I just caught the story on Today Tonight about the Barrie family.
I heard a slightly different story, by omission, to the one I read earlier in the newspaper.
The story I read was that they were shipwrecked, the boat was not insured, they could have left any time they liked but would not leave the uninsured boat. The parents decided to stay on the island and try to repair the boat.
If it was so awful, why stay - and if it was so awful, why complain about it? You decided to stay.
Here's dollar, call someone who cares.
Oh, wait! There's a book, who knew?
4 comments:
kae, I think you answered your own questions:
1. They stayed because the boat was not insured and they didn't want to lose it.
2. They stayed, even though it was awful, because they needed to repair the boat for the reason stated above.
3. They complained because they thought it was awful and it's natural to complain about things that are awful!
4. Yes, they decided to stay, but they probably didn't have much choice, depending on how wealthy they are. Perhaps they couldn't afford to buy a new boat.
My wife's people come from an atoll too and the conditions are just as, or more, 'primitive', e.g. we have no man-made toilets. However, we would never treat a marooned family the way the Barrie family claims they were treated at Mogmog. My people would do all they could to help a marooned family repair their boat, and food (usually fresh fish and taro or rice) would have been provided. Also, my people wouldn't have stolen the Barries' property.
Tonight's story on Today Tonight paints a different picture from the story told in newspapers early last year. I wonder which story is true and I wonder if the Mogmog people are as bad as they were portrayed tonight, or was the whole experience just too much of a shock to the Barries' psyche. I also wonder why the story has resurfaced just now. Book promo?
I'm usually pretty suspicious of Today Tonight material. I reckon they probably wanted to sensationalise the event, as they are inclined to do with their stories. They don't let the facts get in the way of a good story. Maybe the Barries don't either. They have a book to sell!
Hi Ana.
My "questions" were rhetorical, figures of speech requiring no reply.
Yes, they have a book to sell and I suppose it might defray their costs.
The story was false. They weren't stranded for six months, they could have left at any time. If it was so bad why did they put their children through it? (That's another rhetorical question.)
The story was made out that they were castaways and stranded which isn't true. They stayed to save their boat.
If their reception was hostile, or their treatment by the locals was hostile I wonder what happened to cause it. It is a tiny island with limited food, I'm not surprised that the locals were loath to share.
It would be interesting for someone to write a book from the point of view of the Mogmog people!
kae, I agree with your last sentence. The Mogmog people would probably need the money much more than the Barries do, but will their voices ever be heard? Atoll dwellers are out of sight and usually out of mind! Perhaps the Today Tonight crew might like to do a bit of sailing, then produce a balanced report. Nah, they won't do that!
PS. Yes, I knew your questions were rhetorical, as is my last. :)
is the expression, "cry me a river" appropriate?
wv: oambo one cant make this stuff up
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