This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/may/07/cleveland-kidnapping-importance-neighbors

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Cleveland, Ohio kidnapping case reminds us that neighbours matter Cleveland, Ohio kidnapping case reminds us that neighbours matter
(5 months later)
I keep thinking about the neighbors in the Cleveland "miracle" case, the people who lived right next door to the house where Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus were found and appear to have spent a decade in captivity.I keep thinking about the neighbors in the Cleveland "miracle" case, the people who lived right next door to the house where Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus were found and appear to have spent a decade in captivity.
One of the neighbors, Charles Ramsey, is rightly being hailed as a hero. He's the one who noticed Amanda Berry screaming for help and ran over and kicked the door down so she could escape. It's hard not to like Ramsey. He retells the story to the news media with calm and "ya know what I mean?" candor, even saying that he ran over to his neighbor's house while holding a McDonald's Big Mac.One of the neighbors, Charles Ramsey, is rightly being hailed as a hero. He's the one who noticed Amanda Berry screaming for help and ran over and kicked the door down so she could escape. It's hard not to like Ramsey. He retells the story to the news media with calm and "ya know what I mean?" candor, even saying that he ran over to his neighbor's house while holding a McDonald's Big Mac.
But you have to ask, did no one on Seymour Avenue in Cleveland know or even suspect something was awry all these years?But you have to ask, did no one on Seymour Avenue in Cleveland know or even suspect something was awry all these years?
Sure, there's plenty of anecdotal and even numeric evidence that suggests Americans aren't as friendly with their neighbors as they once were. In one telling survey, people admitted they know the names of the pets on their block better than the names of the humans. But the picture emerging of Seymour Avenue still seems pretty close. When Ramsey is interviewed by the press, it's notable how many people – some neighbors – hover right behind him in a big clump.Sure, there's plenty of anecdotal and even numeric evidence that suggests Americans aren't as friendly with their neighbors as they once were. In one telling survey, people admitted they know the names of the pets on their block better than the names of the humans. But the picture emerging of Seymour Avenue still seems pretty close. When Ramsey is interviewed by the press, it's notable how many people – some neighbors – hover right behind him in a big clump.
I grew up in a somewhat similar block where it was hard to hide. We had a Neighborhood Watch going in the 1980s where different parents would volunteer to drive around for a few hours in the evening keeping an eye on things. You knew the people on your street. You ran through their yards. Your family bought fundraiser stuff you didn't really want because it was the neighbor kids selling it. You saw when people came and went. We even knew which dad worked for the Drug Enforcement Administration and had guns in the family basement. When houses are as close together as they are on Seymour Avenue, it's difficult not to notice just about everything.I grew up in a somewhat similar block where it was hard to hide. We had a Neighborhood Watch going in the 1980s where different parents would volunteer to drive around for a few hours in the evening keeping an eye on things. You knew the people on your street. You ran through their yards. Your family bought fundraiser stuff you didn't really want because it was the neighbor kids selling it. You saw when people came and went. We even knew which dad worked for the Drug Enforcement Administration and had guns in the family basement. When houses are as close together as they are on Seymour Avenue, it's difficult not to notice just about everything.
But as ready as I am to pounce on the Cleveland neighbors, I couldn't help but look in the mirror. Now I live in a New York apartment building with several apartments on my floor alone. I didn't even meet one of my neighbors until last night when we were both doing our laundry. What would I have said if reporters or police came by and asked what was going on mere feet from my doorstep?But as ready as I am to pounce on the Cleveland neighbors, I couldn't help but look in the mirror. Now I live in a New York apartment building with several apartments on my floor alone. I didn't even meet one of my neighbors until last night when we were both doing our laundry. What would I have said if reporters or police came by and asked what was going on mere feet from my doorstep?
A number of the neighbors of suspect Ariel Castro have expressed remorse and "heavy hearts" over what happened on their block.A number of the neighbors of suspect Ariel Castro have expressed remorse and "heavy hearts" over what happened on their block.
One woman, Elise Cintron told The Guardian's Ed Pilkington that she lives three doors away from the Castro home and found it odd that its backyard was boarded up with very high wooden sheets so there was no way to see inside. About a year ago Cintron's grand-daughter reported an even more disturbing sight: she said she had seen a naked woman crawling on her hands and knees out of the house. Elsie says her grand-daughter even called police, but they never followed up.One woman, Elise Cintron told The Guardian's Ed Pilkington that she lives three doors away from the Castro home and found it odd that its backyard was boarded up with very high wooden sheets so there was no way to see inside. About a year ago Cintron's grand-daughter reported an even more disturbing sight: she said she had seen a naked woman crawling on her hands and knees out of the house. Elsie says her grand-daughter even called police, but they never followed up.
There are reports of people who saw suspect Ariel Castro walking a young girl, likely his daughter with Amanda Berry, to a local playground. Police also responded to a complaint in 2011, but since no one answered the door, the police went away.There are reports of people who saw suspect Ariel Castro walking a young girl, likely his daughter with Amanda Berry, to a local playground. Police also responded to a complaint in 2011, but since no one answered the door, the police went away.
The reality is starting to emerge that a few people did suspect something was off about the house. Some even took action to call the police. After the authorities figure out how these young women ended up held as captives for all those years and who's responsible, they need to turn the microscope on themselves. Why wasn't this house investigated more closely? Why weren't these apparent calls to police followed up on?The reality is starting to emerge that a few people did suspect something was off about the house. Some even took action to call the police. After the authorities figure out how these young women ended up held as captives for all those years and who's responsible, they need to turn the microscope on themselves. Why wasn't this house investigated more closely? Why weren't these apparent calls to police followed up on?
What no one seems to want to say is that this block is in a poorer part of Cleveland, a place where assumptions might have been made to just leave it alone and move on.

The other telling aspect of this is what happened in Gina DeJesus' old neighborhood. In a bizarre twist of fate, DeJesus' mother was interviewed by Ariel Castro's son for a school journalism project in 2004. Nancy Ruiz, DeJesus' mother, said at the time,		What no one seems to want to say is that this block is in a poorer part of Cleveland, a place where assumptions might have been made to just leave it alone and move on.

The other telling aspect of this is what happened in Gina DeJesus' old neighborhood. In a bizarre twist of fate, DeJesus' mother was interviewed by Ariel Castro's son for a school journalism project in 2004. Nancy Ruiz, DeJesus' mother, said at the time,
"You can tell the difference. People are watching out for each other's kids. It's a shame that a tragedy had to happen for me to really know my neighbors. Bless their hearts, they've been great.""You can tell the difference. People are watching out for each other's kids. It's a shame that a tragedy had to happen for me to really know my neighbors. Bless their hearts, they've been great."
Her mother refused to give up the search for her daughter, even getting the case on national TV. But locally, her case finally got people to really get to know each other on the block and keep a better watch, especially for each other's children.Her mother refused to give up the search for her daughter, even getting the case on national TV. But locally, her case finally got people to really get to know each other on the block and keep a better watch, especially for each other's children.
There are many more details to emerge, but this is one of these news stories that makes you want to hug your relatives a little closer tonight, and, yes, take a minute to know your neigbhors.There are many more details to emerge, but this is one of these news stories that makes you want to hug your relatives a little closer tonight, and, yes, take a minute to know your neigbhors.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.