leaving No Stone Unturned

pinkfluffybabe

black-saturn wrote: »

I havn't got the time or the patience to read all the thread but I'd like to ask what they want the money for? The police get paid to do their job and I don't know how any extra money can help them. I believe I heard that her mum is a doctor and the dad a lawyer so they obviously have quite a bit of money of their own. Before anyone starts I have every sympathy with their plight and even have a Madeline poster in my front window.

I'd also like to ask what's going to happen to the money if they don't find her?

Apparantly it will go to other missing children

Drunkstar

black-saturn wrote: »

I havn't got the time or the patience to read all the thread but I'd like to ask what they want the money for? The police get paid to do their job and I don't know how any extra money can help them.

Good question.

What help do the family think they will be 'around Euroupe' following every lead?
Yeah, you cocked up as parents, but being stupid and wasting money (other peoples by and large it seems) wont make up for that. Spend the money on detectives or people who can help while you go home and get on with life as best you can.



Whats that? that means out of the sun? TOUGH!

BWZN93

whereishergar wrote: »

I am all for democracy but for heavens sake, some of you should be hanging your heads in shame, a child has gone missing - everyone should unite on this - period.

Im not going to hang my head in shame actually, its precisely because we live in a democracy that I am allowed my own opinions, and providing that I stand by them, I dont see the shame in them - im hardly advocating that the parents should be hung drawn and quartered.

Secondly, I dont go around telling people that they should hang their heads in shame for having a different opinion to me - this is called healthy debate when people are able to discuss a particular topic without the need to resort to name calling or threats or abuse. I accept the points of view of others and see the reasoning/logic, however, I feel differently - I am entitled to do this.

If I were to look at this from a purely theoretical point of view, as if this were simply a debate on a fictional story such as a Martin's Money Dilemma, then my opinion would not have changed either. Given the circumstances, I feel that yes, the parents are entitled to the help and support to which they are currently recieving from the authorities in place to deal with these situations. This is their right, and im not denying them this. In order to recieve this help, they need to recognise that they are citizens/visitors of a particular country in which 'the law' operates. They are subject to those laws, in order to recieve the benefits that goes with them. To be in a country/cross into a country, there is a presumption that these rules are accepted.

As such, they had a legal responsibility in both their home country and the one they are currently in for the welfare of their own children/to those which they owe a legal duty of care towards. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse, in any country. Given this basic set of assumptions about the world in a theoretical situatoion, the McCann's should recieve all the help to which they are entitled under the law, and they are also culpable under the law for the criminal acts they also committed.

However, we have as yet to even see one shred of the law working against the parents in order to make them accountable for their actions. This does offend me/my moral sensibilities/whatever. I will then question whats going on because the system isnt in evidence here. I suspect that it is this which makes people nervous - our long held belief in the way things work is being destroyed, and the media certainly arent helping as they seem blinded. It is therefore left to those who wish to discuss the issue to talk on open forums etc. And im not going to leave the debate because people disagree with me.

Applying this basic set of assumptions to any situation in which I may find myself, I can be fairly confident of my answers to any of the situations you may care to throw at me. If I were to drink drive and crash into a tree for instance, then I can expect the following - help from the relevant authority for my injuries, to be swiftly followed by another set of authorities in order to make me accountable for breaking the law. Again, lets look at another (fictional) thing I might do - lets go with fraud for instance. If I were to defraud my employer of several thousand pounds and they were to take criminal action against me, then I would be entitled to defend myself with legal aid. Whilst many would want me shot for such a thing - it is my right to use the public money to help me avoid jail. This is the way things work.


Jo x

ben500

Excellent post Jo

Chas

Drunkstar wrote: »

Whats that? that means out of the sun? TOUGH!

That comment, in my opinion, is totally out of order.

HugoSP

There are some really stupid comments on here, eminating from one poster- I'd say you know who are but, actually I think you're too stupid to work this one out, meanwhile everyone else is having a laugh at your expense.

In the last couple of days however everyone else is putting forward good arguements.

• Were the baby sitting arrangements suitable? - Probably not. However lambasting them for this now is not helping the situation.
• Would the baby sitting arrangements that most people advocate here have prevented this from happening? I'm not so sure. Early reports point to Madeleine being targeted as opposed to randomly selected. Remember the chap on the beach taking photos of children? Apparently another dad chased him away and got a picture of him on a mobile. I think the abduction may well have happened at a different time. Who knows it may have happened earlier but for the McCanns' diligence preventing it.
• Do they deserve a fund to help find their daughter? Some advocate this, others seem repulsed. I can now see both views to a certain extent. You have to remember however the points made wrt the fund. I have reiterated these before but for clarity.

1) The purpose of the fund is to help find Madeleine
2) If Madeleine is found or the search comes to a sad conclusion then the rest of the money will go towards helping to find other children in the UK and Portugal. A surplus of funds to help further similar causes can only be a good thing
3) Slating the parents for wanting to stay in Portugal whilst the search is going on is unreasonable IMO. They lost their daughter in Portugal, it is natural to want to be there for her, since indications are that she is likely to be closer to, if not in, Portugal as opposed to anywhere else.
4) The reason that the fund exists is, as I said earlier, donations were coming in and they needed a home. If people want to give to it and the funds are used as promised, then I see no issue. Either give or don't give, the choice is yours. I have chosen not to give to it. However I respect their right to set it up and make the means available to those who choose to donate.

• Why haven't other families who've suffered child abductions had the same exposure? I agree it's not fair but that is not a good reasons to deny this to the McCanns. They probably don't care what anyone on this thread thinks in so much as, within reason, they will do what they see fit to further their cause. I for one applaud them for their insparation, and that of their extended family. What we are seeing is a family pull together in times of crises.
• Can they afford to do these things without the fund? I very much doubt it. Even if they could sell their house etc to pay for it, it would take time to release funds. My guess is that their travel insurance may provide some help, but maybe not to the tune of what they may be planning. They are both doctors, he is not a lawyer. It is wrong to assume that young professionals are loaded. With sharply rising house prices etc this is often far from the case. What I see here when this arguement is raised is a huge prejudice against people who have the potential to do very well for themselves, and its deployment as a poor substitute for reasons to insist they sell the clothes off their backs to fund their "Jolly around Europe".
• Do they plan to sell book and film rights? Well lets wait and see

MXW

I'm a single parent with two young boys. In a couple of weeks I am taking them away on holiday. We haven't had a holiday for 5 years and my dad has kindly paid for this one. I could go on holiday and have a fab time, put my kids in a creche....get a babysitter and go downstairs in the hotel to the bar and have a drink or two.........but I won't, this is a family holiday and sacrifes have to be made when you have children. When the kids are tired and want to go to bed, then we will all go back to the room. I most certainly would not leave then alone whilst I went out for a meal.

Errata

The website gives a figure of £184k raised since it was set up a week ago. This includes the donation of £50k made by Portsmouth Football Club. Details of how to donate are on the website and they will pay for

Funds will be paid to Madeleine's Fund: Leaving No Stone Unturned Limited: (A Company Limited by Guarantee), Company Registration Number - 6248215, 2-6 Cannon Street, London, EC4M 6YH.
3. The objects of the Foundation are:
3.1.1 To secure the safe return to her family of Madeleine McCann who was abducted in Praia da Luz, Portugal on Thursday 3rd May 2007;
3.1.2 To procure that Madeleine’s abduction is thoroughly investigated and that her abductors, as well as those who played or play any part in assisting them, are identified and brought to justice; and
3.1.3 To provide support, including financial assistance, to Madeleine’s family.
3.2 If the above objects are fulfilled then the objects of the Foundation shall be to pursue such purposes in similar cases arising in the United Kingdom, Portugal or elsewhere

aaroncaz

HugoSP wrote: »

Oh for goodness sake you get more stupid by the minute!

you're the only one here who seems devoid of sensible debate. Although I don't agree with many of the points being made here, at least everyone else is capable of contributing to sensible dialogue.

Whereas it seems in your case that you just like hearing the sound of your own voice.

Why the nasty comment, the OP is referring to coronation st, where they cut short a story line abt baby Freddie being taken!!

HugoSP

aaroncaz wrote: »

Why the nasty comment, the OP is referring to coronation st, where they cut short a story line abt baby Freddie being taken!!

The comment you refer to has now been edited out. It wasn't the information that the poster shared with us that infuriated me, it was the way in which he posted. My sentiments remain as they did when I posted. The poster in question succeeds in being particularly inept at sharing their views without being extremely derisary.

I sunk to their level, for which I aplogise.