It is time for the people and government of Brazil to do the right thing. the boy was kidnapped. He has a father. He is an american citizen. Case closed. If he is not returned, we should send troops to get him.

I do not think it is that simple. He certainly needs his biological father in his life, but he probably only knows his stepfather as his father. And the whole send troops to get him thing is just an ignorant statement to make. The father needs to start seeing his son regularly and I think that the transistion should be a slow move rather than just here’s your son. This kid is going to probably need a lot of therapy for many years to come. I just hope that whatever happens this little boy grows up to be a happy and healthy person with both his father and stepfather in his life.

Yeahhhhh, Christian – because this sort of thing happens all the time.

I think that too many of you are only looking at things from the perspective of the father. I really feel for him too. I do not know what I would do if my husband did the same to me. My husband is Swedish, and though I know he has no desire to move back there anytime soon, it is still a scary thought that someone you have married and have a family with could do this to you. Who knows what the mother told the stepfather about the husband. Obviously, the person to blame is the mother, but she is no longer around. This little boy does have a family in Brazil. He now has a little sister and friends and he has been there for five years of his life now. Imagine what it would be like for you at the age of nine to suddenly be sent to a new country with a man that you have not known. It would be scary. He has already said himself that he wants to remain in Brazil. I certainly think that he should be sent back home with his father. But I also think that it should be a slow adjustment, because otherwise this kid could end up resenting the father that just wants his son back and everyone could end up being hurt in ways that are irreversible. And imagine things from the point of view of the stepfather, like I said before, who knows what this woman told him about the father. Imagine raising a kid as your own for five years and then being told, nope sorry you have to give him back. Whether or not the stepfather has remarried has no bearing on the situation (unless this woman is abusive or something). This is really a no win situation for anyone involved. It is horrible and sad, and must be handled in the gentlest manner possible.

And one of the reasons I would say the military engagement comment is ignorant is that the above poster apparently does not watch or read enough of the news. Look at the situation in North Korea where two American citizens are certainly being tortured at this moment and the military is not getting involved. And frequently, Americans servicemen face losing custody of their children in Germany because they are determined to be unfit parents for serving in Iraq, Afghanistan or whatever. And the most the US does is complain a bit and then nothing. Despite this situation, Brazil is considered an ally of the US and we all enjoy a lot of natural resources from that country. The US government is not going to risk that because of a custody battle for one kid. Actually the father legally has custody of the son in Brazil, he is just allowed to bring him to the US, so he can see him whenever he wants, something I really really hope he fully takes advantage so that his son can finally get to know him even though that could never make up for all the years they have lost.

Comments

So now we should all marry only Americans because they are the fittest parents in the world? Give me a break! Americans also kidnap kids from foreign born spouses and bring them to the US and I do not read any outcry against that. The child is being raised in a loving and stable home. From what I hear the US born father is a model and does not have a stable life. And who says that blood determines how good a parent would be? I say let him stay in Brazil and then decide at age 18. From the photos he seems well adjusted and happy. Did hte father ever pay child support or anything?

I have just sent this to the Brazilian Consulate in NY

Dear Brazilian Diplomat,

I am writing you to give my opinion on the current case involving the attempts by an American citizen Michael Goldman to retrieve his son from Brazil after the passing of his ex-wife there. I am appalled at the measures taken by the ex-wife’s family and the Brazilian legal system to prevent this. I find it to be cruel and cynical to think that keeping a boy away from his father for 5 years constitutes a democratic process through which that boy automatically becomes a “Brazilian citizen.” What a farce; it would be funny if it weren’t so vicious and manipulative. It makes a mockery of any strides the Brazilian government may have taken over the years towards being a fully democratic, humane society. Do the right thing and express my horror to the Brazilian government about this travesty of justice. Until I hear that the right thing has been done I am boycotting all Brazilian products, cancelling my plans to vacation there; I am advising all friends, family and business connections to do the same.

Sandy Jones: you could not be a parent and say these things; the child was KIDNAPPED. Hello, how can you justify this?

CommentsI do think the child should be returned to his bio dad immediately. Any harm came from the child’s mother who pulled a fast one, which she could not have done in the U.S. I do not agree that the step dad is the only father this child knows. I was placed in a boarding school at age 5, & have alot of memory of life before that, as I’m sure this child has. The more this is delayed, & the more confusion the people in Brazil continue to cause, the longer & harder it will be for this child to readjust to the U.S. & his bio dad, as both of these should have been part of his life all along. Now, after having to fight for so long, I think that the bio dad should be able to take his son home & make the life he feels is best for the two of them. Hope this will be over today!

I think that Sean should stay in brazil but get to see his father whenever he wants because if his biological father really loves him he would do what he wants and besides he has a sister there and what are they going to give the sister to him as well it is not fair for Sean he should be able to pick what he wants not what everybody around him wants I think they should take a moment and pause to ask him what he wants because if he says he wants to stay in brazil then he should but if he says that he should go and live with his american father also he BARELY speaks english.We all should just wait a second and hear what he wants to do if he wants to stay in brazil so be it.