Please God this turns out to be a real break in the case.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1274311,00.html
Even though I strongly disagree with the attacks on Madeleine's family I know we all pray that Madeleine is found safe and well soon.
attack
verb
1. to set upon in a forceful, violent, hostile, or aggressive way, with or without a weapon; begin fighting with: He attacked him with his bare hands.
2. to begin hostilities against; start an offensive against: to attack the enemy.
3. to blame or abuse violently or bitterly.
4. to direct unfavorable criticism against; criticize severely; argue with strongly: He attacked his opponent's statement.
5. to try to destroy, esp. with verbal abuse: to attack the mayor's reputation.
6. to set about (a task) or go to work on (a thing) vigorously: to attack housecleaning; to attack the hamburger hungrily.
7. (of disease, destructive agencies, etc.) to begin to affect.
verb (used without object)
8. to make an attack; begin hostilities.
noun
9. the act of attacking; onslaught; assault.
10. a military offensive against an enemy or enemy position.
11. Pathology. seizure by disease or illness: an attack of indigestion.
12. the beginning or initiating of any action; onset.
13. an aggressive move in a performance or contest.
14. the approach or manner of approach in beginning a musical phrase
I believe you are thinking, or meant to say......
criticism
noun
1. disapproval expressed by pointing out faults or shortcomings; "the senator received severe criticism from his opponent"
2. a serious examination and judgment of something; "constructive criticism is always appreciated"
3. a written evaluation of a work of literature
I don't mean to get caught up in semantics here, but I haven't seen anyone here 'attack' Madeleine's parents. Questions, critiques, opinions and theories have been presented here. Unfortunately, I have seen verbal, or rather, written 'attacks' made by large numbers of those supporting the McCanns. I will acknowledge that you are one of the more temperate individuals in expressing your disagreement and I appreciate that.
I hope, as much as you do and as much as anyone else out there does, that Madeleine can be safely returned. How this ordeal, if she is found alive, will affect her psychological development over her lifetime is a genuine concern. I would do a happy dance in the middle of my street if she was found. I would do it naked (EW! for my neighbors) if it meant her being returned sooner and alive.
And if or when she is found.... well, I will not stop having issue with the FACT that her parents left her and two younger siblings alone, night after night, to fend for themselves against things which go bump in the night. Children that age cannot speak for themselves. Someone -or many someones - need to speak out for them.
I'll keep my fingers and toes crossed, if it will help, and hope that this newest development moves things to a successful and happy conclusion(although Skynews - and I have some issues with Skynews - is the only report of this that I can presently find). I will gladly eat my words with regard to my hypothesis if her parents are not involved in her disappearance. I will not, however, change my tune one whit about their culpability in contributing to her disappearance by leaving her to fend for herself. Nor will I change my thoughts on how passive and odd their personal 'search' has been and how very disturbing that has been to me.
But that is simply one woman's opinion.
Kat
