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| Everyone's child | Everyone's child |
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| By Megan Lane BBC News Magazine The swell of media coverage about four-year-old Madeleine McCann, missing for more than a fortnight, has prompted some to question why, in a world where tragedy befalls thousands every day, so much attention has been focused on one girl. | By Megan Lane BBC News Magazine The swell of media coverage about four-year-old Madeleine McCann, missing for more than a fortnight, has prompted some to question why, in a world where tragedy befalls thousands every day, so much attention has been focused on one girl. |
| Yellow ribbons flutter around the village green in Rothley, the Leicestershire home of Madeleine McCann, the four-year-old who went missing 18 days ago during a family holiday in Portugal. | Yellow ribbons flutter around the village green in Rothley, the Leicestershire home of Madeleine McCann, the four-year-old who went missing 18 days ago during a family holiday in Portugal. |
| Such a reaction is to be expected when tragedy strikes a tight-knit community. | Such a reaction is to be expected when tragedy strikes a tight-knit community. |
| But in this case, the community affected has grown exponentially. England's cricketers wore yellow ribbons for the lost girl during the first test against the West Indies. So, too, did many MPs last Wednesday, when Madeleine's aunt came to meet Gordon Brown and John Prescott (Tony Blair being otherwise engaged at the White House). | But in this case, the community affected has grown exponentially. England's cricketers wore yellow ribbons for the lost girl during the first test against the West Indies. So, too, did many MPs last Wednesday, when Madeleine's aunt came to meet Gordon Brown and John Prescott (Tony Blair being otherwise engaged at the White House). |
| An appeal is made to crowds at the Rugby Union cup final And Madeleine's distinctive eyes - one with its pupil bleeding into the iris - stared down at the crowds watching Saturday's FA Cup in London and last week's Uefa cup final in Glasgow. Her familiar features grace thousands of "missing" posters in the UK, Portugal and further afield. | An appeal is made to crowds at the Rugby Union cup final And Madeleine's distinctive eyes - one with its pupil bleeding into the iris - stared down at the crowds watching Saturday's FA Cup in London and last week's Uefa cup final in Glasgow. Her familiar features grace thousands of "missing" posters in the UK, Portugal and further afield. |
| It is unusual for a small child to go missing without a trace - the majority of child abductions involve a family member. The rarity helps explain why coverage has, at times, reached saturation levels - prompting a handful of people to complain to the BBC that it is giving too much time to the story. | It is unusual for a small child to go missing without a trace - the majority of child abductions involve a family member. The rarity helps explain why coverage has, at times, reached saturation levels - prompting a handful of people to complain to the BBC that it is giving too much time to the story. |
| Yet for many, Madeleine is so young she encapsulates the very essence of childhood - happiness, innocence, vulnerability. Today children mature earlier, but childhood itself is prolonged by the rising school leaving age and "boomerang" offspring who can no longer afford to fly the family nest. And to lose a child is to lose something priceless. | Yet for many, Madeleine is so young she encapsulates the very essence of childhood - happiness, innocence, vulnerability. Today children mature earlier, but childhood itself is prolonged by the rising school leaving age and "boomerang" offspring who can no longer afford to fly the family nest. And to lose a child is to lose something priceless. |
| In the eyes of actuaries, at least, that was not always so. Once, if parents insured their child, the payout on their death covered lost earnings. By the 1930s, the loss was considered emotional rather than economic, says Professor Hugh Cunningham, author of The Invention of Childhood. | In the eyes of actuaries, at least, that was not always so. Once, if parents insured their child, the payout on their death covered lost earnings. By the 1930s, the loss was considered emotional rather than economic, says Professor Hugh Cunningham, author of The Invention of Childhood. |
| "The pay-outs became much greater and that indicates the value we've put on children over the past 100 years." | "The pay-outs became much greater and that indicates the value we've put on children over the past 100 years." |
| Romantic view | Romantic view |
| Today's view of childhood - that it's a special time, uniquely associated with the right to be happy - dates from the Romantic movement of 200 years ago, he says. | Today's view of childhood - that it's a special time, uniquely associated with the right to be happy - dates from the Romantic movement of 200 years ago, he says. |
| Rallying support: Madeleine's family at the House of Commons"People like Blake and Wordsworth regarded the child as innocent, coming almost direct from God. The view was that a child should be brought up in contact with nature; the child should be happy, protected, dependent, not work. | |
| "That's still with us, and was probably at its height in the early 20th Century when there was almost a worship of childhood - Peter Pan not wanting to grow up, and Shirley Temple being one of the biggest stars of the day." | "That's still with us, and was probably at its height in the early 20th Century when there was almost a worship of childhood - Peter Pan not wanting to grow up, and Shirley Temple being one of the biggest stars of the day." |
| On any day of any week, countless children around the world suffer from the sort of upbringing that would appal many Westerners. Child soldiers, sweatshop workers, victims of nature and man-made disasters all live an unenviable existence. | On any day of any week, countless children around the world suffer from the sort of upbringing that would appal many Westerners. Child soldiers, sweatshop workers, victims of nature and man-made disasters all live an unenviable existence. |
| But when disaster strikes closer to home and to child one half recognises - many see their own daughter, sister, grand-daughter or cousin in Madeleine's round face and open smile - it brings to the surface our darkest and least rational fears. | But when disaster strikes closer to home and to child one half recognises - many see their own daughter, sister, grand-daughter or cousin in Madeleine's round face and open smile - it brings to the surface our darkest and least rational fears. |
| "There are thousands of distressing things happening every day, but this has touched me as much - it collides so much with my safe little world," says Claude Knights, of the charity Kidscape. | "There are thousands of distressing things happening every day, but this has touched me as much - it collides so much with my safe little world," says Claude Knights, of the charity Kidscape. |
| Madeleine's face... bypasses the logical centres in one's brain and that deep primal instinct to protect is triggered Sue PalmerAuthor, Toxic Childhood Editors' blog: Too much from Portugal? "There's a campaign around her because people feel they're doing something positive, more so than they might feel by putting money in a tin for Darfur. Little Madeleine represents that angel quality, that innocence, we like to think children have." | Madeleine's face... bypasses the logical centres in one's brain and that deep primal instinct to protect is triggered Sue PalmerAuthor, Toxic Childhood Editors' blog: Too much from Portugal? "There's a campaign around her because people feel they're doing something positive, more so than they might feel by putting money in a tin for Darfur. Little Madeleine represents that angel quality, that innocence, we like to think children have." |
| This is perhaps heightened by media coverage which enhances the vulnerability of the victim, says Professor Cunningham. | This is perhaps heightened by media coverage which enhances the vulnerability of the victim, says Professor Cunningham. |
| Urge to protect | Urge to protect |
| The McCann family's efforts to keep the search in the spotlight cannot alone account for the level of interest and sense of shared concern for Madeleine's wellbeing. | The McCann family's efforts to keep the search in the spotlight cannot alone account for the level of interest and sense of shared concern for Madeleine's wellbeing. |
| In its first 24 hours, the website set up to find her received more than 25 million hits. David Beckham, Martin Johnson and Cristiano Ronaldo have appealed for her safe return. Among those pledging money for the £2.5m reward for information are JK Rowling, Richard Branson, Simon Cowell, Wayne Rooney and Michael Vaughan. | In its first 24 hours, the website set up to find her received more than 25 million hits. David Beckham, Martin Johnson and Cristiano Ronaldo have appealed for her safe return. Among those pledging money for the £2.5m reward for information are JK Rowling, Richard Branson, Simon Cowell, Wayne Rooney and Michael Vaughan. |
| At a vigil in RothleyJust as people who narrowly miss a plane or train that goes on to crash can experience shock that takes them unawares, a child in peril can have a similar effect. After the bodies of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman were found, counsellors worked with Soham families who intensely felt the loss of someone else's child - it could have been theirs. | At a vigil in RothleyJust as people who narrowly miss a plane or train that goes on to crash can experience shock that takes them unawares, a child in peril can have a similar effect. After the bodies of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman were found, counsellors worked with Soham families who intensely felt the loss of someone else's child - it could have been theirs. |
| "It's in our genes to protect our offspring and the littler they are, the more that protective instinct kicks in," says Sue Palmer, author of Toxic Childhood and the woman behind last autumn's Hold on to Childhood campaign, in which 110 academics, writers and childhood experts backed calls to protect the quality of children's lives. | "It's in our genes to protect our offspring and the littler they are, the more that protective instinct kicks in," says Sue Palmer, author of Toxic Childhood and the woman behind last autumn's Hold on to Childhood campaign, in which 110 academics, writers and childhood experts backed calls to protect the quality of children's lives. |
| But Ms Palmer worries that such cases will, in the long run, damage today's children. Not because of the dangerous strangers lurking in our midst, but because the fear is all out of proportion to the risk posed. | But Ms Palmer worries that such cases will, in the long run, damage today's children. Not because of the dangerous strangers lurking in our midst, but because the fear is all out of proportion to the risk posed. |
| "Madeleine's face, Sarah Payne's face, Holly and Jessica in their red shirts under the clock - because these are vivid images, they bypass the logical centres in one's brain and that deep primal instinct to protect is triggered. It makes us more and more fearful and this is damaging in itself to childhood." | "Madeleine's face, Sarah Payne's face, Holly and Jessica in their red shirts under the clock - because these are vivid images, they bypass the logical centres in one's brain and that deep primal instinct to protect is triggered. It makes us more and more fearful and this is damaging in itself to childhood." |
Below is a selection of your comments. | Below is a selection of your comments. |
| Am I alone in thinking this is too much? The emotional outpouring by everyone smacks of band wagon jumping at its worst. Yes it's an unhappy event but the grief of the nation and especially celebrities make me turn off as soon as it is on TV, therefore having a negative impact. Perhaps I'm just cold and heartlessPhil Herd, Nottingham | |
| You forgot to mention... She is white and "one of us". No one wishes such a tragedy on anyone, but if she were black? poor? an immigrant - would we have it dominating headlines for weeks? We must look critically at ourselves when so much money, effort, and attention spent on the life of a single individual when others die on a daily basis, neglected by us, or even as a result of actions by our own government. J, London | |
| I cannot understand why one case is taking up so much of the headlines when there are thousands of children that go missing and they are not even recognised in the local papers.Anon, Dorset , U.K. | |
| There was an interesting discussion in the office today about the level of publicity about Madeline. Most people (all women) felt that they were being bombarded with information about the case and were beginning to get a bit irritated - I wonder if the level of publicity could backfire?Alison, Bradford on Avon, UK | There was an interesting discussion in the office today about the level of publicity about Madeline. Most people (all women) felt that they were being bombarded with information about the case and were beginning to get a bit irritated - I wonder if the level of publicity could backfire?Alison, Bradford on Avon, UK |
| I think we all know why this story has had so much airtime in comparison with all the other people who go missing. Because this victim is cute and middle-class, there were some very media-friendly photos available, and the BBC has now dumbed down to the point where it tries to be like tabloid newspapers.Adam, London, UK | I think we all know why this story has had so much airtime in comparison with all the other people who go missing. Because this victim is cute and middle-class, there were some very media-friendly photos available, and the BBC has now dumbed down to the point where it tries to be like tabloid newspapers.Adam, London, UK |
| It's heart-wrenching to even consider this happening to one of my family, but I still have one grievance with the way this has been handled - would a less fortunate family staying in a different, much cheaper resort have received the same attention and sympathy?Pete, Bradford | It's heart-wrenching to even consider this happening to one of my family, but I still have one grievance with the way this has been handled - would a less fortunate family staying in a different, much cheaper resort have received the same attention and sympathy?Pete, Bradford |
| You are tip-toeing around the obvious. Her abduction affects people in the UK more than the thousands of children afflicted in the Third World, much the same as when disasters happen in the first world, which that is she is of "Us" not of "Them". When it happens to a third world child, the reaction is well that's what happens "over there". This attitude is clearly reflected in the word of C Knights above in that "Madeleine represents that angel quality, that innocence, we like to think children have." And Darfurian/Chinese/Palestinian/Indian do not? Mo, London | |
| This reminds me of the disappearance of Susan Maxwell in Scotland. I was young then, and prayed desperately for her safe return, asked my mom many times a day for the latest news. When the news came it was bad. I now see my children going through the same; they are praying and hoping and even weeping in private. And still we wait and pray. Though I have tried to explain the statistics to them, they refuse to believe anything other than that Maddie will be home any minute. I remember that feeling. I wish I could make it better for them, and for everyone.Henri, UK | |
| Since this was broadcast, since I saw her face and her mother's face, tortured with pain, I haven't' stopped praying for her safe return to her family. I am deeply affected by this incident, even though I know children are dying in Darfur, Senegal, Sri Lanka, India, Africa and even here, in this blessed land - but I can't explain why this sits like a weight on my heart -and I feel such shame that I belong to the human race that has perpetuated this awful act. I want and need to know her mother and father are no longer suffering, but mostly that, Madeleine herself, is altogether safe and well and is returned to their loving care. Dear God, please help her and us all. Tanya Taylor, Sydney, Australia | |
| I don't disagree with any comments in this article, but I think it misses the point. Many young and vulnerable children have vanished over the last 10 years, but how many times has the coverage and response reached such substantial levels? I think hardly ever, if not at all - not even Holly and Jessica had such campaigns launched in an attempt to locate them. Surely it is more important to understand why the public have felt the need to become so involved with an event unconnected to them, or at least why it has never happened on such a scale previously.Jo, London | I don't disagree with any comments in this article, but I think it misses the point. Many young and vulnerable children have vanished over the last 10 years, but how many times has the coverage and response reached such substantial levels? I think hardly ever, if not at all - not even Holly and Jessica had such campaigns launched in an attempt to locate them. Surely it is more important to understand why the public have felt the need to become so involved with an event unconnected to them, or at least why it has never happened on such a scale previously.Jo, London |
| White middle class families look better on the news. It also takes Iraq and Tony Blair out of the headlines a bit, and furthermore allows people a sense of community in a divided, individualistic selfish world. It is everyone wanting to get their own bite of the tragedy, because most peoples lives are so moribund and empty. What on earth is a reward or posters on Tottenham Court road really contributing to the discovery of a child kidnapped in Portugal? It is insane and unfair on people who have lost children and had to cope with being told "there's nothing we can do".Phil Harrington, Newport, S Wales | |
| Whilst I am extremely sorry that Madeline has not been found yet, I cannot remember so much media overkill on a missing story in the past. I know it needs keeping in the minds of the public, but I do think as a story it could be featured a lot later on in news bulletins.Antony Forst, Stoke on Trent - England | Whilst I am extremely sorry that Madeline has not been found yet, I cannot remember so much media overkill on a missing story in the past. I know it needs keeping in the minds of the public, but I do think as a story it could be featured a lot later on in news bulletins.Antony Forst, Stoke on Trent - England |