"The Special One"

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS GIRL? Vanished May 3rd 2007, while on holiday.

I have some reservations about using my usual sarcasm in this post. We all feel for Madeleine and her family; and with all our hearts we wish that the little girl is returned safe and sound to her parents - she is indeed the special one here.

However, I have to set the record straight in what regards the over-the-top criticism the British Media has been spewing out, over the way the investigation is being conducted, so far...

Let me start by reversing the game: a Portuguese child vanishes in the UK - would anyone dare to say that child would get the same attention, the same media frenzy, the same scramble by the British authorities? Honestly? Not even near.
And what if the Portuguese Police or Portuguese media wanted to tell your people how to run the investigations?

Just like when England lost to Portugal in the World Cup Germany'07, the British tabloids rushed to find an escape-goat, they are out again looking for someone to blame...
From their "British superiority" they look down, yet again, to the tanned southerners who are lucky to live in a "warm" climate, otherwise they'd surely die, if food didn't grow in the trees... This "superiority" complex, this arrogance... where have we heard this before? Oh right, "The Special One", Jose Mourinho, the tabloids favorite target... "We know best, we do it better"... look who's the "special one" now...

We are all frustrated by the lack of immediate results from the investigation, and although there is always something that could have been done differently, it is insulting the way critics have been pouring down like Portugal is Britain's colony!!!
Things work differently around here, and that doesn't necessarily mean "worst"! Just accept that people and an investigation are more important than selling newspapers! Portugal is only the unfortunate background to this Bristish crime and drama; furthermore, Scotland Yard has many things not to be proud of (who's forgotten about the Brazilian lad shot last year, in Oval tube?)...

Many people in Portugal believe that the "secrecy of justice" rule (which prevents too much information from being revealed to the public before the end of the investigation) is archaic and should be used sparingly; I agree, but the tantrums British media have displayed, are unacceptable.

Many people in Portugal also believe that, to leave very young children on their own, when they could have free babysitting, it is a crime, and actually so does the law – many people even called that, 3^rd world behavior...

Yes, Portuguese Police may be less “experienced” in some sort of crimes that are rare here (thank God), but to even suggest that they are less capable, it is the same as to suggest that British parents are less able parents…