Considering canceling August trip following FL handling of Trayvon Martin murder.

[ols386]

I wouldn't not go to Florida because of that. Florida's main industry is travel. To not go because of that, would be trying to punish those who work in the travel industry in that state, when they had nothing to with the Trayvon Martin case or how it was handled.

 

[LisaR]

Looks like you better check Pennsylvania off your list, too.



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/...sson_n_1382605.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009

 

[Nancy F]

But after the decision of the FL based jury in the Casey Anthony trial, your FL vacation plans remained intact?

I was thinking the same thing!

Too bad they weren't planning to go when I am. Shorter lines.
Nancy

 

[snapppyd]

Apparently we are in danger of people actually believing you saw a unicorn and rainbow this morning.

I swear I did, and there was pixie dust coming out of his, ummmm, never mind!

 

[dngnb8]

I swear I did, and there was pixie dust coming out of his, ummmm, never mind!

That wasnt pixie dust, it was just dust. That is what Unicorns fart when they get old.

Although this verifies that she did see a unicorn, otherwise how would she know that old unicorns fart dust?

One more thing.... Pull my Finger?

 

[PrincessKsMom]

That wasnt pixie dust, it was just dust. That is what Unicorns fart when they get old.

Although this verifies that she did see a unicorn, otherwise how would she know that old unicorns fart dust?

One more thing.... Pull my Finger?

And now we know your true identity -- You're a Unicorn!

 

[TamaraQT]

I honestly can't reconcile bringing NY dollars to spend in the state after this travesty.

WOW!!!! Do you really feel cancelling your vacation will be beneficial to you and your family?? Maybe as a family you can do something special for the memory of Trayvon Martin. In the meantime, go on vacation. Your unspent dollars will not make an impact on the state of Florida. But your actions will have a HUGE IMPACT on your family.

I understand your premise but really, the only one that will be hurt by that decision is you

I agree. But I think the family will be hurt also. So I am hopeful the OP will consider their feelings too.

Dates? and do you have any castle breakfast reservations you'll be canceling?

OMG!!!!

Makes total sense. To be a little simplistic, the US tends to have three kinds of law: federal, state, and local. Federal laws are the same throughout the country; state laws are the same throughout the individual state; and local laws apply only to one town or county.

In America, a lot of the legislation and governance are done on a state level. (This is one of the big political sources of controversy in American politics: generally speaking, Republicans think more governance should be at the state level; Democrats tend to want more governance at a federal level. It's a debate that's been happening since the very beginning of America--even before our Constitution was ratified.)

What this means, in practice, is that much of America is more like a patchwork of laws than most countries. Things that are legal in New York might be illegal in Florida, and vice versa. Some states allow gay marriage; others do not. Some states allow legalized marijuana; others do not. Some states have strict gun control laws; others do not. And even things like definition of murder vs manslaughter, for example, can vary from state to state.

Hope that helps!

Great summary!!!

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

Make sure to do your research before planning your next trip anywhere--a lot of states have similar laws. Or just stay in New York where there are no questionable applications of existing laws and no miscarriages of justice. Probably your safest bet.

 

[eliza61]

I honestly can't reconcile bringing NY dollars to spend in the state after this travesty.

So, I've long advocated being a conscientious consumer.

I do not give my money to Bank of America, BP gas and I refuse to buy beef with pink slime in it. I was in no way upset when I heard the company that produces pink slime is now losing money and I try my hardest to buy America.

Op, If you really don't want to spend your money due to an objection. I totally applaud you.

I was born and raised Catholic, had my kids baptised and will never ever again step foot in a Catholic church or send them another dime of my money because of how they actively covered up child abusing priest. Susan G kolman will not get any donations or support for their walks from me. I'll find other avenues to help. Sure my little donations may not help them but I could just be one of many.

I have cut way back on my disney trips due to what I see is a total lack of caring for their customers.

It hasn't hurt my family, we find other places to go and guess what we still have a great time.

I'm a firm believer that the color that brings about the quickest change in this country is the color "green". Vote with your dollars.

 

[shannon006]

Really I'm not sure of any place in the world that doesn't have something we don't like or agree with.

But, as other have said, do what you have to do.

I do like what a PP poster said. Perhaps instead of going to WDW, you could go help the family involved?

 

[Magix]

My initial reaction was to wonder why you'd cancel a visit to Disney, when Disney had nothing to do with the situation.

However, I then realized that what you propose is no different than my own decision never to spend money in Arizona. I used to visit a particular hotel in AZ once a year with friends (and really love the hotel). After the state enacted some particular laws and policies with which I vehemently disagreed, I opted not to visit again. And I sent an email to the hotel manager to explain why I would not be back. The only way I could attempt, in my own small way, to encourage a change of state policy was to take my money elsewhere. My individual impact is miniscule, but it feels like the right thing to do.

If you feel that visiting FL would be disagreeable to your sensibilities, because of what happened, then by all means do not go. You must stay true to what you believe in and you have every right to express your opinion in whatever way makes you feel good.

 

[goofyernmost]

To be honest...it was not the desire to boycott Florida that got to me. As I said before, there isn't a possible way that I could care less. What got to me was the thought that NY was clean of any injustice. That made it almost laughable, and perhaps that was what it was supposed to do. Otherwise, it must be tough to live there.

 

[LisaR]

My initial reaction was to wonder why you'd cancel a visit to Disney, when Disney had nothing to do with the situation.

However, I then realized that what you propose is no different than my own decision never to spend money in Arizona. I used to visit a particular hotel in AZ once a year with friends (and really love the hotel). After the state enacted some particular laws and policies with which I vehemently disagreed, I opted not to visit again. And I sent an email to the hotel manager to explain why I would not be back. The only way I could attempt, in my own small way, to encourage a change of state policy was to take my money elsewhere. My individual impact is miniscule, but it feels like the right thing to do.

If you feel that visiting FL would be disagreeable to your sensibilities, because of what happened, then by all means do not go. You must stay true to what you believe in and you have every right to express your opinion in whatever way makes you feel good.

I truly believe "your money, your right" and if this is the line the OP'er wants to draw, it is her right. However, she is taking a stand over a law that is in 31 different states! If this is her main beef, she has greatly reduced her families chance to travel the US. If her main beef is over the incident itself, that is even more laughable since there are so many things wrong in this world including in her own home state that she won't be able to walk out her front door. So by all means take a stand but I think her stand is beyond silly. Like I said, I assure you we will not notice one less family from NY down here.

 

[FayeW]

I get what the OP is saying. I don't think it is so much about the law itself, because as it has been pointed out, the same law exists in one form or another in 31 states. I think it is because of how the Sanford police and/or prosecutors have chosen to interpret the law in this specific instance. Really, to outsiders, it's is beyond comprehension.

However, I feel that way about the liberal gun laws in all of the United States. In truth, crossing the border into the US scares the crap out of me and I do it sparingly. I don't let my fear or my revulsion of that particular aspect of your society impact my family by denying them opportunity to travel to your country, but I admit that it makes me, personally, uneasy for our safety and as a result we don't spend much time south of the border.

I don't "take a stand" and not go, but I do breathe a sigh of relief when I cross the border again.

 

[PeterPan09]

So, I've long advocated being a conscientious consumer.

I do not give my money to Bank of America, BP gas and I refuse to buy beef with pink slime in it. I was in no way upset when I heard the company that produces pink slime is now losing money and I try my hardest to buy America.

Op, If you really don't want to spend your money due to an objection. I totally applaud you.

I was born and raised Catholic, had my kids baptised and will never ever again step foot in a Catholic church or send them another dime of my money because of how they actively covered up child abusing priest. Susan G kolman will not get any donations or support for their walks from me. I'll find other avenues to help. Sure my little donations may not help them but I could just be one of many.

I have cut way back on my disney trips due to what I see is a total lack of caring for their customers.

It hasn't hurt my family, we find other places to go and guess what we still have a great time.

I'm a firm believer that the color that brings about the quickest change in this country is the color "green". Vote with your dollars.

I agree completely. I try to choose where my money goes when I'm able to do so. I too left BOA, the Catholic Church and I stay out of Chick-fil-A. It makes me feel better not to give my money to those places-so if the OP feels that the state of Florida does not deserve her $$, that's her right. The tourist taxes in FL are pretty high, and when you vacation here you are giving your money to the state. In the greater scheme of things it's not a lot of money but it's your conscience.

 

[goofyernmost]

However, I feel that way about the liberal gun laws in all of the United States. In truth, crossing the border into the US scares the crap out of me and I do it sparingly. I don't let my fear or my revulsion of that particular aspect of your society impact my family by denying them opportunity to travel to your country, but I admit that it makes me, personally, uneasy for our safety and as a result we don't spend much time south of the border.

I don't "take a stand" and not go, but I do breathe a sigh of relief when I cross the border again.

Hee, Hee...I know you're serious, but all I can envision is that you must think that all of us down here have shotguns sitting across our laps at all times waiting for some unsuspecting Canadian to go across the border so we can take target practice.

There are 300 million of us down here and this, although tragic and hard to understand, is a very isolated incident. The right to bear arms in this country does not mean that we are shooting them constantly. What happened here is the action of a scared, bigoted, stereotype believing man with no judgment or self control. We are not all like that. What happened there could have happened anywhere, including Canada and I'd be willing to bet it has. He had a gun because no screening process has a way of identifying that. All it looks for is previous records of illegal behavior.

From what I have seen Canada has a pretty liberal gun law as well. The only real reason that you don't have more of this type of incident is because there are fewer of you.

 

[LisaR]

I get what the OP is saying. I don't think it is so much about the law itself, because as it has been pointed out, the same law exists in one form or another in 31 states. I think it is because of how the Sanford police and/or prosecutors have chosen to interpret the law in this specific instance. Really, to outsiders, it's is beyond comprehension.

However, I feel that way about the liberal gun laws in all of the United States. In truth, crossing the border into the US scares the crap out of me and I do it sparingly. I don't let my fear or my revulsion of that particular aspect of your society impact my family by denying them opportunity to travel to your country, but I admit that it makes me, personally, uneasy for our safety and as a result we don't spend much time south of the border.

I don't "take a stand" and not go, but I do breathe a sigh of relief when I cross the border again.

What an absurd statement. Are you really serious? Outsiders can't comprehend it? Yep, only those in the US can comprehend it and we are all united and agree with it 100%. Why would you take ONE incident that occurred in one small city in one large state and use it as your view of the entire state or the entire country?

And really, you travel to the US but you take a sigh of relief when you cross the border again? Honestly?

Walking away quickly now because I could rack up some serious points.

 

[FayeW]

What an absurd statement. Are you really serious? Outsiders can't comprehend it? Yep, only those in the US can comprehend it and we are all united and agree with it 100%. Why would you take ONE incident that occurred in one small city in one large state and use it as your view of the entire state or the entire country?

And really, you travel to the US but you take a sigh of relief when you cross the border again? Honestly?

Walking away quickly now because I could rack up some serious points.

Yes, how the Stand Your Ground law appears to have been interpreted in this instance is beyond my comprehension. It seems clear to me that this man should be arrested for murder and that the SYG law protects him from that, well, frankly, I can't comprehend how that seems right to anyone.

This one incident is not how I view the entire state or country. It is an isolated incident, I get that. What scares the heck out of me is that when I am in your country I am aware that anyone I encounter might legally be entitled to carry a gun. That is not part of my reality, and it makes me uncomfortable and apprehensive. I am not hiding in a corner cowering in fear but after my time visiting you is over, I am happy to be home, safe and sound.

For what it's worth, I am always relieved to cross the bridge back into Ottawa from Quebec, too. That's a whole 'nother world over there

 

[jujube]

Yes, how the Stand Your Ground law appears to have been interpreted in this instance is beyond my comprehension. It seems clear to me that this man should be arrested for murder and that the SYG law protects him from that, well, frankly, I can't comprehend how that seems right to anyone.

This one incident is not how I view the entire state or country. It is an isolated incident, I get that. What scares the heck out of me is that when I am in your country I am aware that anyone I encounter might legally be entitled to carry a gun. That is not part of my reality, and it makes me uncomfortable and apprehensive. I am not hiding in a corner cowering in fear but after my time visiting you is over, I am happy to be home, safe and sound.

For what it's worth, I am always relieved to cross the bridge back into Ottawa from Quebec, too. That's a whole 'nother world over there

.

Absurd-why come here if you're really that concerned?

When I cross the border into Canada who is to say that I might encounter someone who is carrying a knife or driving recklessly.

OMG- we love Mont Tremblant but I don't guess we'll go back because Natasha Richardson fell and had a brain bleed and died tragically. How do I know that your Canadian ice won't make me slip and hurt myself or worse?
You have ice all over the place. Chances of me slipping and getting hurt are a lot better than you coming here and getting shot. Maybe ice on the ground should be illegal.

BTW, don't bring up anything from the other thread. You might get pts.

 

[FayeW]

.

From what I have seen Canada has a pretty liberal gun law as well. The only real reason that you don't have more of this type of incident is because there are fewer of you.

We really don't. Other than police officers and hunters, I don't know a single person who has a firearm of any sort. It's just not part of our culture. Growing up in the country, almost every household had rifle for hunting, but when my husband hunted, he used one of my father's rifles. Back then, you just had to have your hunting license and your Firearm Safety documentation...I guess they assumed that if you had a hunting license, you'd be using a rifle. Since then we had the ill-fated federal gun registry and I doubt using somebody else's rifle would be allowed now.

There are certainly crimes involving firearms so I know that the criminal element in Canada has access to, and uses, guns. Ordinary citizens, in general, do not.

When I talk about being nervous to be in the United States, I am thinking of incidents of "road rage" that get out of control because somebody who is legally entitled to carry a weapon, pulls a gun out of the glovebox. We are very close to the border and a lot of our programming is from American affiliates. We see Detroit news almost every night and there is a lot of gun violence. It scares me because it is not my world.