Open Letter to the Maddie Forum

[okietexan]

Wow, Heather....I have said it before and I will say it again...you are amazing! You have provided so many of us with information that we might not otherwise have. You have been fair and honest and respectful to everyone. The way you care for Maddy truly shows and your precious nature shines through. I know that I am not alone in saying how much we appreciate you, your knowledge, and your kindness! Hang in there...you are awesome! And somewhere, somehow, Maddy knows how great you are too!

 

[CaliKid]

We understand that there are posters who have been immersed in other threads and are finding the Maddie forum for the first time or visited in the beginning and "left us". Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, so I hope nobody feels I've been shoving mine down your throat.

For those of us who have been here all summer, we may seem to know more than you. But that doesn't mean we're right. We follow evidence just like you do and come to whatever conclusion it leads us to. This investigation is so different from any other because of the secrecy in Portugal issue. We get little snippets of clues, but we won't know the truth unless it comes out in court.

Actually, I hope we're wrong about the McCanns. I would be totally thrilled to wake up tomorrow morning and discover that Madeleine had been found, alive and well.

But like Jeana, I have to admit that the parents just don't sit right with me either.

 

[Taximom]

I can't add anything except "ditto" everyone above. Great comments.

:blowkiss:

 

[jilly]

Well Colomom - since you have never posted on another board before I'm sure you know by now that you came to the right one! You will not find another site so supportive - that's why many of us have been around for awhile.

I'm going to jump on board with everyone else here and say ditto to their comments. There is nothing wrong with being passionate as you are with such a disturbing case. I have always felt from reading your posts that you are a very honest person and have nothing but the best interests of this poor child at heart.

Please keep on posting. The majority of us value your opinion.:blowkiss:

 

[jilly]

We understand that there are posters who have been immersed in other threads and are finding the Maddie forum for the first time or visited in the beginning and "left us". Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, so I hope nobody feels I've been shoving mine down your throat.

For those of us who have been here all summer, we may seem to know more than you. But that doesn't mean we're right. We follow evidence just like you do and come to whatever conclusion it leads us to. This investigation is so different from any other because of the secrecy in Portugal issue. We get little snippets of clues, but we won't know the truth unless it comes out in court.

Actually, I hope we're wrong about the McCanns. I would be totally thrilled to wake up tomorrow morning and discover that Madeleine had been found, alive and well.

:clap: I am one of those 'johnny come lately' posters Cal and I know from experience that it is very frustrating when you follow a case doggedly from the beginning and someone like me comes along.
I just want to say thank you to you and all the others for being so patient with us and getting us up to speed!

 

[aussie_mum]

I have been a member here for about 18 months..... and read here for along time before that.... perhaps 12 - 18 months.... can't be sure really... I really only joined because I got sick of trying to find the threads I was interested in. lol. So alot of the posters here even tho they may not have noticed me, I sure have noticed them (swear I am not a stalker!) and every one here seems so nice! Like almost everyone on this forum can argue the opinion, the facts, the theory on their own merits without resorting to name calling and harrassment. Other places I have seen if you don't agree you are instantly a troll, or you must be dumb or an idiot. Here I see alot of "Wow, that's an interesting idea...." or "Good point, but I don't agree....."
I think what helps that is all of us are here because we care what happens and we have an interest in seeing justice for everyone.

Colomom you have done alot of reading and found all sorts of stuff that most of us couldn't find, I think you are great. I have never read a post of yours that had any disregard for another person here or that forgot the reason we are here.

 

[AfterMidnight]

In one way, colomom, I can almost agree with your feelings. I got involved in child abduction/murder years ago when Eton Patz disappeared. That case cut me to the core and I wanted so badly to stop this from ever happening again. Well, I couldn't and neither can the police, and neither can you.

I can almost empathize with your emotional state, but I believe when you emailed the McCanns you crossed a line - the line of privacy. Yeah, you do post a lot of links and keep everyone informed, although inflamed might be a better word. The tripe we've read from the Portugese press is akin to the National Enquirer, sensationalism at its worst, half-truths at its best. That is, unless the Portugese LE has "accidentally" leaked some of this stuff and then denied it later. That, in itself, is despicible.

I'm sure you're a lovely person who dotes on her children, but I believe you've become too emotionally involved in this case. There's no reason for that because you cannot bring Maddy back if she's dead, and you cannot rescue her if she's been abducted. All you can do is whip yourself into an assylum.

You have every right to post all the links and opinions you want. I know most of the posters here enjoy them. That scares me a little. Maybe a lot. There's something here that reminds me of mob mentality. Even if the suspected horse thief really did steal the horse, the mob had no right to lynch him.

I know I'll be flamed and thought unkind. Whatever. If I had been alive during the Oxbow Incident I probably would have been swinging myself and the deaths in Salem didn't come about by earnest prayer and good judgment - emotion played the major role.

 

[SieSie]

I can't add anything except "ditto" everyone above. Great comments.

:blowkiss:

I ditto the ditto! Keep up the great work, Colomon/Heather, you're very much appreciated around here. I totally understand the need to take breaks from these difficult cases, though - be sure to take care of yourself! :blowkiss:

 

[Shazza]

Heather I cannot express enough how very important you are to this case, the posters who post all have their opinions and are entitled to have them, but without all the information you bring to this forum I dont think we would have much to discuss, you have worked tirelessly and brought to our attention links and stories we may not have found. You stick to your opinions and theories as I believe a lot of what you say is exactly what a lot of other posters are thinking as I am one of them, to those who differ well thats good to, until we find out the truth and someone is charged beyond doubt all opinions and theories posted have a place here on WS.

Keep up the good work Colomom, you are doing a terrific job andI appreciate all your hardwork and committment.:blowkiss:

 

[Jdee]

Sorry you are feeling so blue Heather. I remember your first post when we were just a few, Shazza, Petra, Cali, Englishleigh...and a few others... We have trudged through this mess for months and held on even when there was nothing to post. If it is any consolation I feel the same way. Somedays I wake up and think.. yeah they did it, then 10 min later I say.. no they didn't do it. That is the reality of it for me. I just don't know.
Don't beat yourself up here. Just take a step back. In a day or so you will feel much better about it.
xoxo

 

[christine2448]

You don't sound like a bad person at all. You've been more than civil when posters have a different opinion about the case than you do. psst I'll tell you what you need to do...........take a break from your computer and this case for a few minutes, a few hours, a few days, whatever you need. I guarantee you will feel better when you return.

Take it from someone who knows, you can spend too much time on the computer when following a case that hits close to your heart. Don't make this case your life....make it part of your life. (((hugs))) to you!

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

 

[KOOL LOOK]

You glitter like a majestic Emerald in my eyes. The great walls of our eternal home are built with layers of Rubies, Sapphires, Emeralds and Gold.

But none more precious than you are to me, for you know how I place you in my heart and the value you are to me. You are worth more than any price I'd ever be able to pay. But your peace, serenity and joy you bring me is a free gift you give to all of us here.

You are my green Emerald that represents the love of this world that I place in the crown of Jesus. Your children will grow up and call you Blessed Mother!

:dance: I know the Angels dance at the throne when you flash in front of our Lord.

Your friend,

 

[narlacat]

In one way, colomom, I can almost agree with your feelings. I got involved in child abduction/murder years ago when Eton Patz disappeared. That case cut me to the core and I wanted so badly to stop this from ever happening again. Well, I couldn't and neither can the police, and neither can you.

I can almost empathize with your emotional state, but I believe when you emailed the McCanns you crossed a line - the line of privacy. Yeah, you do post a lot of links and keep everyone informed, although inflamed might be a better word. The tripe we've read from the Portugese press is akin to the National Enquirer, sensationalism at its worst, half-truths at its best. That is, unless the Portugese LE has "accidentally" leaked some of this stuff and then denied it later. That, in itself, is despicible.

I'm sure you're a lovely person who dotes on her children, but I believe you've become too emotionally involved in this case. There's no reason for that because you cannot bring Maddy back if she's dead, and you cannot rescue her if she's been abducted. All you can do is whip yourself into an assylum.

You have every right to post all the links and opinions you want. I know most of the posters here enjoy them. That scares me a little. Maybe a lot. There's something here that reminds me of mob mentality. Even if the suspected horse thief really did steal the horse, the mob had no right to lynch him.

I know I'll be flamed and thought unkind. Whatever. If I had been alive during the Oxbow Incident I probably would have been swinging myself and the deaths in Salem didn't come about by earnest prayer and good judgment - emotion played the major role.

I don't think you are unkind Midnight, just honest.

And it's true, getting emotional isn't helping anyone.

I do not judge the Mc's for leaving their kids alone, they made a mistake- as Mums it isn't humanly possible to be watching our kids every second of the day- any Mum who says she does is pretty much lying- we still have to have showers, go to the toilet etc- and when kids start school they are out of our sight for 6 hours, we have to trust the universe will look after them.

 

[Texana]

I don't think you are unkind Midnight, just honest.

And it's true, getting emotional isn't helping anyone.

I do not judge the Mc's for leaving their kids alone, they made a mistake- as Mums it isn't humanly possible to be watching our kids every second of the day- any Mum who says she does is pretty much lying- we still have to have showers, go to the toilet etc- and when kids start school they are out of our sight for 6 hours, we have to trust the universe will look after them.

You don't have to trust the universe exactly, you have to trust people like me who are watching them every minute. I cannot even begin to tell you the amount of emphasis given to security at the school where I work and the schools my daughters attend. I don't know how it is in your neck of the woods, but in ours, it is a huge, huge part of our jobs here to keep the children safe. If we have to choose between the academic objective and a safety one we choose safety.

I am sure the teachers down under feel exactly the same way.

 

[teacherbees]

Taking a shower, going to the bathroom, allowing a child to attend school - you equate these activities with leaving children three and under alone for hours night after night so you can go party with friends?

 

[Rino]

Taking a shower, going to the bathroom, allowing a child to attend school - you equate these activities with leaving children three and under alone for hours night after night so you can go party with friends?

:waitasec: quite a stretch...

 

[colomom]

I don't think you are unkind Midnight, just honest.

And it's true, getting emotional isn't helping anyone.

I do not judge the Mc's for leaving their kids alone, they made a mistake- as Mums it isn't humanly possible to be watching our kids every second of the day- any Mum who says she does is pretty much lying- we still have to have showers, go to the toilet etc- and when kids start school they are out of our sight for 6 hours, we have to trust the universe will look after them.

Actually, I have never left my children "alone", they have always been in the presence an adult that was within earshot. And when they were 3 years old, within eyesight. I even brought them into the bathroom, in their infant carriers, when I took a shower, and I didn't close the curtain. I have always been extremely careful with my gifts, I know just how fragile they are. I agree with you Texana, our children are probably safer in their school environment than playing in our fenced back yard. After all, our schools are in a district very close to Columbine High School.

I made a commitment when I had these kids and that meant that what I wanted came second. There will be time to put myself first when they are grown. I am also very lucky to have a husband that feels exactly like I do.

I do not understand why the McCanns could not do the same.

Oh, and getting emotional is helping someone...it's helping ME!

 

[Shazza]

Actually, I have never left my children "alone", they have always been in the presence an adult that was within earshot. And when they were 3 years old, within eyesight. I even brought them into the bathroom, in their infant carriers, when I took a shower, and I didn't close the curtain. I have always been extremely careful with my gifts, I know just how fragile they are. I agree with you Texana, our children are probably safer in their school environment than playing in our fenced back yard. After all, our schools are in a district very close to Columbine High School.

I made a commitment when I had these kids and that meant that what I wanted came second. There will be time to put myself first when they are grown. I am also very lucky to have a husband that feels exactly like I do.

I do not understand why the McCanns could not do the same.

Oh, and getting emotional is helping someone...it's helping ME!

I too am emotional over this case, and leaving your children at night alone while you go out for dinner is irresponsible and not in the same catagory of going to the toilet or taking a shower.
I am with you on this Colomom I do not understand why the McCanns did that.

 

[colomom]

You glitter like a majestic Emerald in my eyes. The great walls of our eternal home are built with layers of Rubies, Sapphires, Emeralds and Gold.

But none more precious than you are to me, for you know how I place you in my heart and the value you are to me. You are worth more than any price I'd ever be able to pay. But your peace, serenity and joy you bring me is a free gift you give to all of us here.

You are my green Emerald that represents the love of this world that I place in the crown of Jesus. Your children will grow up and call you Blessed Mother!

:dance: I know the Angels dance at the throne when you flash in front of our Lord.

Your friend,

Kool...you know I love you and your spirit. Thank you for this very touching post. :blowkiss:

 

[narlacat]

Actually, I have never left my children "alone", they have always been in the presence an adult that was within earshot. And when they were 3 years old, within eyesight. I even brought them into the bathroom, in their infant carriers, when I took a shower, and I didn't close the curtain. I have always been extremely careful with my gifts, I know just how fragile they are. I agree with you Texana, our children are probably safer in their school environment than playing in our fenced back yard. After all, our schools are in a district very close to Columbine High School.

I made a commitment when I had these kids and that meant that what I wanted came second. There will be time to put myself first when they are grown. I am also very lucky to have a husband that feels exactly like I do.

I do not understand why the McCanns could not do the same.

Oh, and getting emotional is helping someone...it's helping ME!

Well, it must be a nice feeling being a perfect parent- god knows I can't state that claim, mine doesnt come into the shower or toilet with me.

My point was at this stage all the Mc's are guilty of is leaving their kids unattended, posters here (and I'm not directing this comment at you Colomon, but to everyone here) have condemned these people and are accusing them of killing their daughter based solely on the fact they left their kids alone.