HOME | POLITICS | SPORTS | LIFE | SCI/TECH | OPEDS | HELPFUL TIPS
|
July 27, 2005 I have been following the Natalee Holloway case very closely. I have been reading the news stories about the Alabama teen’s disappearance as well as the opinions. A note to all those who think that this story has received more attention than warranted and to those who opine that it is not really newsworthy: You were interested enough in the story to write about it, albeit to say that this does not belong in the headlines. That precise quality about this story is what makes it newsworthy. Not race, not the attractive looks of the missing person in question, not the financial status of her family and certainly not her grades in high school. THIS STORY IS IN THE NEWS BECAUSE PEOPLE (INCLUDING YOU) WANT TO READ IT. But in writing this article today, my intention is not to debate the newsworthiness of the Natalee Holloway case. Everyone seems to have an opinion as to who is to blame for this tragedy, but what is heartening to see that all agree on one point: a horrible nightmare has befallen the Holloway Twitty families and everyone is praying for a resolution to this case and peace to the family and friends. I, for one, am attracted to this story because it makes me realize that it could happen to anyone. I mean an earth-shattering event like this, which has the power to change your life forever. One second all is well, life is great, and the next BOOM, all is gone. I refer to Natalee’s mom Beth. I read in one of the blog posts that she was returning from a family get together, driving on an interstate when she received a call on her cell phone. It was one of the chaperones from the Aruba trip. I imagine that the conversation may have been something like this… Tring Tring… Beth: Hi it’s Beth Chaperone: Hi Beth I am XYZ, one of the chaperones from the Aruba trip Beth: Oh Hello. How are you? Chaperone: I’m afraid I have some troubling news… BANG!! As far as Beth is concerned, life as she knew it has changed forever. It is almost like dying and being born again. Whatever mattered 15 seconds ago does not matter any more. Her house, her friends, her work, movies and books she liked. None of that matters any more. I read that after receiving that devastating news, Beth started driving at crazy speeds on the highway when she was pulled over by a trooper who clocked her at 115 mph. After she told him what had just happened, the trooper called the FBI and an escort. You don’t have to know the family personally to imagine what they went through over the next few days. And today, just shy of two months from her disappearance, their ordeal is far from over. The storm has passed but the there is no hope of sunshine. You see Beth in the news everyday putting on a brave face, doing all she possibly can to find out what happened to her beautiful baby and tackling numerous hurdles in doing so. For many weeks the investigation produced little more that several self-contradictory statements from the three main suspects. Beth has vowed not to leave Aruba without Natalee… The unspoken words are ‘dead or alive. Although everyone has been praying for Natalee’s safe return, with the amount of time that has elapsed, and the other circumstances surrounding the case, that now seems unlikely. In the last couple of days, however, there have been some positive developments. Some hair attached to a duct tape has been found, new witnesses have emerged who are deemed to be credible and whose statements shatter the alibis of the three suspects. And finally, the FBI has been allowed more involvement in the case. A little late in my opinion, but nevertheless a positive development. And last night, the Aruba authorities brought in a large pump to drain a pond near the Marriott Hotel. They are only saying that it is a part of the investigation. They have asked the family not to watch. Beth appeared on TV this morning saying that they are very hopeful…hopeful that her daughter’s lifeless and badly decomposed body will be found when they have emptied out the pond. For Beth’s sake, and for all those who knew and loved Natalee, I am fervently praying that Natalee is found in the bottom of this pond so that she may be laid to rest and they may have some peace. And for all families who’s loved one has gone missing on them, I pray for peace, courage and some kind of closure. ------------ About the author: Neelam Thakur is a software consultant who loves to write and loves to read even more. Email: thakur_neelam@yahoo.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com. Please link to this article rather than copying and pasting it onto your site (which would be unauthorized and illegal). |
||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
