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shannon matthews
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TODAY I READ A COLUMN IN THE NEWS OF THE WORLD. AND I WAS SHOCKED . "Poor Shannon's a victim of class KAREN Matthews has seven kids by five different fathers. She lives in a scruffy council house on an impoverished council estate near Leeds. Her boyfriend, who is ten years younger than her, looks both simple and scruffy, not surprising as Karen herself looks a bit rough around the edges. Karen and her 22-year-old boyfriend, Craig Meehan, live just 100 miles from Kate and Gerry McCann. But it might as well be a million. Karen's little girl Shannon has been missing for 19 days�but you might not know that or even care, judging by the media coverage. The problem is that Shannon Matthews isn't as pretty as Maddie McCann. She's not blonde or cute or beautiful. You don't look at her and want to cry. What do you think?
PART 1
PART 1
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PART 2.
"The other problem is that her parents weren't on a posh holiday in Portugal when she went missing.
And in the only photos we've seen of her, she doesn't look angelic or entrancing�more like a naughty tomboy.
All of which might explain why the media coverage of Shannon's disappearance has been what some might call lukewarm�and others might call a bloody disgrace.
But I wonder if our media aren't just reacting to an unspoken mood in the country, a feeling that a woman who has seven kids by five different men and who isn't living with any of them, must be a pretty dire mother�and so must bear SOME of the responsibility for her missing daughter?
"The other problem is that her parents weren't on a posh holiday in Portugal when she went missing.
And in the only photos we've seen of her, she doesn't look angelic or entrancing�more like a naughty tomboy.
All of which might explain why the media coverage of Shannon's disappearance has been what some might call lukewarm�and others might call a bloody disgrace.
But I wonder if our media aren't just reacting to an unspoken mood in the country, a feeling that a woman who has seven kids by five different men and who isn't living with any of them, must be a pretty dire mother�and so must bear SOME of the responsibility for her missing daughter?
PART 3.
"Come on. Admit it. What did YOU think when you first looked at Karen Matthews? What did you feel when you read her story, looked at how she lived? Was there a part of you that sneered and looked down on her because she didn't fit the image of the perfect mum�all smiles, posh clothes, ordered house?
Wasn't there a part of you that looked at her and thought, "living on benefits" and "never heard of the word contraception"?
Shannon Matthews has been missing for nearly three weeks and, apart from her immediate neighbours, no one seems to give a toss. Not the right profile, you see. Not the right class. And the media aren't entirely to blame for that.
Trash
I was brought up in an area just like the one where Shannon lives. I've never been to the Dewsbury Moor estate but I know about the people who live there. I know their values, their lives, their circumstances.
And, yes, while, there's a hefty percentage of what we might slate as "trailer trash" on that estate, there are just as many good, decent, disadvantaged people who, because of a lack of education, money, opportunity and ambition, find themselves stuck there�people who love their kids every bit as much as Kate and Gerry McCann love Maddie but who can never show it in the way they do.
It's not often I'm ashamed of myself or the values of the country I live in. But this week I am. Because I'm one of those people who initially sneered at Karen Matthews�who thought Shannon's disappearance had to do with the way she lived.
"Come on. Admit it. What did YOU think when you first looked at Karen Matthews? What did you feel when you read her story, looked at how she lived? Was there a part of you that sneered and looked down on her because she didn't fit the image of the perfect mum�all smiles, posh clothes, ordered house?
Wasn't there a part of you that looked at her and thought, "living on benefits" and "never heard of the word contraception"?
Shannon Matthews has been missing for nearly three weeks and, apart from her immediate neighbours, no one seems to give a toss. Not the right profile, you see. Not the right class. And the media aren't entirely to blame for that.
Trash
I was brought up in an area just like the one where Shannon lives. I've never been to the Dewsbury Moor estate but I know about the people who live there. I know their values, their lives, their circumstances.
And, yes, while, there's a hefty percentage of what we might slate as "trailer trash" on that estate, there are just as many good, decent, disadvantaged people who, because of a lack of education, money, opportunity and ambition, find themselves stuck there�people who love their kids every bit as much as Kate and Gerry McCann love Maddie but who can never show it in the way they do.
It's not often I'm ashamed of myself or the values of the country I live in. But this week I am. Because I'm one of those people who initially sneered at Karen Matthews�who thought Shannon's disappearance had to do with the way she lived.
PART 4.
"But this is an innocent child, for God's sake�a girl whose life is no more, no less valid than Maddie McCann's. A little girl who, if she is still alive, must be so terrified, so lost, so miserable, that it's unbearable to even contemplate.
But because she doesn't fit the template of The Angel Child of Professional Loving Parents, we've all but turned our backs on her.
Our reaction to her disappearance has been tepid. It's as if we're saying that disadvantaged Brits don't feel, don't hurt, don't "do" emotion in the same way the middle classes do. Which is tosh.
The harsh reality is that if we forget about Shannon Matthews, we're signing her death warrant. This mite needs our help even more than Maddie. It's not her fault but Karen Matthews just isn't capable of mounting sophisticated media campaigns. She doesn't have the wherewithal or the connections of the McCanns.
But she IS doing her damnedest to save her little girl�and we have to help her. Because she's hurting every bit as much as the McCanns are. Her agony, her angst, her guilt, eat into her soul just like they eat into Kate and Gerry's.
The fact is that evil is no respecter of class. It's everywhere�on the streets of rundown council estates AND on the white sandy beaches of Portugal.
Shannon Matthews' class and where she lives are irrelevant. She's a lost, frightened little girl and it is this nation's shame that we've not only judged her�we've abandoned her as well. "
WHEN I READ THIS I REALISED HOW LITTLE PEOPLE HAVE EVEN BOTHERED ABOUT HER.
WHERES BRANSON?
WHERES THE MILLIONS IN REWARDS?
WHERES THE PR GUY?
IS IT TRUE THAT TRAILER TRASH/CHAV / COMMON PEOPLE COUNT FOR LESS IN THE EYES OF THE BRITISH PUBLIC?
"But this is an innocent child, for God's sake�a girl whose life is no more, no less valid than Maddie McCann's. A little girl who, if she is still alive, must be so terrified, so lost, so miserable, that it's unbearable to even contemplate.
But because she doesn't fit the template of The Angel Child of Professional Loving Parents, we've all but turned our backs on her.
Our reaction to her disappearance has been tepid. It's as if we're saying that disadvantaged Brits don't feel, don't hurt, don't "do" emotion in the same way the middle classes do. Which is tosh.
The harsh reality is that if we forget about Shannon Matthews, we're signing her death warrant. This mite needs our help even more than Maddie. It's not her fault but Karen Matthews just isn't capable of mounting sophisticated media campaigns. She doesn't have the wherewithal or the connections of the McCanns.
But she IS doing her damnedest to save her little girl�and we have to help her. Because she's hurting every bit as much as the McCanns are. Her agony, her angst, her guilt, eat into her soul just like they eat into Kate and Gerry's.
The fact is that evil is no respecter of class. It's everywhere�on the streets of rundown council estates AND on the white sandy beaches of Portugal.
Shannon Matthews' class and where she lives are irrelevant. She's a lost, frightened little girl and it is this nation's shame that we've not only judged her�we've abandoned her as well. "
WHEN I READ THIS I REALISED HOW LITTLE PEOPLE HAVE EVEN BOTHERED ABOUT HER.
WHERES BRANSON?
WHERES THE MILLIONS IN REWARDS?
WHERES THE PR GUY?
IS IT TRUE THAT TRAILER TRASH/CHAV / COMMON PEOPLE COUNT FOR LESS IN THE EYES OF THE BRITISH PUBLIC?
-- answer removed --
im posting directly from the newspaper vissy.
http://notw.typepad.com/carole/
im not getting at anything.
im saying i think that the columnist is correct at least in part.
dont you think?
http://notw.typepad.com/carole/
im not getting at anything.
im saying i think that the columnist is correct at least in part.
dont you think?
It wasn't a newspaper story as such, it was a columnist's opinion, whether you agree to her opinion or not (her name escapes me now) she's entitled to have it.
From the other new-stories i've read- her uncle and grandparents have spoken out about Shannons home life, which does seem grim and they do seem to think she's run away.
Incidentally Karen has had 10 children- 3 live with one of her ex partners.
From the other new-stories i've read- her uncle and grandparents have spoken out about Shannons home life, which does seem grim and they do seem to think she's run away.
Incidentally Karen has had 10 children- 3 live with one of her ex partners.
That's disgusting
No, not the fact this woman has 7 children by different dad, so what? What is disgusting is that the media have decided she is a bad mother. Having (any amount) of children by different dads means only that you have made a couple of mistakes, NOT that you are a bad parent
I find it disgusting that the Mcanns Find Maddie fund stands in the millions byt Shannon's is somewhere in the region of �10,000 and they are having to BEG for cash unlike the Mcanns
"And in the only photos we've seen of her, she doesn't look angelic or entrancing�more like a naughty tomboy."
So, the fact she 'looks' like a naughty tomboy means she, and her parenst, deserve a less than favourable press then? I find that incredulous!
Personally I think the fact she went missing in the UK should mean the UK police actually do more for them than they did for the Mcanns, not less.
I find it deplorable that, just because Shannon lives in a council house on an estate she is given less news coverage at this stage of her having gone missing than Madeline Mcann was.
We are far to ready to cast stones in this country - this is a child that has gone missing. It doesn't matter what she looks like or where she comes from she needs finding and finding soon
No, not the fact this woman has 7 children by different dad, so what? What is disgusting is that the media have decided she is a bad mother. Having (any amount) of children by different dads means only that you have made a couple of mistakes, NOT that you are a bad parent
I find it disgusting that the Mcanns Find Maddie fund stands in the millions byt Shannon's is somewhere in the region of �10,000 and they are having to BEG for cash unlike the Mcanns
"And in the only photos we've seen of her, she doesn't look angelic or entrancing�more like a naughty tomboy."
So, the fact she 'looks' like a naughty tomboy means she, and her parenst, deserve a less than favourable press then? I find that incredulous!
Personally I think the fact she went missing in the UK should mean the UK police actually do more for them than they did for the Mcanns, not less.
I find it deplorable that, just because Shannon lives in a council house on an estate she is given less news coverage at this stage of her having gone missing than Madeline Mcann was.
We are far to ready to cast stones in this country - this is a child that has gone missing. It doesn't matter what she looks like or where she comes from she needs finding and finding soon
As i said.
i read a column in the news of the world.See initial post.
Also see link.
As the columnist has said and im thinking some of its true.
For example how many threads on cb/ab about her in comparisson to maddy?
Why?
Is she worth less ?
Why is it less news worthy?
Where are the yellow ribbo0ns , tv appeals , wheres max clifford?
Can you see the difference?
i read a column in the news of the world.See initial post.
Also see link.
As the columnist has said and im thinking some of its true.
For example how many threads on cb/ab about her in comparisson to maddy?
Why?
Is she worth less ?
Why is it less news worthy?
Where are the yellow ribbo0ns , tv appeals , wheres max clifford?
Can you see the difference?
-- answer removed --
i dont agree with all the columnist says.
but she is telling the truth about how some people will have looked at the family.
noone will admit it tho , that doesnt change the facts tho does it.
shes still someones baby whos missing.
so why isnt there such support or even the media circus?
afterall the mcanns neglected 3 kids.
but then theyre doctors arent they ?
but she is telling the truth about how some people will have looked at the family.
noone will admit it tho , that doesnt change the facts tho does it.
shes still someones baby whos missing.
so why isnt there such support or even the media circus?
afterall the mcanns neglected 3 kids.
but then theyre doctors arent they ?
i dont tink that the person who wrote the rticle is right. The girls disappearance has been all over the place, newspapers, tv, internet. I dont know how she can assert that people care less than other children who go missing - how does she know? Perhaps she cares less, but surely that is her problem not "society's"
What does t say about a socirty that if youre more articulate or better offf financially then you can neglect children and if they go missing theyre more important than the less articulate poor folk?
noone knows whats happened to either maddy or shannon.
we may never know.
but whats the chance of an audience with the pope?or richard branson offering a million pounds ?
or money to pay mortgages /rent / bills ?
for shannons mum nil.
its just sad in my opinion shes less articulate but must still be hurting.
noone knows whats happened to either maddy or shannon.
we may never know.
but whats the chance of an audience with the pope?or richard branson offering a million pounds ?
or money to pay mortgages /rent / bills ?
for shannons mum nil.
its just sad in my opinion shes less articulate but must still be hurting.
Think you missed the point I was trying to make Legend. Yes the McCanns are far more articulate than the Matthews family and they've taken full advantage of that and used it to keep Maddy in the news- I'm sure if, God forbid we were in that position we'd do exactly the same.
Is it the McCanns fault that the Matthews are not as clued up as them?
Is it the McCanns fault that the Matthews are not as clued up as them?
i think the columnist is exposing some of the prejudices of people.
click on the link
and read it in its entireity.
i was taken aback when i read it.but i could see how she was picking out things that you dont realise at first.
ive not seen anywhere near as much coverage
im in tenerife
ive seen folk here a month ago with maddy tshirts on
maddy wrist bands .
umpteen programmes about her on sky news.
shannons mentioned
but she no ,longer front page news .
next week people will care more about tax on fags and petrol in the budget.
sad really
click on the link
and read it in its entireity.
i was taken aback when i read it.but i could see how she was picking out things that you dont realise at first.
ive not seen anywhere near as much coverage
im in tenerife
ive seen folk here a month ago with maddy tshirts on
maddy wrist bands .
umpteen programmes about her on sky news.
shannons mentioned
but she no ,longer front page news .
next week people will care more about tax on fags and petrol in the budget.
sad really
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