Finding April.

Today is the fourth day since April Jones went missing and as each hour slowly ticks by, the hope of finding this little girl seems to dimish. In the age of social networking April is everywhere, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram etc. Social Net-workers everywhere have devoted time to making sure Aprils name is in everyone's minds. This is both a strength and a weakness, these pages, posts etc are full of messages of hope, love, concern and support for April and her family. Prayers are being posted and shared and a pink ribbon has become her symbol.

Ribbon outside Aprils home.

However, the internet isn't full of sweetness and light and Aprils disapearence has birthed plenty of hatred amongst the faceless keyboard warriors.

People who claim that Aprils parents asked for this, that they deserve it, they shouldn't be allowed children and should be punished just as the person who took her should be. Because they are to blame.

Its an interesting and upsetting point, blame. Outsiders expect parents should be infallible, unable to make mistakes and for the most part, we try to be. But we are only human, we make errors in judgement and we have flaws. I am sure, that Aprils parents felt they were doing the right thing, allowing her outside, with her friends to play, I imagine in the quiet town of Machynlleth they felt their daughter and her friends were safe (because lest not forget, April wasn't the only child playing out that day) and whilst the rest of the world sits comfortably and calls them idiotic and stupid i feel they are forgetting one thing.

The Jone's need no reminder, i am sure they are perfectly aware that, as it turns out, their daughter wasn't as safe as they thought and i'm sure their decision to allow their daughter a little freedom will haunt them for the rest of their lives no matter the outcome.

They certainly do not need a few thousand faceless and judgemental people to play judge and jury and convict them for a mistake. They will pay for their choice for the rest of their lives and i imagine as they hold their other children close, that is a thought that is in every corner of their minds.

The real villain here, is the person who has taken her, because that person is the reason why parents fear giving their children freedom and allowing them to live they way children should be allowed to in safety. I hope that little April is found, alive and well and returned to her family who, at the moment, are being punished beyond anything anyone could imagine. So get down off your pedestals and spread a more hopeful message.

#findapril