News from Around the World

Initially I did not put any postings about this story on our site. While it was a tragic case, every parents nightmare, there are horrible cases of missing children and innocent victims of murder and mayhem everywhere you turn. Somehow this became the mega-story of the moment to the extent that you could switch across the night menu of news shows from CNN, to MSNBC to Fox and it was on every channel, every night, almost all night. I could understand the coverage by Greta van Susteren since that is her specialty, but I always thought Scarborough was about politics. So while I’m sympathetic to the parents, and glad they were able to generate attention and concern for their plight, it struck me as sensationalism, not coverage and too much hype. Consider the many other victims, even at least three murders on other islands, over the past few weeks with barely a mention. I did make a posting when the elder van der Sloot was arrested since I found that very intriguing, and still hold a personal gut feeling that he is involved. If not directly, at least in telling the three young suspects what to do and what to say if the investigation came their way. All of that said, my entry this morning is more about some of the comments recently from Natalie’s family, and from some of our media, about the investigation and the Aruban, or Dutch justice system. Step back, and step down. Take a look at the headlines right here. Every month there is a major story about some hideous, chronic child abuser, and murderer freely roaming the streets. Our own system of justice, and record for how that system works and fails, is a long, long way from infallible. What makes anyone think that a similar crime on U.S. soil would be solved quickly? Particularly when we so often see people with money or position, like the van der Sloot’s, accorded special considerations, allowing then to skip around the outskirts of justice. Tap on that wall, and you’ll likely find it’s closer to glass than brick.