August 17, 2009 (Los Angeles)
The world-renown Levin Institute based in New York City is a highly acclaimed global research center committed to studying key aspects of globalization interviews Peter Thomas, author of the upcoming novel Chasing The Cyclone.
Interview With Peter Thomas
1. Are you familiar with David Goldman’s case? If so, what is your take on his situation, and could you compare what he is going through to your own experiences?
I am familiar with the Sean and David Goldman case, who, like many thousands of other less publicly familiar kidnapped children and their 'Chasing Parents', are tragic victims of International Parental Kidnapping. In fact, the Goldman supporters’ online community has published an extensive number of essays I have written regarding child abduction, which can be viewed atwww.chasingthecyclone.com
One of the greatest difficulties all 'Chasing Parents' face, no matter who we are, David Goldman included, is the fact that once a child is removed from a country of legal jurisdiction, or illegally retained in another nation or here in the United States, a 'Chasing Parent' seeking to rescue and reunite with their child faces the most challenging, and sometimes, most deadly fight they will ever know. Unfortunately, all 'Chasing Parents' face many similar storms. So, in this sense it is easy to relate to and feel the pain of David's nightmare. I also can relate to him as a parent willing to do everything possible to protect his child. And though I do not know this first-hand, I am sure that David can relate to the pain and fear of other 'Chasing Parents'.
During the many conversations I have had with 'Chasing Parents' from around the world, the vast majority expressed their greatest concern and disappointment with the lack of research and education by local judges and courts of jurisdiction, who initially ruled on what eventually turned out to be a well-organized and well-orchestrated plan to abduct a child. The number one priority that must be focused on in order to reduce the cruel and abusive criminal act of international child abduction is to create a highly skilled, knowledgeable, and trained pool of judges familiar with international child abduction and international jurisdictional law.
Unfortunately, in the United States, there is no government financial aid allocated toward investigative or legal costs associated with the State and Federal crime of cross-border parental child abduction and kidnapping. I can't even begin to tell you how many 'Chasing Parents' I know who simply do not have the massive amount of money (often and commonly running in the area of hundreds of thousands of dollars or more) required to mount a legal campaign needed, typically in both the 'originating country' and the 'receiving country' , to bring a child home.
So, right from the start, if you are a United States citizen without financial resources, you're more than likely not going to bring your child home. In fact, this applies no matter what country you are a citizen of. This - the lack of financial assistance for 'Chasing Parents' - must change. A perfect example of having the financial means to fight the fight is to look at David Goldman's case. He was able to raise the money needed in order to move forward with his fight for Sean. In my case, I was fortunate enough to have my own resources. However, most parents do not have the network such as David, including a large financial settlement that was previously attached to his case, or, the internal resources that I was fortunate to have. So David and I are similar in that sense. I pray that his hard-fought efforts will have similar results that I achieved with my own child. Sean Goldman deserves his loving father. But still, tragically ... look at Larry Synclair (the 'Synclair-Cannon Act'), who has no idea where his child is other than someplace in Russia, or Maureen Dabbagh, who fought for so long to find her daughter, only for her child's criminal abduction to end with a final determination ... there are so many unspoken tragedies. I could go on. It has to stop.
2. Thankfully, you were fortunate, and determined, enough to be reunited with your son. Did you employ the same means as David, or were you forced to find alternatives?
I was beyond determined: I was willing to do anything necessary in order to protect my son. I share much of this in 'Chasing The Cyclone'. So is David Goldman. And so too are unheralded scores of other 'Chasing Parents'
The Hague Courts are the first avenue of recourse for most 'Chasing Parents' once an abducting parent has violated the jurisdictional law of a child's habitual residency. Of course, the Hague Convention only applies when the child was abducted to a country that is a signatory to the international treaty. With great dismay, there still exist many nations, mostly in Asia and the Middle East, that have not signed the treaty and violate the spirit of the international community's position with respect to international child abduction. And as I previously mentioned, there are too many signatory nations that do not uphold the treaty that they signed. These non-complying, spirit-denying nations have become safe-harbors for parental child abductors.
In my situation, I turned to the Hague Courts in a similar way that David Goldman and thousands of other Chasing Parents have. Perhaps what was unique in my case was the multi-national complexity of determining which nation would be involved as the 'Petitioning Signatory Country'.
Essentially, in my child's situation, the Hague Court did rule my son was wrongfully abducted and ordered back to North America; however, immediately after the return order was issued, there was another incident - a devastating disappearance despite my best attempt not to lose sight of him.
In the end what worked for me was my own transformation as a knowledgeable, unyielding force of hope and determination that I would keep a promise I may to my son: that I will never leave or abandon him. And that - 'Chasing The Cyclone' and racing into the most brutal of storms, and knowing that I would get pulverized in every aspect of my life while doing so, including the potential to lose everything material and spiritual - it all did not matter - what did was protecting my child.
3. Unfortunately, you have a unique perspective and incredibly in depth knowledge of the trials that Chasing Parents go through. What impact do you hope your book, Chasing The Cyclone, will have on other people's understanding of International Parental Abduction?
Of course, my first priority in writing the book was to play my part in raising awareness to the fact that international parental child abduction is a dangerous epidemic that causes unprecedented damage and destruction for tens of thousands of individuals each year, especially children. Only through an educated and informed society will we ever see much needed change occur that can protect children. And that's my goal: to help protect other children.
You know, there is never a day that goes by that I do not recognize just how fortunate I am to have my little guy safely home. Yet, you see, once you become a 'Chasing Parent', you forever belong to a club you did not sign-up for. But how do you walk away from the fight when you know that someone else who loves their child as much as you do was just ambushed and about to fight the fight of their lives in order to protect the life of their innocent child? And how could I walk away knowing that others can learn from my success and determination?
I couldn't . . . I will not walk away. I have chosen to be unbowed in my conviction to make a difference.
4. Is there anything else you would like to add that?
One last thing, and personally it is the most important message of all: Son, I love you so much and am so proud of you. I know you have developed a great strength to live through a loving heart. May you always remain the strong, insightful, caring, and loving person you are. And know that you bring such great joy to my life.
THIS INTERVIEW WAS EDITED FOR FORMAT PURPOSES. PLEASE VISIT THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF CHASING THE CYCLONE FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW.