That time of year again
Once a year, as a special treat, I allow myself to agree with David Aaronovitch. Most of the time he’s so spectacularly mutton-headed that I daily rock myself to sleep in bitter tears that our respective careers aren’t transposed. And I say that as a modest man, of poor education and limited ability.
But his column about Madeleine McCann (via the mighty, mighty Aaronovitch Watch) is very nearly spot on.
I say very nearly. Of course, there is much to be said about the emotional and philosophical impact of this little girl’s disappearance. Hell, the emotional incontinence on display has hardened even my sentimental heart.
But, at the risk of repeating myself (I’ve been peddling this line around various other blogs), a practical upshot of this most ostentatious outpouring of public sentiment seems to have been overlooked.
Aaronovitch writes of ‘why put a picture of Madeleine in your window, 500 miles from the Algarve?’ and of downloading ‘“Madeleine Missing†posters from the Sky News website’. And yes, many of the people doing so are, probably/maybe subconsciously, in it for the vicarious thrill; the grief by proxy.
However, here’s the practical upshot. Thousands of Britons are about to fan out across the globe on their two weeks a year somewhere nice. Hell, I’m off to Corfu myself with my partner’s family in ten days. For my numerous and belligerent sins.
In between drinking like George Best on pay day, aren’t we all going to have an eye out for blonde four year-olds? It’ll be like metal detecting without having to get up off your arse.
God knows I’m an unfeeling bastard but, in this instance, the downside of having Madeleine McCann’s image shoved under your nose every thirty seconds is outweighed by the possible upside. The price is a small one if you wear the appropriate emotional sunblock.
Posted on May 23rd, 2007 at 10:34 pm
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Watch out. By the time you get back there might be a nuclear power station at the end of your street.
What the fuck? Nein danke. Looks like I’m marching again in the near future.
It might bring the house prices down to an attainable level round here, mind.
I haven’t blogged on this but still:
…in it for the vicarious thrill; the grief by proxy…
Not totally sure you’re right here. I think people feel frsustrated and to run it on their blogs etc. is a cathartic thing.
James: I’m not attributing any malice or insincerity and like I said, in this case there is a practical upshot (unlike say, the outpouring of grief over Diana).
That said, I read something like this and it does make me pause:
It’s a very appealing notion.
Johann Hari is right, up to a point, but you left off his next sentence…
…But we should try to spread that solidarity ever-wider, to other mothers pining for their stolen babies across the world.
Blogs and websites which have never, ever posted a single image of suffering children from anywhere in the world are now displaying pictures of Madeleine McCann. That is what, for me , makes this whole thing more like a Diana moment than a spontaneous outburst of ’solidarity with suffering strangers’.
solidarity with suffering strangers
That would be solidarity with upstanding, telegenic white strangers with lovely, blond-haired children, of course.
Yes Mike, have the solidarity folks campaigned for this
http://web.comhem.se/cdata/irak/child.jpg
Link did not work above
Yes, a bit harder to feel solidarity when the kid has had her parents’ guts splattered all over her by one of our bombs so that we can bring her democracy and freedom.
And she’s probably not even thankful.