End of the Road

It has been a long, long week and I can barely keep my eyes open, but in a way, it's fitting, as the Goldman case comes to a close. Tonight, Dateline is airing a two hour special about the case, and I'm excited and afraid to relive the whole thing all over again. Because I have been on the roller coaster that is this case for nearly a year and a half, and it has been a crazy ride.

I was sitting at an ancient computer, shivering in the mountains of Rio state in September 2008 when I first heard about David's story. A reader sent me a link to the MSNBC story, and the floor fell out from under me as I scanned the words. I read it twice, and then a third time. I had to help.

So I started writing about the case, back when the Brazilian media was "banned" from telling the story, or really, was too chicken to defy the powerful Carioca clan who threatened to sue them all (they did, by the way, subpoena Rede Record, which filmed a piece on the case earlier on). A lone journalist, Dorrit Harazim, was the first Brazilian to really tell David's story in the magazine Piaui. Even back then, the American media wasn't that interested; NBC was among the first to cover the story. Only after Dateline's piece in January 2009 did the press on both continents perk up, and only then did the wheels really start spinning.

I realized quickly what I had gotten myself into, the risks I was taking, and the threats I was facing. But even though I spent nights tossing and turning, days destroying my nails, and plenty of nasty opposition, I knew it was worth it, because it was the right thing to do.

Eli and I soon discovered we could be useful by creating a bridge between Brazil and the US, namely by translating, but also keeping on top of developments in Rio and relaying them to the US. We did our best to get the word out in Rio, which wasn't easy, especially before the media agreed to cover the story. I was haunted every day by the fact that Sean was so close by, and I was utterly and completely powerless to what he was going through.

Through the case, I met and became friends with people I'm still friends with today, and also met people I never would have come in contact otherwise: a gun-toting, joke-cracking Texan, extremely dedicated Brazilians living in the United States (some of whom became David's fiercest supporters), tough moms from New Jersey, journalists, lawyers, and students, to name a few. This part was good.

But in the end, it was the case that gave me and Eli the kick in the behind we needed to get our act together and make plans. I truly hate to say this, but it was this case that opened my eyes to so many other issues in Brazil, especially in Rio, that made me realize it was time to go home. I'm not sorry about the rude awakening, though; while I feel a bit jaded, I feel better, knowing I was forced to take a good hard look at things I wouldn't have wanted to see otherwise. David's case is just a drop in the bucket.

On Christmas Eve morning, I sat at my desk in New York, weeping and hiccuping as I replayed the video of the plane taking off. It felt surreal, especially since I was beginning to believe Sean might never come home. Without Dateline, there would have been no Chris Smith; without Chris Smith, there probably wouldn't have been Hillary and Obama, and without them, there probably wouldn't have been Lautenberg, there at the bitter end. Without the pressure from this group and the media, I really believe the case would have languished in the courts even longer, possibly even until Sean turned 12 and they couldn't send him home anymore. It really felt like a miracle to see that plane take off.

I hope this is nearly the last post I write about this case (I'm going to post the Dateline videos once they're online). I don't want to have to write about the potential things that could happen: the grandmother baking a cake and bringing it to the Palacio do Planalto in Brasilia, the latest stunt from the Brazilian family lawyer, or any other crap Grobo manages to invent. This case is effectively closed, and Sean is finally home. I'm just happy I played a small role in helping achieve justice and bringing an end to so much sadness. I'm glad I got to be a little cog in the big wheel.

Comments

[Carlos]

Thanks for the heads up, Rachel. I will DVR this tonight.

From what I've seen in Brazil's online news, the case has "died down," i.e there is much less coverage now. Reveillon has come and gone, Sean Goldman is safely back at home w/ his father David, and the Bianchi family (and JLS) is in Rio.

I know this was an emotional rollercoaster for you, but pride yourself in the fact that your efforts helped David Goldman.

I know, by the way, you've spoken at length about what you didn't like about Rio. But what, if I may ask, were the exact things about Brazil that made you decide to return to the United States? (besides corruption, etc)

[Liesl78]

Rachel,

I am equally grateful since it's because of this case that I have *met* you. I can't stand wild rides, especially roller coasters, and I rode this one, from the day I saw the Today show in Sep 08 til now. David rode it for much, much longer than all of us, and so many parents are still riding it, which makes it really sad.

Hope that 2010 is the year we will have more children coming home to their loving moms and dads.

I will watch it tonight, with a box of tissues!

[Bernadete S. Holveri]

Você foi uma ponte para que muitos brasileiros soubessem o que se passava nenhum caso Goldman. Esse caso, graças a você e outros Teve um final feliz. O seu despertar foi rude, mas te acordou para o Brasil real que vivemos. Não podemos parar por aqui. Temos que continuar a luta tanto pelas crianças sequestradas quanto a injustiça brasileira. Estamos neste momento sofrendo um golpe. Veja o Decreto 7037 que Lula e seus bonés vermelhos. Lute conosco para uma não cubanização do Brasil e parabéns por ser uma brasileira que vale a pena conhecer.

[Neil]

You really did an outstanding job keeping your readers informed about this case. Great work!

[Rodrigo]

Toda essa discussão, na minha humilde opinião, serviu para reforçar 2 idéias antigas:
1. O pragmatismo americano em vislumbrar todo e qualquer conflito como uma briga entre o bem e o mal, muitas vezes beira a loucura;
2. O desejo brasileiro de se integrar e ser aceito muitas vezes beira a estupidez.

[Carlos]

Rodrigo,

Eu não sei sei você está do lado do David ou da família da Bruna Bianchi, mas vou dizer uma coisa.

Prefiro 1000 vezes o costume do norte-americano de “call out bullshit” (apontar e declarar mentiras) na hora do que o jeito brasileiro de ficar dizendo “ninguém é o dono da verdade” porque pelo menos os EUA são um país cuja sociedade, por mais que tenha tido injustiças, joga “fair play.” O Brasil, por sua vez, tem uma sociedade que apesar de ter muitos pontos bons, é uma sociedade que joga pela “malandragem” e pelo “jeitinho” e foi isso que a Bruna Bianchi tentou fazer.

Estou assistindo o Dateline agora. Essa Bruna era um doida mesmo.

[Carlos]

Rachel,

You will have to forgive me because my grasp of the details and facts of this case is much smaller than yours. But Dateline (which I am sure, in its 2-hour limit, can only provide so many facts) just said this:

1. Bruna Bianchi said to David Goldman on the phone that he was a great husband.
2. Joao Lins and his father are lawyers who specialize in international child abduction and Joao's father travels the world to give lectures on this subject.

This Bianchi family and the Lins family truly have absolutely no moral qualms about anything. It is a pity they will never spend any time behind bars. And I'm even happier Sean Goldman is now back with his father.

I'm disgusted!

E para qualquer brasileiro que defende a família brasileira: vocês não entendem o quanto isso sujou a imagem do Brasil. Mostrou o quanto o Brasil ainda é muito atrasado e corrupto. Vocês não o sabem simplesmente porque por morar dentro do Brasil, vocês não conhecem outros sistemas, que mesmo imperfeitos, FUNCIONEM.

[rodrigo]

Carlos, não foi minha pretensão passar a idéia que "ninguém é dono da verdade", pois odeio esse tipo de abordagem, mas procurei enfatizar que a busca da verdade estava passando longe do debate.
Também me posiciono contra a cultura do "call out bullshit", pois o que está implicito por parte de quem aplica é que ele é dono da verdade, que debate ou troca de idéias pode existir a partir disso? Na minha opinião o debate fica muito rasteiro e desfocado logo de início.

[Tricia]

It seems that there are segments of the Dateline program posted here
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/34775493#28951731

Now, hopefully NBC is done collecting daily footage of this poor kid.

[Sally McMullen]

Rachel, I'm trying to get in touch with Dorrit Harazim, the journalist who first covered this Goldman story. I have Googled her name but haven't come up with any contact information.
I live in the U.S. & relocated to Ohio fairly recently.
Dorrit & I were best buddies in Paris, over FORTY YEARS AGO! I have lost touch with her. Can you be of help? Her email address, work address, a phone number, etc? My email address is listed below. You could have her email me.
Another idea: Maybe Dateline knows how to contact her.
Thanks, and congratulations for being a part of the Goldman success story!

[Dennis]

Riogringa really did a great job culling the details and highlighting the most important aspects of this case. Also, I'll always remember the subtitling your husband did exposing the grandmother's lies. Even though this case had some sort of incredibly compelling pull to it, it also has opened my eyes to the hundreds of similar cases currently unresolved in Brazil (and many other countries, including the US).

[henrique souza]

Para cada estoria existem, no minimo 2 versoes.
Sim, o Brasil eh corripto e sobrenome conta.
Nao, David Goldman nunca se interessou pelo menino, vendeu a estoria para a TV americana, criou um website para arrecadar dinheiro e usurpava o cartao de credito de Bruna Bianchi e ainda estah processando a familia Bianchi por perdas e danos, ao inves de se importar com filho.

Imagem do Brasil suja.. francamente, um caso desses nao pode denegrir o que jah eh imundo... dinehiro na cueca eh bem mais podre do que isso.

A sociedade americana funciona muito melhor do que a brasileira, mas a onipotencia de achar que sao os donos da verdade me assusta.

att
Henrique

[Carlos]

Henrique:

Criar websites para arrecadar dinheiro não é sinônimo de corrupção, desonestidade, ou ganância. David Goldman nunca teve o patrimônio da família de Bruna Bianchi; ele praticamente não trabalhou durante estes 5 anos enquanto lutava para receber a custódia de Sean; e, os custos de vida nos EUA são altos. “Legal fees,” etc., telefonemas internacionais… tudo isso custa MUITO dinheiro. Nada diferente do que um grupo de direitos humanos, por exemplo, criar um website pedindo doações.

Se você tiver provas que David Goldman usurpou o cartão de crédito de Bruna Bianchi, por favor, apresente-as.

Processo por perdas e danos – isto é NORMAL. Olha, façamos o seguinte. Tente calcular 5 anos de salário perdido, mais de 15 viagens de ida e volta entre Brasil e EUA, telefonemas internacionais. Se você achar que for pouco dinheiro, sem comentários.

E neste caso não teve nada a ver com ser “dono da verdade.” A família Bianchi e seu advogado fizeram ataques pessoais à pessoa de David, dizendo que ele não era um bom pai, que carecia das qualidades para ser um pai, mas sem uma única vez providenciar PROVAS. Uma tática suja de uma família rica e arrogantíssima cuja cara de pau teve sua demonstração derradeira quando eles desfilaram o pobre Sean na rua.

A verdade é que a família de Bianchi e de João Lins, sendo ricas e com muitos aliados em lugares poderosos no Brasil, conseguiram arrastar esse triste episódio durante 5 anos exatamente por serem riquíssimos e por terem esses aliados. Ou você acha que uma família de classe média baixa dirigindo um Santana usado, pagando aluguel, sem as condições que as famílias Bianchi e Lins tiveram e têm, teriam conseguido tudo isso?

É por isso que a Riogringa me disse aqui que a grande maioria de brasileiros nos EUA sacaram este assunto quase que na hora, exatamente por entender ambas perspectivas, e por entender como o Brasil funciona. Claro, muitos brasileiros no Brasil apoiaram o David e alguns foram os aliados mais comprometidos de David. Mas muitos outros que apoiaram Silvana Bianchi e João Lins tornam isso numa rixa ridícula entre Brasil e EUA sem entender porque David teve que fazer o que fez para rever seu filho.

[Rio Gringa]

Carlos, while I was about to remove Henrique's comment, as I do not permit people with Globo-rotted brains to spew slander on my website, I'm letting it stand because of your beautiful response. Also, about the credit card, this is one of my favorite lies Globo came up with. That bill was to pay off BRUNA'S CREDIT CARD DEBT, and that is the "proof" Bruna's family had that he was forging her signature to "steal" from her. Gotta love it!

[Carlos]

Rio Gringa, that's exactly what was so laughable about the claims made by the Bianchis and the Lins. If David Goldman had truly been an evil man and unfit for fatherhood, they would have produced evidence without uttering a single word slandering the man. But no, their lawyer (who was also arrogant and who had the affrontery of using profane English towards the NJ politician who stood by David's side on the day Sean was handed over) continued to be their mouthpiece, spewing the most vicious and mendacious claims for which Sean's Brazilian relatives (I am loath to use the term "family") have yet to present a single shred of evidence for.

The Dateline show, while condensed and nothing more than a summary of what was a complicated a long case, did include some recorded phone calls between Bruna Bianchi and David Goldman. In those phone conversations, Bruna praised David; she said he was a good man and a good father. Where, then, did Silvana Bianchi, Joao Lins, and their attorney find backing for their ludicrous and sickening accusations against David Goldman?

It would have indeed been all very funny and amusing had it not been a travesty of justice and a tragedy (for David and Sean) that they were separated for 5 years.

Brazilians here who supported the Bianchis and Lins families: please note that this is not a fight between the USA and Brazil. It was an international custody battle involving a rich and arrogant family w/ many friends in positions of power within Brazil's government and judiciary. They exploited those connections to deprive a man of seeing his son for years. These are some of the basic facts. If you really wish to abide by that pathetic "no one is the owner of truth" line to respond to facts, ask yourselves the following: if it had been an American family doing this to a Brazilian man, and everything else about the case had been the same, how would you have felt?

[Mark T]

The night before Sean and David were reunited, I was talking with my girlfriend about this case, we had not discussed it before. I told her that I had been following this case for a year and a half, long before NBC was covering it. She told me that she had been following it from before Bruna died. It was a wow moment for me, but she is very much into fighting the kind of injustice that this case presented.