Topic : 01/19 Follow-ups

I watched the show yesterday with Sylvia.  When Dr Phil said it was a thyroid disorder that contributed to her mental state but did not give much more information that that, it scared me!!  Most of the women in my family have a thyroid disorder and now i'm wondering if there is something about this that we need to know more about.  If anyone has more information about thyroid disease and mental illness please post.  thank you 

Hi and thanks for responding! 

But I think we're saying 2 different things (although it could be more semantics than anything else). 

But I'm not questioning any individual's right to boycott a travel destination because they don't like the way the police have botched an investigation.  However, if this is the case, then they need to realize how many potential "travel destinations" they've lost by using this as a criteria.   

If it's only Aruba they're boycotting, however, it looks to me like situational ethics.    

Not to mention the fact that I'd guess the majority of people calling for a boycott had no intention of ever visting Aruba in the first place. 

I've been there twice and can't wait to go back. 

Oh, I don't think that individuals shouldn't decide to boycott Aruba. I think it's irresponsible for Dr. Phil, a man with power and influence, to advocate it so whole heartedly, though, for the reasons I said in my earlier post.

And you're right, to just boycott Aruba is situational ethics, which I'm a little leery about in general. If you're so passionate about it, boycott all vacation destinations, inside US and outside, that have unsolved tourist disappearances.

First of all, I would think that most of you on this board have never been to Aruba. I go every year for two /three months and would you believe that the only people that are drunk and acting like a jackass  during Carnival or other months that my family has been there are the  teenagers and young adults from the U.S. The Arubian family I stay with always ask me why do the young Americans act this way? My answer is because they are away from their family  and going wild. 

Well back to my questions: 

1. Where were are the chaperons?  Why hasen't Dr. Phil had them on his show to explain why they failed. 

2. Where are Natalies girl friends that were with her and saw her leave. Why dosen't Dr. Phil have them on the show to explain why they did not report what they saw that night to the chaperons? Is it because they were also wasted or disappointed because they were not asked out that evening? Dr. Phil have you ask this question? No. 

3. Was there a bed check to see if everyone was accounted for by the chaprons on the last night? I have been on trips with teenagers as one of the chaperons for the group we had balances an checks to account for everyone. Dr. Phil, I have not heard you ask this question to Beth as of this date. Yes or no? 

4. Why did the chaperons not report her missing the morning of the flight and did the girlfriends  not say anythig about Natalie not being accounted for. Dr. Phil  have you asked this question to Beth. I don't think so. There is a one and a half hour to two hour check in at the airport. Were the Aruba police notified at that time? 

Well These are some of my unaswered questions and I guess a lot of you arm chair lawyers. police and lawmakers will rebut with answers to my questions. 

I as a parent would not let my 37 yr old daughter go to Carlos and Charlies this past year when she came to Aruba to visit me, for two weeks,  because I knew what went on there and I blame the chaperons for allowing there charges  to visit this bar. This bar in Aruba is no different than any bar here in the U.S. One goes there to drink, get picked up and who knows  what happens later. A sixteen year old girl is not ready to handle what can take place in this type of bar and if Natalie was of age here in the states, to drink, would Beth allow her to go to such a bar. The chaperons should have known what was going on. I see it all the time when I am on the island the young teenage girls going after the Dutch boys, the Dutch boys going for the American girls and with mixing in drinking and other things, anything can happen. Aruba is no different than any city is the U.S. Aruba is no different than any other Island in the Caribbean with the exception it is a much friendler Island I.guess we need to boycott the whole U.S. because of the unrecovered missing people. 

Now a little more of my disgust  of what I read on this subject. What about here in America. Who is  raising hell and trying to do any thing about the videos taken during the Spring Breaks called "Girls gone wild" ? I would guess there are some of you out there that enjoy seeing this kind of smut, and this is what happens with teenagers when they get away from home and are unsupervised. Parents, don't think your teenager is a perfect little angle. If you do you are living in a closet. Go on a suprise visit and watch your children. Cancun Mexico, Panama City Beach, Fl and others here in the U.S. are lucky that something has not happened there like in Aruba or has it and the families did not get a soap box to stand on in front of the media like Beth. Why don't all of you scream and shout at your local ploice or U.S. government when some boy, girl, teenager or adult goes missing and it remains unsolved? You just sit on your rears and do nothing. What makes Aruba different? A sope box and media or a mother that will not accept that a daughter would do something wrong. There are places; in any city, if you are not prepared for you should stay away from and if you do not believe this you live in a closed closet all your life and never get out. 

Do not get me wrong, I am very sorry for their loss, but it was not at the fault of Aruba. I see a so called honor student with no real life experience and the lack of chaperoned supervision and neither of these have been addressed. Why not Dr. Phil? All we here is what Beth thinks is not being done and her daughter was good. I understand the Dutch laws and would say most of you do not and most of you are just following along on the ride with no knowledge except what you have been told by a distraught mother. 

Another point directed to Gov. Sonny Predue. Yes boycott Aruba and have your home town/ state Delta Airline fail because of your stupid actions. I think not. 

Just this week, as I read in "Aruba Today newspaper", the Georgia Chamber of Commerce held meetings in Aruba for the thid year and plan to meet with our Gov. Sonny Predue about his getting on the shirt tail of other govenors supporting the boycott. Here again government in action without knowledge of all of the facts and it is happening in their own cities, but the authorities in the States can and will at their demand put a stop to the media and press .  

Have any of you, on this board, ever been to Aruba not as a tourist and lived with an Arubian family with there culture and family life, I have and still do, if you had you would have a different attitude and understand a little better because they are the most wonderful people; and family oriented, you could meet in this world and their laws do work even if we, the U.S. , don't think so. 

We all need to do a little more soul searching about what is going on here in the good ole USA. 

As to the crime in Aruba. Basicly there is little to none and a missing teen is not a everyday occurance like it is here in the good ole US of A. We can't even curb the number of missing children in a day, month or year and we call ourselfs crime experts. We cant solve our own crimes. If you were there you would read in the news paper and hear on TV about how many illegals are picked at night or in a week and deported back to their countires to eliminate crime and to have a safe country. Do you see our great US of A doing this. Not here in Atlanta. Here we support illegals with our social services and put them in jail when a crime is done, there again we support illegals. Aruba does not. 

I have been told that the prison in Aruba has more South Americans and US citizens for drug smuggling caught at the airport than any one else. Here again The good ole US of A can't even get close to stopping drugs. 

One other thought. What if Aruba boycotts the U.S. then there would be a lot of loss revenue here in our cities and malls because  most families do come to the states twice a year for shopping. Does the U.S. want to loose this revenue? I think the loss of U.S. boycotted revenue in  Aruba is less than what it would be if Aruba boycotted the U.S. because Americans do not spend that much money there on vacation. The American tourist wants all the discounts and or free coupons they can get. 

Well I could say more but not enough time or space. I guess I'll sum it up as get off the band wagon, quit being a follower and quit voicing opions if you are only a follower and can not base your opinion on the truth. 

I am a white collar white American, college educated and worldly traveled. We have, ( our family) decided Aruba is our home away from home. My family loves our Country, The U.S.A. and when we travel we do not like to hear other countries or Island local people put us down.  We are proud to be Americans, but we also believe that everyone outside of American should be told the truth and be given a fair chance to explain their cultures and laws. The U.S.A is not as perfect as people think it is and we need to clean up in our own country before telling others how to do theirs.  

Here I am Back again. Well it looks like when I post my thoughts there is a possibility it will be cencored. Is this freedom of speech in the good ole U.S. of A.? 

Pathetic is one who would disrespect Americans ( or any nationality of individual ) for demanding honor, and due-process of moral justice for a lost dear child. 

Truth is, many countries are as corrupt as Aruba and many are far far worse.  

That is not in debate. What is, is the fact every world citizen including Americans has a right to discovery...a right to pursue truth, and a right to pursue HONOR for a fallen loved one. Especially a young woman who was lured, possibly drugged, raped and murdered.  

To blind one's eyes to that and attack Americans is absurd.