Chat & Social > The Bar - General Chat
Vynil wrap and Madeleine Poster
Lee_D:
Why are they not equal?
Can you evidence what you are saying or are you generalising?
I'm interested as a Police officer I treat all persons fairly and impartially so I do feel somewhat defensive if people suggest otherwise. Not a rant but keen to hear the facts.
thermidorthelobster:
Well, around the world, hundreds of thousands of children are sick, dying, being tortured, abused, victims of war or simply in desperate poverty. I saw a child in a slum in Senegal who had, as a toy, a toilet seat on a piece of string.
Of course I don't deny that lots of things are being done to try to help - aid money is being spent, charities are working, etc etc.
But the focus in the news for several weeks now has been one girl who has gone missing on holiday. Of course it's a tragedy, and if I were the parents I'd be frantic with worry and would do anything to get my child back.
But as I said earlier, it seems to me that the fate of one middle class white girl is vastly disproportionately treated compared to the fate of millions of others.
But even closer to home...
Approximately SEVENTY THOUSAND children are reported missing in the UK each year. Doubtless the vast majority are found safe and sound. But on this website I can see immediately 20 children who have disappeared without trace in the UK within the last year. I notice the majority are of Asian or African origin. Why aren't these 20 in every news bulletin? Why aren't posters of them plastered over people's cars? Why aren't there half a dozen Facebook groups with thousands of users devoted to finding these children?
Why haven't people raised £3m in funding as a reward or war chest to find these children? Search the site, look at the photos and see what you think.
Lee_D:
--- Quote from: "thermidorthelobster" ---But the focus in the news for several weeks now has been one girl who has gone missing on holiday. Of course it's a tragedy, and if I were the parents I'd be frantic with worry and would do anything to get my child back.
But as I said earlier, it seems to me that the fate of one middle class white girl is vastly disproportionately treated compared to the fate of millions of others.
But even closer to home...
Approximately SEVENTY THOUSAND children are reported missing in the UK each year. Doubtless the vast majority are found safe and sound. But on this website I can see immediately 20 children who have disappeared without trace in the UK within the last year. I notice the majority are of Asian or African origin. Why aren't these 20 in every news bulletin? Why aren't posters of them plastered over people's cars? Why aren't there half a dozen Facebook groups with thousands of users devoted to finding these children?
Why haven't people raised £3m in funding as a reward or war chest to find these children? Search the site, look at the photos and see what you think.
--- End quote ---
OK take a closer look - Not one of those children under 5 I've looked at amongst 8 pages of hits has been abducted in circumstances such as Madeleine. They have in the main been taken by a parent which is a whole different bag of spanners to having been snatched from your bed by a stranger. Parents who are caring in the main and have fled for reasons other than a wish to do a child harm.
I will not debate the figures of 70,000 however I will put them in to context. Social services childrens homes all across the country have staff reporting some of there residents missing every night if they are not in by there curfew times so they can cover there backs against being sued. I know of children who have been reported missing nearly every night of the week in such circumstances since our current computer records of missing persons began. Add to this Hospitals who report people missing when they discharge themselves or walk off wards before the end of treatment and you begin to get the idea.
Dave I have no doubt children all around the world suffer far worse than some of our own in the UK however I can't change whole cultures. I can help try and find a child that hasn't been snatched by a family member, isn't able to defend herself or run away to safety.
It's nowt to do with classes, it's to do with circumstances and vulnerability. I'd be doing the same if Maddie were black , yellow or green for that matter and give not a toot that the parents are either well paid in good jobs or on the breadline because I'm not looking for the parents.
thermidorthelobster:
--- Quote from: "Lee_D" ---It's nowt to do with classes, it's to do with circumstances and vulnerability. I'd be doing the same if Maddie were black , yellow or green for that matter and give not a toot that the parents are either well paid in good jobs or on the breadline because I'm not looking for the parents.
--- End quote ---
You could well be taking the same approach regardless, but do you think the media would have given the case so much coverage in those circumstances? So would you have even heard about it in the first place? I don't think you would, but maybe I'm just too cynical.
Regarding the database, I was looking not just at the youngest children but all the ones under 16. I can immediately see 5 or more who have disappeared without the obvious influence of family members.
Circumstances: Police are very concerned for the wellbeing of Qin WANG. She is missing from her foster home in Bournemouth on the 04/01/2007. Qin is described as having black shoulder length hair that has been dyed red, brown eyes and of oriental ethnic appearance. (age 16)
Circumstances: Lingran and Lingshan are sister's who have gone missing from the Hove area in Sussex. They have recently arrived from China and have gone missing together. Police are concerned for the welfare of these young sisters because of their lack of the English language and ability to care for themselves.They are both described as of thin build, long hair and when last seen were wearing white T shirts and 3/4 length trousers. (age 12 and 15)
Circumstances: Left home address in Haringey area after packing his school bag with clothing and has not returned. Described as slim build, fresh complexion with short black hair in afro style. (age 15)
Circumstances: Linh Thuy Nguyen was last seen on 22/10/06 at her home address in Mitcham, Surrey. She had left to go shopping but did not return. Linh was last seen wearing a grey striped short sleeved blouse and blue jeans. (age 13)
Circumstances: Samantha was last seen at 1600hrs on the 03/04/2007 when she took herself to Hospital as she thought she was having an Asthma attack and has not been since.She is described as having brown straight hair of slim build and has a surgical scar above her left eyebrow. She was last seen wearing a white puffa jacket with blue jeans and white trainers. (age 15)
Circumstances: Scott left his home address and has not returned. Scott is described as having cropped blonde hair and was wearing grey jogging bottoms, a white polo shirt and black "Nike" trainers. (age 15)
(plus three more of 16 years old, of the list disappeared in the last year)
You're right that none of these are under 5. But they're still children, they're still missing, their lives are in danger and I bet nobody here has ever heard of them before.
Lee, I don't disapprove of what you're doing; if you help find the girl then of course it's worth it. My original point was regarding the disproportionate amount of coverage of one missing child when the plight of so many others is not even heard about.
Lee_D:
Update :-
Putting politics of being missing and views about parents responsibility and everything else negative one wishes to add aside... This thread finally has some light at the end of the tunnel.
Today I got a call from some local Vynil Wrap guys who have offered to do the 110 for me, they want no glory, no sponsor logo text etc and have offered to do the job for free. They are two chaps who work as partners as part of a small firm.
I have already stated that in order to get the Posters as much publicity world wide I'll be sending photos in to all the Landie comics which again go world wide and they will get a mention by me anyway. The logic being landie comics are exported to all corners where the news may not have filtered through. There was an a guy on GMTV the other day asking people in Italy about the missing four year old before the McCanns saw the Pope. The reply from the Interviewees was Who? or What missing girl?
I'm more convinced than ever that this is a good idea because of the above.
I'll post some piccys when the 110's done.. won't be full wrap but enough to do the job.
Lee
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