Nevertheless this couple were subsequently "sanctified" by an effcient publicity machine in an overwhelming and whipped-up outburst of conspicuous compassion reminiscent of the worst excesses of the Diana phenomenon.

I've just read the conspicuous compassion link and the first thing I thought about was how when this little girl went missing members of parliament wore yellow ribbons.

I commented on it in one of my earlier posts where I pointed out that people were questioning why they were not doing the same for Alan Johnston who had been kidnapped 9 days later and was still missing at that time.

This is a link well worth reading.