Yesterday I posted that it was HURTING the investigation for the media to behave in the ignorant, arrogant and condescending way they have.
And I added that vituperation is counterproductive here.
Now I reiterate I have great sympathy for Natalee's distraught parents. And that it's understandable they would make mistakes under this frightful stress. I'm sure I would too.
BUT. It must be said: Mrs. Twitty's statement yesterday was a huge, huge blunder.
There is a furious backlash in Aruba against her now. I just saw, on Fox News, a very decent looking Aruban citizen named John Merriweather. Mr. Merriweather, described as a retired civil servant, was practically shaking in fury over Beth Twitty's statement yesterday -- noting that the Aruban people have shown great hospitality and good will toward the Twittys. And now she has slapped them in the face (Mr. Merriweather did not say exactly that, I'm just paraphrasing.)
Now whatever you may think of the Aruban legal system (and I happen to think they have NOT been irresponsible or ineffective here -- but that's beside the point), many innocent Arubans of good will have been infuriated by Mrs. Twitty's statment.
To those of you who say "Scr*w what the Arubans think," why don't YOU stop and think: How does this help the Twittys find Natalee? Answer: IT DOESN'T. IT HURTS THEM.
If there are any people in Aruba who might have a useful tip that might help solve this case, do you think they'll come forward now? I don't!
It is not my purpose to "pile on" the Twittys. I've been very sympathetic to them and remain so. But for God's sake, they desperately need to reassess their tactics here.
(Again sorry for the hit-and-run post. Again I have to leave and probably won't get back to address any replies. But I do appreciate the information you're posting here, TexKat, and the opportunity to blow off a little steam!)
[If there are any people in Aruba who might have a useful tip that might help solve this case, do you think they'll come forward now? I don't!]
I think if there were any people in Aruba who might have a useful tip they would have already come forward by now. If they have a useful tip and DIDN'T come forward they probably never were going to anyway.
The Twitty's are desperate and they're hurting badly. The tried being nice and acquiescing to the Aruban authorities and what did it get them?
It got them one botched investigation. One huge wild goose chase. A 10 day reprieve for the three youths who were last seen with Natalee to dispose of evidence, get their stories straight, and get treated to the sage advice of lead obstructionist, PVDS.
Obviously, it would be best for all concerned if everyone calmed down and assessed the situation, then made a coherent plan about what to do. Aruban authorities aren't completely innocent in the blame/sarcastic comments game. One remarked snidely when told the FBI was sending in more agents....Why? Aren't the ones already here any good? This in the face of Aruban LE not allowing the FBI to help or coordinate search efforts/interrogation techniques/ profiling suspects in any way. They wouldn't give them permission to dive and search for her body, so FBI divers went home after several days of sitting on their hands. Aruban LE said they didn't want forensic help. Fine, and perhaps what they're worried about is jeopardizing a possible case against Joran. Maybe evidence gained from FBI involvement or help would be thrown out of court. Who knows.
But time passes and a young girl is missing. You'd think rather than squabbling over turf, they'd find some way to accept help to at least find her body, even if no one's ever prosecuted for her death.
There have been reports on Fox and MSNBC, that Arubans, even if they have information, won't come forward...not because they feel insulted by N's mother, etc., but because they're afraid of bucking the system. Look what happened to those black security guards. On the say so of three young men, the last to see N alive according to many witnesses, the cops rousted the two men from their homes with great publicity.
The wife of one was hysterical and said she was with her husband all night, that he was innocent(screaming and ripping at her clothes in her grief), and that this is always what happens. They blame the poor and powerless for whatever goes wrong, but the elite get away with murder. Happily, Natalee's family raised a stink about this, and finally the two innocent men were set free. So that's one positive thing the family has done. It would be nice if Arubans remember that.
Why should Aruban natives suddenly rally round two Surinamese brothers of questionable reputation, and rudely turn on the Holloway-Twittys?
I smell a well-financed public relations campaign backed by moneyed (Dutch) interests in Aruba.
It is the Arubans who are cutting their own throats here. The backlash against the island has only begun, and will accelerate due to crass and cruel remarks like yours against a grieving mother.
By the time I thought to correct the wording, I was already away from the keyboard for the day.
Again I'd like to compliment you for your informative and balanced posts.
And thanks to all who've replied to my thoughts with reasoned and civil posts. (And no thanks to self-appointed thread police, hysterics and assorted cranks and gossip mongers.) With that I've gotta leave for the day.