Boycott Aruba

I'm far from jumping onto a "Boycott Aruba" theme. Based upon what we know now, it hardly seems appropriate. I'm not big on boycotts to begin with and prefer education. At some point it might be good to look at legal systems and police procedures present at many International desitnations for American tourists.

I suspect if it hasn't already been done, some former FBI type might be able to build a solid little business over such a rating system, assuming it was done in a professional manner and offered to the travel industry as a genuine service and not a reaction to one high profile case.

On the other hand, it seems that someone has suggested a boycott of Aruba in the past, based upon human rights violations. I have no opinion on the matter, as I haven't looked into it.

One thing people need to understand about web logging - one web logger cannot run down every scrap of information in the manner we expect from a large media outlet. Most of us do our best to make reasonable looking information available - ultimately it is for individual's to decide whether they accept it as fact, or not.

We report, you decide - now where have I heard that before? ; )

I do not link or encourage ridiculous or uninformed speculation when I can identify it as such.

Comments

[JustMe]

In the words of The Great Santini, "You get that punk or I'll get you."

[Ladonna]

Thanks Dan!

Now get back to enjoying your Holiday Weekend with your family. We can wait until Monday for more news.
A boycott of Aruba isn't going to bring Natalee back any faster if ever.
From the way the Holloway's and Twitty's are talking the people of Aruba are treating them very well. They have gone out and helped search right along side the families.
( With the exception of the Van der Sloots and the Kalpoes.)
Treat people the way you would like to be treated and it is often repaid in the same manner.

Again, Thanks Dan! You are the MAN!

~~ Love, Thoughts and Prayers for the Family of Natalee Holloway~~

[arch]

Dan;

Just thought I'd mention. Followed the link above. Then found that a link there, to www.boycottaruba.com, so one might sign a petition if so inclined, is rerouted to an aruban travel promotion site. Another straw in the wind? Seems to me aruba is a place one would want to stay far away from.

[raoul]

Dan, you do a good job gathering info, but you've got to stop using apostrophes to form the plurals of nouns. It really takes away from the professionalism of your site. For example, in the latest entry, you wrote, "...ultimately it is for individual's to decide whether they accept it as fact, or not." Apostrophes are used to form possessives, not plurals.

Like it or not, there are an awful lot of readers out there who will discount what you say if you don't express yourself in a fashion that is grammatically correct.

Thanks for your good work.

-R.

[arch]

Hi Ladonna;

A boycott certainly will not bring Natalee Holloway back, if it would I'd be the first to sign. But, a boycott would, hopefully, put a kink in such arubans as Reuben Trapenberg who, IMO, is and has been a big part of the problem.

[LSM]

raoul....

I don't see you pounding the pavement or cyberspace or cell networks to gather info, therefore......PUT A SOCK IN IT!

[Pepermuntje]

On the other hand, it seems that Amnesty International has critisized the USA for f.i. Guantanuma Bay in the past, based upon human rights violations. I have no opinion on the matter, as I haven't looked into it.

At some point it might be good to look at legal systems and police procedures present at many International prisons the American are running.

[Island Hopper]

http://www.prfree.com/index.php?cur=index&action=preview&id=26858

[LSM]

Hi Arch

I guess you have a point but I don't think that it is Ruben alone. That whole island as a whole could stand a shake up of sorts...Start at the top and work your way down.
I was just trying to stay nutural.

[DeeDee]

Pepermuntije: Yes it would be a good idea for America to model the prisons in the US after prisons in lets say, Iraq or Turkey. Then perhaps we would not have these repeat offenders on our streets killing our kids on American soil.

[Dan Riehl]

Raoul - Your point is valid but discounts a couple of things. The "need for speed" when it comes to the Internet and the largest stumbling block to web logging - no editor.

Given the overall quality of my writing, while your point is valid, it is a bit myopic miapic myapic - pick whatever one you like. ; )

Thanks.

[raoul]

LSM wrote: "I don't see you pounding the pavement or cyberspace or cell networks to gather info, therefore......PUT A SOCK IN IT!"

Let me remove the sock just long enough to say this: I'm only trying to help a decent reporter become a better writer, and also to improve his professional image a bit.

Dan's a great fellow and is doing a real service, but if he's going to be using language, he's got to show some mastery of its rules. Otherwise, he'll lose part of his audience.

O.K., I'm reinserting the sock now. Gargh hmflsd ijfe, ofk?

[raz]

Hey Raoul~!

Why dont you SHUT' YOUR' FUCKING' MOUTH' AS'S'HOLE~

[Pepermuntje]

Deedee,

I have to seem to have forgotten why the USA invaded Iraq. Did it had something to do with a dictator who treated people bad in prisons and so?

[Lurker]

Thanks Dan.

Good idea about the investigative travel advisory database. One part I beg to differ with: ".....offered to the travel industry as a genuine service..." The travel industry WILL NOT be interested in buying these facts. Travel people are ONLY interested in SELLING trips, tours, etc. so will only hand out glossy brochures and quote the same crapola disseminated by a particular country's tourism department!

[raoul]

rax wrote: "Hey Raoul~! Why dont you SHUT' YOUR'..."

Impressive vocabulary! Well, I can see that the level of discourse here is dropping fast. Sorry, Dan. I didn't mean to stir up the grunge. I'll leave now so maybe the slime will sink back down to the bottom of the pool.

One way or the other, keep up the good work. I really appreciate your efforts.

[raz]

Boycott these yard apes!.

I hope they have to shut down every fucking hotel on the beach.

Fuck education.

[gemebwai]

Raz, an australian one told me that the american english is the poorest of all version. An example: the majority of the people only use one adjective, the one that starts with f....
When looking at the facts, anyone can find that Aruba is still one of the safer islands in the Caribbean, and still a lot safer that any major city in the US. That doesn't mean the NH is an issue that needs to be resolved.

[gemebwai]

Back to the subject, about boycoting Aruba (because of the NH story or the Mathews). I don't think it makes any sense. First of all boycots only tend to make matters worse (look at Cuba, Iraq), it gives no solution at all. To start a boycot because of a frustrated es prisoner, even worse of a motive. To do it because MAYBE a girl was kidnapped or raped, that would lead to a boycot of virtually all countries of the world (especially the USA). To do it because of bad performance of the justice system and/or politicians? Hm, don't know, first of all, the politians will be gone by october, the new ones may instate new staff in the justice system, and besides, would it help?
Maybe some day we learn to accept each other as we are, and allow each to live the way he/she decides to live it. That would make a change!

[andy]

The purpose of any boycutt is a create economic disadvantage to a general populus which will revolt and remove the current gov't at all levels - in this case the corrupt Aruban gov't.

[MurfTn]

Their selling t-shirts too. What happens in Aruba stays in Aruba...until the FBI comes...
www.tohellwitharuba.com

[grimer11]

come take a relaxing trip into the 3rd World

ARUBA=DRUGS, PROSTITUTION, MURDER

nothing more......BOYCOTT

[michele in bham]

Lurker, Jug Twitty;s mother is deceased.

Cheryl is not Jug's mother.

And the photo is Steve Croes.

[Mary]

~TIME OUT~....~TIME OUT~....~TIME OUT~

Take a "holiday" raoul !

Out of all the "englsh" teachers around you have to be working today, and besides that, one from the "uk" to boot ! ~LOL~

AND RAZ....If my grandmother was still alive she would be washing your mouth out with "soap" Better watch it as there may be another grandmother out there and she coudl be headed your way !! ~LOL~ C H I L L ...NOW..

[Billy Bob]

Boycotting Aruba would be about like a boycott of a house of postitution. Makes no difference if those doing the boycott do not frequent the palce, and those that frequent the place would not give a flying flip about the fools wasteing their time on the boycott.

[DeeDee]

Pepermuntje: Take your next vacation to Cuba and visit Gitmo. The world courts and court jesters all want to find fault with how Americans treat terror suspects but they ignore the most deplorable in the world. The prisoners in Gitmo have it a lot better than the family's who greive the loss of loved ones on 9-11, they breath. Why don't you investigate the prison on Aruba. I hear there is a real travesty of justice due to color in the islands with the Dutch.

[raoul]

Mary wrote: "Out of all the "englsh" teachers around you have to be working today, and besides that, one from the "uk" to boot ! ~LOL~"

I'm not really from the U.K. I'm from the U.S., but I have an overseas e-mail account.

English teachers never take a day off, however. Ask my wife and kids. There's far too much abuse of grammar going on for us to rest. This struggle will continue until the Apocalypse. We shall fight on the blogs, we shall fight on the newsgroups, we shall fight on the forums. Never have so many cared so little about what matters to so few. (Sorry, Winston.)

[sleuth]

I love being grammatically correct! Thanks for the English lesson, Raul. And for those of you who found it insulting, lighten up! It never ceases to amaze me how some people just have to use profanity or rudeness to make a point. (And a silly point at that.)

I know my idealism is showing, but dang! I sure wish we could communicate without biting and snipping away at another's comments. Did I use the right punctuation, Raul? Just yanking. :)

Boycott is something everyone could do if there is no justice for Natalee and her family. It is too soon to tell, but getting the word out is fine.

It does not require any further developments for me to know that if either of my daughters wanted to go to Aruba, my answer would be, "over my dead body!" Sorry, poor choice of words.

[Dolphin]

True Arubans could have solved this case very fast, everything has been hampered by some false Dutch "elite".

[Dolphin]

True Arubans could have solved this case very fast, everything has been hampered by some false Dutch "elite".

[tideroller]

Say, I don't think there's a need to jump on Raoul for trying to be helpful. One thing is to overlook typos, but Raoul was only trying to be helpful by pointing out one consistently occurring grammatical error that correcting would increase the professionalism of this blog. It was really a nice gesture.

[Lurker]

JUST FOR YOU, MICHELE IN BIRMINGHAM... Photo of Cheryl Twitty hugging her DAUGHTER IN LAW, BHT, on an Aruban street.

http://www.denverpost.com/nationworld/ci_2814097

[DeeDee]

Tideroller, I totally agree!

[color]

Lurker first of all Cheryl is not Jugs mother and that is not Beth she is hugging.

[Michele in Bham]

Hey Lurker, once more with feeling, Cheryl Twitty is not Jug's mother. His mother is deceased.

Read it again, Jug's mom is not Cheryl Twitty. His mother is deceased.

That means dead, in English. She is no longer with us, passed away, gone to her reward.

Shall I continue?

[Alvaro]

What is it about a boycott that attracts so many? I personally think the Aruban authorities blew this case at the beginning by trying to be "sensitive" in their dealings with one of their own. It was a terrible mistake that I'm sure they wish they could take back, but unfortunately they can't. And due to their "Mayberry" size and police department, they are frustrating the hell out of us. Still, I don't understand why anyone would think that
1) they truly are trying to cover up a murder,
2) doing it in front of the entire world,
3) at the risk of losing their biggest source of national revenue,
4) and lastly...for a dime a dozen judge in training.

Please! As far as safety, of course its not perfect. There are drugs, organized criminal activities, etc, like EVERYWHERE else. I have never been to Aruba, but I would bet anything that it is a whole lot safer than the other places in the Caribbean that I do now - Jamaica and Puerto Rico. Furthermore, I am positive based on statistics that I have seen for Aruba(even if they are grossly undercounting), that it is a safer place than the last 2 cities I've lived in: Dallas & Houston, TX, good ole USofA!

[calista]

I was just curious....why is natalees dad never shown on camera running aroun passing out flyers and braclets etc? we have barely heard much from him nor have I ever seen he and beth together during this whole thing........just a curiosity I guess..................also still wondering what natalee's mom knows that we don't because shwe will never answer that on camera - as I have said before if it was me and the aruba police were screwing up an investigation for my daughter so badly I owuld tell EVERYTHING I knew and fast

[websleuth2]

Dan makes sense.

To boycott or not is not the issue. Shining the light on Aruba is the issue.

There are many good Arubans, there are wonderful people, but the social contract is different than ours.

There are no Aruban "Dan Riehls". No Aruban "Geraldos". No Aruban "Abraham Lincolns".

There is no other country in the world as self-critical as the USA. That's why the American justice system, although imperfect, is the fairest in an imperfect world.

We live in a diverse nation that is constantly analyzig the tensions that result from our diversity. We have absorbed immigrants from many cultures. We are open about our shortcomings. We have a tradition of debate.

When we think of our history, we think of men and women think of causes bigger than thenselves, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, John McCain, Martin Luther King and the sons and daughters of America on active duty today.

What do Arubans think about? How do they describe themselves?

Aruba, a self-proclaimed "happy island" tries to hide its flaws. The Aruban national tradition has its roots in Old Europe, in a monarchy. The island history reads like "Pirates of the Carribean" morphes into into cigarette smuggling.

Two different countries. Two different traditions.

The truth will come out, eventually. What Beth Holloway has done, as a mother, is actually good for Aruba.

[Pepermuntje]

Deedee,

The problem is that no one knows if the prisoners in Gitmo are involved with the 9/11 attacks or are otherwise involved with terrorism because those people do not appear in court and have no lawyers to speak for them. Apparently the government of the USA are given a lot of credit to act as they do. They killed and hurt more innocent people during the current war in Iraq then people died on 9/11. It bothers me that they are given that right without solid reasons. I still have not seen proof of Iraqi involvment.
In no way I deny that the events on 9/11 were pure horror. They shocked me too of course, and of course the people involved should get the right punishment.

I have no knowledge of Aruban prisons and I'm open for information about it.

[Alvaro]

I knew Abraham Lincol, I worked with Abraham Lincoln, but Dan and Geraldo are no Abraham Lincoln.

Sorry I couldn't help myself.

[hopefulcanadian]

BOYCOTT ARUBA???? Why not boycott Texas??!!!!; Mr. Miller head of the Texas search team that is in Aruba, started his search team because his daughter went missing in AMERICA, and local police IN AMERICA ignored him; and told him she was just a runaway!! Then later, she was found dead, talk about slack police-work. So; by the logic of the people on this site; BOYCOTT TEXAS, or wherever his poor daughter went missing and was ignored. Boycott the state that let the child-molester Duncan out to committ the HORRIBLE acts he's done; Boycott Washington where the intern Chandra Levy was found dead 22 months after she went missing (after an affair with Gary Condit) because her case was never solved!!! Do you see where I'm going with this people? THE AMERICAN JUSTICE SYSTEM IS NOT SO PERFECT EITHER.
At least in Aruba, efforts are being MADE to find this girl; efforts being made by hard-working Arubans, donating money, searching for Natalee, and THEIR taxes are paying for all of the police-work and prosecution that is happening right now.
GET SOME PERSPECTIVE PEOPLE!!!!

[shelly]

to hopefulcanadian,

AMEN to you!!!

We did (and still are doing) everything we can to find her!! It's so unfair what the AMERICAN PRESS is doing to us!! And I am also sick and tired about the coverup nonsense( do you people really think that we can pull that off while the whole world is watching ,plss)

[shelly]

Oh, and one more thing people- ARUBA IS NOT A 3RD WORLD COUNTRY!!!!!!!
please, educate yourself and think before you open your mounth!!!

[nelson]

I'am getting sick and tired watching NATIONAL INQUIERER on TV (FOXNEWS) where the hell do these people get their information from, its all about their ratings and nothing else. Its up to each individual to educate themselves, you leave it up to other instances and you end up with another Hitler. People please first Aruba is NOT a third world country if you have never been there, find out more before you start the bashing. Drugs exists everywhere and if you look for it you will find it, just like anything else. Corruption, yes not much more then the one here in the US. Their unemployment is less then 1% and tourism do not only exist because of Americans, tourist go there from all over the world, yes mostly is Americans. Maybe all you people who do wanna boycott Aruba is because you cannot afford to go there, so please stay away do us all a favour!! Go maybe to Alabama, maybe you can stop a crime there since its the 4th State worst for crime rate. I dont see anybody boycotting it!!!!

[Shelly]

Americans, will keep coming to Aruba!

Bring us all your $ and leave the place without them. Be our cows and our goats.

[shelly]

i just want you people to know that the comment above this one is not made by me, some jerk thinks he is so funny,it must be one low educated american.( not that i am saying all americans are stupid!) And i will not be posting under this name"shelly" again!, so the next comment you see made under the name "shelly" IT'S NOT ME!

[Shelly]

I just want you people to know that the comment above is entirely mine. Low educated americans, non-low educated american, all kind of americans, keep coming here and bring your $ to us. We make fun of you but we just can not live without those f $. So keep them coming, we wait for those goats and cows to keep feeding our a..er...pockets with those green $. You can then leave this paradise island, but only without them, if we want.

[Shelly]

Oh, and one more thing people- ARUBA IS A 3RD WORLD COUNTRY!!!!!!!
please, educate yourself and think before you open your wallet!!!

[Burn Aruba]

Let's educate Arubans as to what happens when we are crossed. Burn the island to the ground. Take no prisoners. God Bless W.

[Anna]

Those of you who are calling Aruba a third world country have obviously never been there. Their unemployment rate is 0.6%. They have a 97% literacy rate (higher than the USA).Dutch is the official language, papiamento is the native language and everyone also speaks English and Spanish. It is such a shame that so many people are bashing the island without clearly never been there or even researched it.
This is a sad case and I feel for the family, but this could have happened anywhere. It is hipocritical to boycott a country when things like this happen EVERY day in our country.