Would you Boycott Aruba?

[DawnCt1]

The Holloway Family is requesting that Americans boycott Aruba. I have been to Aruba. Its a nice, clean little island that certainly appeared safe with friendly people, nice beaches, a beautiful downtown area (Oranjastad) and plenty of nice hotels and condos. They have a drinking age of 21. Underage teens are not allowed in the bars or the casinos, yet where were Natalee and her friends? Where were the underage suspects? Where were the police who let reams of evidence vanish? Who were the obstructionists that made it difficult for the Holloway family to do early searches? Where was the cooperation between the Aruban officials and the FBI? (far too little and way to late). Why are the young men who confessed to having sex with her allowed to walk around without repercussions? Why hasn't the information that the prosecutor has gathered shared that with the Holloway family? I can boycott Aruba. I have no problem with that. There are other lovely Caribbean islands that don't appear so safe and perhaps aren't so safe but at least we know it and can take precautions. Aruba is the wolf in sheep's clothing.

 

[LukenDC]

No, I would not boycott Aruba. I really feel for Natalie's family, but the people of Aruba pulled together to try to find Natalie and a boycott is terribly misguided. I suspect that the Alabama governor's call for a boycott is a political stunt to appeal to the xenophobes and far right wing in Alabama.

 

[WIcruizer]

At first I agreed with the family, and would never consider vacationing in Aruba. Then the more I thought about it, how are they any different than how we handle some of the cases in the USA? O.J. is walking free. We routinely let criminals walk even before they're prosecuted for lack of evidence, or Miranda wasn't given properly...or in the right language...illegal search...etc. You get the point.

We scratch our heads wondering why these guys walked, yet we let people walk every day. This case is just publicized. You should be aware Americans have dissapeared in Mexicao, Jamaica, and just about any other vacation spot you can mention. And usually nothing is ever found out about it, nobody prosecuted, it just goes away. To the Holloways credit, they're not letting it go away.

 

[Free4Life11]

No I would not boycott them. Many of the same things happen in other countries and in America as well. Peopel get killed every day, law enforcement screws things up, and kids drink underage.

I believe that Aruba allows suspects to be held for long periods of time without charging them? If I were to boycott them, that's what I would boycott them for.

 

[va32h]

Not that I was planning to go to Aruba anyway, but no, I wouldn't boycott.

 

[DawnCt1]

No I would not boycott them. Many of the same things happen in other countries and in America as well. Peopel get killed every day, law enforcement screws things up, and kids drink underage.

I believe that Aruba allows suspects to be held for long periods of time without charging them? If I were to boycott them, that's what I would boycott them for.

That's their Dutch law. They can and do hold suspects for long periods of time without charging them. On the other hand, they don't allow plea bargaining to enable them to find the truth.

 

[Free4Life11]

Hmm...I hate plea bargains, but I don't like being held without being charged. I guess we are the opposite so it all equals out.

 

[DawnCt1]

At first I agreed with the family, and would never consider vacationing in Aruba. Then the more I thought about it, how are they any different than how we handle some of the cases in the USA? O.J. is walking free. We routinely let criminals walk even before they're prosecuted for lack of evidence, or Miranda wasn't given properly...or in the right language...illegal search...etc. You get the point.

We scratch our heads wondering why these guys walked, yet we let people walk every day. This case is just publicized. You should be aware Americans have dissapeared in Mexicao, Jamaica, and just about any other vacation spot you can mention. And usually nothing is ever found out about it, nobody prosecuted, it just goes away. To the Holloways credit, they're not letting it go away.

OJ's freedom has everything to do with the prejudiced jury and little to do with the prosecution. If you know that he was guilty, the jury should have figured it out and chose not to. It wasn't from lack of trying. I don't think the Holloway case is just a matter of the police "screwing up" but more of a case of being "reluctant investigators". They didn't want it to have happened and so they didn't look all that hard. Americans do disappear in Mexico, Jamaica and are often shot in St. Thomas but we know that. We know that Mexico will serve anyone regardless of age in Carlos and Charlies. Aruba wasn't supposed to have allowed that. We take appropriate precautions there. Aruba presents itself with all of the safety of WDW, just don't let anything bad happen to you.

 

[Crankyshank]

I would never boycott Aruba because of 1 case. Just like I would expect the US would not be boycotted because of our judicial system misshaps.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

No we have no intention of boycotting Aruba at all. It's one case and it's happened in other places. Though i feel for the family and what they went through we will not be boycotting this vacation destination.

People drink in bars that are under 21 in the US all the time, and yet people still vacation here...people drink in WDW that are under 21..it happens and not everyone will get caught. It's sad to say but it's true.

 

[Beth76]

No I would not boycott Aruba. I don't really have any intentions of travelling there except perhaps on a cruise. I'm sorry for their loss, but they were very naive sending their equally naive daughter down there with virtually no chaperones. Who knows, the same thing could have happened to her on her first weekend away at college.

 

[Free4Life11]

The real question is...

...is NANCY GRACE boycotting Aruba??

I wonder if she's still talking about this case...??

 

[S. C.]

No we have no intention of boycotting Aruba at all. It's one case and it's happened in other places. Though i feel for the family and what they went through we will not be boycotting this vacation destination.

People drink in bars that are under 21 in the US all the time, and yet people still vacation here...people drink in WDW that are under 21..it happens and not everyone will get caught. It's sad to say but it's true.

ITA..

 

[DawnCt1]

No I would not boycott Aruba. I don't really have any intentions of travelling there except perhaps on a cruise. I'm sorry for their loss, but they were very naive sending their equally naive daughter down there with virtually no chaperones. Who knows, the same thing could have happened to her on her first weekend away at college.

It was naive to allow new graduates to leave the USA with virtually no chaperones. I have no doubt that if they could re do that decision, they would decide differently. A similar situation did happen to a young girl during her first month at college, her boyfriend killed her, but the police reacted immediately and an all out effort was made to solve the crime. That doesn't seem to be the case in Aruba.
Interestly enough, I considered this question a month ago. DS17 almost 18's friend asked me if DS could accompany his family to their Aruba time share. The answer was of course no, we wouldn't allow him to miss a week of school. But DH and discussed it and felt that we would not feel comfortable with him there, particularly with this particular family.

 

[Kimberle]

No. I'm sorry they lost their daughter. I'm sure they are heartbroken. Unfortunantly, bad things happen everywhere. There are many unsolved cases all over the world, including the US.

 

[mbw12]

I really feel sorry for this family....I truly do. However, I would not boycott Aruba based on one incident.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

No, I wouldn't boycott Aruba. Bad things happen all over the world, including the US. WHen underage kids are partying without supervision that just invites trouble. I do have a problem with letting a 17 or 18 year old girl go to Aruba to party (regardless of the chaperones). Now here's where I'm going to really get flamed - Not that I think she deserved anything bad to happen to her but I don't buy the "innocent angel" her family portrays. I think if the friends had been more upfront in the beginning about what was really going on instead of trying to protect their reputations the case might have been solved today. How many other girls or young men have gone missing in other countries - do you see Condoleeza Rice getting involved in any of their cases? I don't blame the parents - I would do whatever I had to if it was my daughter, but the media acts like she is the only missing girl in the U.S.

 

[DawnCt1]

No, I wouldn't boycott Aruba. Bad things happen all over the world, including the US. WHen underage kids are partying without supervision that just invites trouble. I do have a problem with letting a 17 or 18 year old girl go to Aruba to party (regardless of the chaperones). Now here's where I'm going to really get flamed - Not that I think she deserved anything bad to happen to her but I don't buy the "innocent angel" her family portrays. I think if the friends had been more upfront in the beginning about what was really going on instead of trying to protect their reputations the case might have been solved today. How many other girls or young men have gone missing in other countries - do you see Condoleeza Rice getting involved in any of their cases? I don't blame the parents - I would do whatever I had to if it was my daughter, but the media acts like she is the only missing girl in the U.S.

It isn't unusual for the State Dept. to get involved with Americans who are missing, dead or imprisoned. It is unusual for the Sec'ty of State to get involved. I am glad she did. Natalee's behavior in this situation seemed out of character, given what we know. It's apparent to me from the comments made, etc that she was drugged and lead away. I think that her friends should have been a lot more responsible in every way than they were. They should have intervened when they saw her leaving with local boys. Interviews later indicated that they were concerned at the time. The worst that would have happened is that she would have gotton mad. She would have gotton over it and been here today. While she may not have been an angel (or she may have been) she was obviously a responsible girl in most ways, most of the time. Consider her grades, extracurricular activities, etc. I think a boycott sends a message. One that says, "you didn't do what you should have done".

 

[gigglesnort]

Why would I boycott and hurt the tourism industry that the citizens of Aruba depend on?

I don't believe in blaming citizens of a country for the actions of their government.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Yeah, sure. I'll boycott Aruba. It has never been a destination plan of mine anyway.