How can…
…this be? Can a dog survive a month without water, just on McDonald’s scraps?
And have you noticed that McDonald’s has been featured prominently in another story lately? That would be the escape of the Cleveland women, whose rescuer was eating a McDonald’s burger when he heard Amanda Berry’s cries and ran over to kick open the house’s door. What’s more, her kidnapper Ariel Castro was apprehended at a McDonald’s. I’ve also read that neighbors and relatives of Castro say he mostly ate McDonalds food over the years, and I have a hunch that’s what he fed the women, too.
Although Amanda Berry was originally kidnapped after leaving her job at a Burger King.
I certainly don’t mean to make light of the kidnapping story. Merely pointing out the odd prominence of fast food restaurants in the news lately.
[UPDATE ON MCDONALD’S: McDonald’s has plans regarding Ramsey:
After thousands of people contacted McDonald’s regarding Ramsey’s rescue, on Tuesday, the corporate Twitter handle, @McDonaldsCorp tweeted: ”We salute the courage of Ohio kidnap victims & respect their privacy. Way to go Charles Ramsey- we’ll be in touch.”
A spokeswoman for McDonald’s said on Wednesday that the company, including a local franchisee, is planning to “reach out to Mr. Ramsey directly,” but does not have specific details at this time.
“We saw an overwhelming response on Twitter calling on McDonald’s to do something,” said the spokeswoman. ”As we committed, we will be in touch.”]
[UPDATE ON CLEVELAND: More details are emerging about the Cleveland women, including photos of Amanda Berry’s 6-year-old daughter, who seems to be doing well. Berry apparently delivered her daughter in a kiddie pool and has been home-schooling her (although “home” is a relative word here).
What resilience and strength these women seem to have shown! If they do end up okay, it would be a testament (although the phrase is cliched) to the human spirit. As some of the videos indicate, they appear to have had some access to each other during their captivity, and to all have taken an interest in Berry’s child. This bonding is probably similar to that sometimes experienced by captives of war, and may be at least partly responsible for their relative mental health. The videos are also very touching when their relatives speak; the depth of their joy now was probably matched by the depth of their anguish earlier.]
[FURTHER CLEVELAND UPDATE: Another great interview with the inimitable Charles Ramsey:
Charles Ramsey is one of a kind all right.
I can’t get my mind past the fact that Castro managed to keep three women and eventually a child completely hidden from the rest of his neighbors in a relatively small house (1400 or so square feet) for nearly a decade. What a monster.
I have been especially touched by Amanda Berry’s powerful love and protection of her daughter, even in the face of the circumstances of her conception and the torture and captivity Amanda had to endure throughout. It’s quite a mother’s day story.
From the first I had a gut reservation about this guy. I did write something but erased it. Why poop on the party. But now I hear he has three domestic assault convictions.
What troubled me was the complete lack of any outrage, and even worse, a sense of respect he showed for the perpetrator. As well as a complete dedication to how the event affected him. And not to mention a jerky panic movement when he heard the siren. I sensed a con.
A month without water? Maybe it rained a lot and water pooled somewhere inside the vehicle.