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

[Shelly]

1) Their unemployment rate is 0.6% > We imagine what kind of jobs many have.

2) They have a 97% literacy rate (higher than the USA) > We can see how much R&D is done in Aruba. And how advanced technology is there.

3) Dutch is the official language, papiamento is the native language and everyone also speaks English and Spanish > We can see that they need these language skills to be able to carry thier "jobs"

It is sad that you sell your soul just for cheap holidays and the chance of joining "da club".

[Angela]

I think this boycott thing is stupid. First off what do you expect to happen leaving a bar drunk with three guys that you don't know. NOTHING GOOD! So why should we boycott Aruba for a young girls bad choices. Maybe we should spend more time education our young kids on the danger of drinking. Second why do we want to piss off a bunch of people to make them hate Americans, which just leads to hate crimes. This is a bad way to handle this. These actions are just hurting your fellow Americans that want to travel. This could of happened at any bar in any country. Did you know when you leave America your in another country and the laws are different. Why do we need to push our way of doing things onto others? I think we actually could learn something from Arubans, I have been there and I never felt more welcomed and safe in my life. I use to be a 911 operator and there is a hell of a lot more crape that goes on in America then anybody would like to even know.

[Wrangler100]

Hey, Angela, shove it.

NH wasn't drunk and, according to witnesses, it's clear NH thought she was getting into a cab, one of the numerous unmarked cabs in front of the saloon.

I couldn't care less if Arubans or anybody else hate us.

Piss on Aruba.

[Wrangler100]

gemebwei, or whatever your name is, a boycott makes a lot of sense. Nobody in their right mind should travel to that cesspool.

[Terminator]

I am looking for this thing called Joran and his friends.

[Jay Croce]

I don't care if a boycott of Aruba is completely effective or not. The point of calling for the boycott is to keep pressure on Aruba, and the Dutch legal system to fully investigate and prosecute this case.

Confessed rapists and murderers have been set free in Aruba, and that is not acceptable.

[Arubaanse]

jay, it is very sad that you don't have any clue of what you are talking about!

[Jean Weathers]

Why don't you all sell your computers and get a real life.

[Lily Westhoven]

I pitty you people that are stating such 'intelligent' comments as "piss on aruba" and "Aruba is a 3rd world country." Obviously you don't have your facts straight. You can simply visit the U.S. CIA World FactBook site where it would most certainly list Aruba as a 3rd world country if it was fact. A 3rd world country is a place like Afghanistan, not Aruba.
Also, I am truly tired of all of you "americans" that live in your little closed minded bubbles. Americans are suppost to be examples of intelligent,openminded, and compassionate people. You all have just reduced yourselves to using insults that parallel with a fourth graders'. The least you could do is insult Aruba with the backing of facts, not opinions or reverberations of what the news media tells you.
Finally, in response to "Shelley" and her third comment: "3) Dutch is the official language, papiamento is the native language and everyone also speaks English and Spanish > We can see that they need these language skills to be able to carry thier "jobs"." What does that even mean? How many languages do you keep in your mind shelley? one? My fiance is Aruban and knows 6 languages fluently (Dutch, Spanish, Papiamento, English, French and Italian). He is an aeronautical engineer. So please, before you make assumptions how about you do your research first.

[rmstch]

Boycott Aruba??? Why not boycott Jamaica (which I have visited several times)? Their crime rate is astronomical, but travelers there know (or should know), they have to be careful. Would you go to Oakland, Detroit, and many other US cities and not be careful? Bottom line, Natalee was EIGHTEEN! Do you remember what it was like to be that age and be out partying with your friends and just happen to become acquainted with a "good-looking" young man? A boycott of Aruba is not going to find Natalee. It is just going to punish hardworking Arubans who are just trying to make a living like most of the world. Facts, Natalee was drinking, got into the car voluntarily (was not kidnapped), and after that only the three "suspects" know what happened. Or maybe they DON'T. Could be she was left by Joran on the beach and drowned, got lost and abducted by someone else, we just don't know. I'll be astonished if we ever know. Let's scramble F-16's for every person that turns up missing in the good ol' USA everyday and see how many we have left to defend our country. I have respect for Beth Twitty and her family for their dogged determination in this case, but I think they are in denial about the fact Natalee went there to PARTY... unfortunately, the party came to a tragic end for her but it's no reason to call for a boycott. It should be a wake-up call for other parents of young kids. Speaking of which, if the classmate had been a young man, maybe not so attractive, would we still be seeing this all over the TV. Double standard? I think so.

[wgnva]

I can't help but think that if Natalee Holloway were/was a black woman or Hispanic woman would people be in such an uproar to boycott Aruba!?! I feel like the sorry corporate news media in the U.S. is exploiting a grieving mother in an attempt to drive ratings because they are playing on the subconscious, racist mentality among a segment of White Americans. The mentality that White, esp. suburban, wealthy, blonde-haired, blue-eyed thin White women have more value than some poor single mother minority in the inner-city.

The same subconscious mind that causes folks to vote Republican at every election against their own interest. The state that Natalee comes from (Alabama) ranks near the bottom in education, per-capita income, crime, etc., but it is one of the reddest of red states. Because just like the corporate run-media, Republicans use wedge issues (esp. race) to get so-called White Christian conservatives to vote in folks that would rather shut down a plant in their community and lay off their asses to exploit cheaper labor in places like China or Mexico.

[Terry]

Tourist revenue aside, the average Aruban would certainly love to see the ignorant, obnoxious, fat, tacky, rude, arrogant turd Amerikkkans stay the hell away from their island. Better idea: Amerikkka, why don't you boycott the rest of the world as well? We could ALL use a permanent break from you.

[Terry]

Tourist revenue aside, the average Aruban would certainly love to see the ignorant, obnoxious, fat, tacky, rude, arrogant turd Amerikkkans stay the hell away from their island. Better idea: Amerikkka, why don't you boycott the rest of the world as well? We could ALL use a permanent break from you.

[USAallTHEWAY]

Terry are where are you from?? I sure would love to boycott your illiterate country! It's "Americans" you illiterate third world turd monkey.
If it weren't for the the American tourist dollars most of these tourist spots would be third world Voo-Doo worshippers!

[USAallTHEWAY]

Terry are where are you from?? I sure would love to boycott your illiterate country! It's "Americans" you illiterate third world turd monkey.
If it weren't for the the American tourist dollars most of these tourist spots would be third world Voo-Doo worshippers!

[TONTIBOSOMAMA]

You Americans that want to boycott Aruba must be the most ungratefull sons of bitches alive. You're saying that Aruba did nothing to help solve the case?!?!? THE WHOLE COUNTRY was searching for Natalee for a week long, workers got half a day off, we paused the economy just for you guys, to help find Natalee. And this is our tnx, BOYCOTT ARUBA. Every US Official was here, neither they could solve the case. Beth Twitty knows more about what happened to Natalee than you think, ask her about the millionaire NATALEE FUND that she has going on, not even the father has access to that Fund. She was interviewed here on the island 1 week ago, she was like I NEVER SAID FOR THE PEOPLE TO BOYCOTT ARUBA, I ONLY ASKED THOSE WHO WERE HELPING ME , TO STOP GOING THERE, UNTIL WE FIND NATALEE. What a bitch, now she goes back to the States, and sits besides the governor of Alabama, and asks for a Boycott to Aruba. Beth Twitty is a two faced bitch, that is just trying to scam some money at the cost of the Aruban people. You people should boycott yourselves, 52 criminal acts per day in Alabama, isn't that an alarming number?? Boycott yourselves before you boycott others. Have a nice day!

[broad-minded]

Ladies and gentlemen see the statistics -- Aruba visitors are up. Keep that bad news -- now everybody knows where Aruba is. Keep publicities, great stuff. This year Aruba will break the record in tourism visitors -- remeber this 31 december 2005 with Aruba new year fire works.

Dear narrow-minders: if you are an educated social person -- you will think that my mom, brother, sister, and even my pet dog had nothing to do with Natalee's disapperance. Am I still guilty narrow-minders?

You narrow-minders are saying Aruba has WMD -- wapons of mass destruction. Please do not do the same mistale as your Bush.

Boycott -- is like an embargo to the island. Do you know most Hotels in Aruba are owned by Americans, do you valero Oil refinary is in Aruba. Do you know I sold my house to an American couple. Did you Aruba has Hooters, Taco bell, Mc Donals, Wendy's, Radisson, Hyatt, etc. etc. Dear narrow-minders, think straight for a moment. The harm of boycot you do not to Aruba but to the world as one entity. Nobody except yourself agreed to a boycot. rara , something is wrong.

By the way -- if you like GUCCI, ROLLS ROYCE, a highend product/service you might choose between Aruba or Alabama KKK. History is repeating itself again with the KKK Governor.

[TexanMike]

What a hypocritical and ludicrous Blog posting!

Just because there is a boycott called on something it doesn't mean that the something is ridiculous.

How can you make statements about this boycott when you make the two comments below?

"I have no opinion on the matter, as I haven't looked into it."

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

You haven't investigated ANYTHING about this girl's disappearance and how the Aruban government has willfully thwarted basic investigations.

The Aruban economy gets more than a boost from American visitors, because so many who can afford the cheap airfare(about $500 rt from Chicago) do travel to Aruba.

I don't jump onto boycotts at all, but this one has my full support. There IS a chance it could bring Natalee back, since there is now some evidence that she is alive in the forced sex trade. However, the issue isn't that just one girl has disappeared. It's the many times that Aruban officials have intentionally stopped American investigators from obtaining information. The way the case has been handled in Aruba would not only have been laughed at had it been in the U.S., but officials would be up on charges!

You might want a Blog that gets plenty of traffic, but put up some useful information the next time you write something.

The angry non-AmeriKKan above who believes the Arubans are happy to see the Americans not come to the island is getting his wish, but the director of Tourism on the island doesn't agree with him. Tourism is the Arubans #1 business, so setting that money aside would make the country an undesireable place to live since the oil funds and off-shore banking and little assistance given from the Netherlands aren't enough to keep the lights on.

Then again Aruba has a very active drug money laundering business that just might be more important to the Arubans than those American tourist dollars nobody seems to want.

[Jimmy]

Why would anyone want to boycott an enlightened
place as Aruba.
Weed and hash are legal..no drinking age..it doesn't get any better then that.
Thank the good Lord for our Liberal Dutch friends.
Compared to the freedoms the Dutch enjoy we Americans are living under a communist regime.

[leo donnelly]

Beth and Natalee Holloway

The reasons to boycott Aruba. The ABC team of Aruba;arrogant, bumbling, and corrupt. (1) From the very beginning, the chaperon that stayed behind to find Natalee was given the runaround and no assistance. (2) Beth was the one to rundown the suspects, not the ABC team. (3) The team would not search Deepak's car or PVDS's home because they said “no”. (4) statements taken were altered and in front of Beth and Jug Natalee was called a whore,'they used the Spanish word.' (5) Dave Holloway was also disrespected when asked how much money he had and told that his daughter was shacking up and would turn up at the bar. (6) The next day Poppa Paul and suspects held a meeting with family and lawyers and were advised “No body, no case” how could he have been so certain? (7) The suspects conspired to come up with a false statement and pointed the finger at two black security guards and when found out they changed stories many times. They say she was left at the beech and was fine! Why then did they make up a story if they did not know anything had happened to the girl? (8) when finally arrested, only because of the media coverage, they failed to follow up on statements, such as when Juran said that he thought Deepak murdered Natalee and buried the body. Why didn't they follow up with at least basic questions like “Where?” (9) All evidence was either altered, ignored, suppressed, or tampered with. The blood in the car, the body parts found, the belt, the statements by school friends that before this happened, Joran bragged about drugging and seducing girls, especially American tourist. What happened to the girls that came forward? On and on. (10) There is so much more but I do not intend to write a book. Lets skip to recent events. DomPig started appearing on the media shows in a public relations campaign making such statements like, “We can't wait to get a hold of these tapes, if they are authentic we could rearrest the suspects that I am sure that are in some way responsible for the disappearances of Natalee.” He now says after the tapes have been sitting in Holland for three weeks that there is no priority in getting the tapes. Also, he expressed an eagerness to talk with Beth. When she went to Aruba neither He or the prosecutor would meet the grieving mother. Recently Dave asked Dompig to question a friend of the suspects with a boat. He did not but the boy's father was called in! What for? To warn the suspect? Enough of the BS already. The reason to boycott Aruba is that it is the right thing to do!! They perpetrated a cover up, brutalized a grieving mother, and will never attempt to find the answers unless they are replaced under pressure. BOYCOTT ARUBA NOW

[DO_NOT_BOYCOTT]

Besides not talking to the family what is it that the authorities are NOT doing? If I'm not mistaken there is "innocent until proven guilty in a court of law" applies to people in Aruba too. The authorities have and are investigating. It's Beth Twitty who is not happy and has decided that SHE should now be president of Aruba to decide who/what/when/where/why/how and all others be damned! BULL!!! Her daughter was in a foreign country and although an American she was not on American soil -and neither is Beth- so why should Natalee or her mother or any other American receive American treatment when NOT in America!!!! The Arubans are doing what they should and are going about it the way they should and are in their own country doing this --- so why boycott? Boycott Beth and her shullbit!

[Richard White]

There are no other viable options to get Aruban officials to take this matter as seriously as they should. So, today, my family is cancelling our annual vacation and endorse a travel boycott to Aruba, and as a US citizen, I am joining them in this effort."

[seen]

We’ve been here since June singing the same boycott Aruba sing.

"images5.theimagehosting.com/new boycott.jpg"
(put "http://" in front of above link)

And we’re still here at http://www.2hellwithARUBA.com

[Aruban]

I am wondering about the logic of the Americans who are proposing this boycott of Aruba.

Do you think that we are hiding Natalee and will now produce her because you threaten to boycott us???

Do you think that we all know exactly what happened to her, but just won't tell until our economy starts to suffer???

We have nothing to gain by covering up this case. All Arubans want nothing more than to have this case solved and never hear the names Holloway or Twitty again!

I've never met Natalee Holloway or her family, or Joran vd Sloot or the Kalpoe brothers in my life, yet their very existence is threatening mine. NONE of these people are Aruban. Still, all I hear and read is "Arubans are criminals" and a bunch of other insults.

Please understand that our judicial system is not American, but Dutch, and just because things are done differently it doesn't mean that they are not being done. If you think our investigators are incompetent, maybe it's because they haven't had much experience with these kinds of crimes like American investigators have. Though even the FBI and all other American teams who have come here with a lot of bravado, thinking that they were going to solve the case, have failed.

If some Americans insist on boycotting our island, then that's how it's going to be. Though it saddens me greatly, there isn't anything I could possibly write here to make them change their narrow minds. But I'm confident that there are enough intelligent Americans out there who will see this boycotting issue for what it is; politics.

[Katy]

The Aruban "boys will be boys" attitude toward rape and abuse of women and girls is evident. On such a small island it would easy to eliminate the use and trafficking of date rape drugs - if the government wated to. Hopefully because of this tragic event there will never be another female who has to go through the degrading horror that Natalee endured. Listening to the tape of Depak referring to Natalee as a bitch after they abused her is revolting. Is this part of Aruban culture? I can’t help but think that the second crime in this incident was committed by Aruban authorities. It would seem that in order to protect the Van der Sloots they intentionally delayed and bungled the investigation until such a time as there could not be any physical evidence left. No matter what happens now, no matter how long the investigation continues, now matter how much money their government spends searching it’s likely impossible to find any DNA evidence. I encourage and support a boycott of travel to Aruba.

[Tara]

No, boycotting Aruba will not necessarily bring Natalee back to us. But, when we boycott Aruba, we stop helping their economy, just as they have stopped helping us find our citizen Natalee.

[Cindy]

I don't necessarily agree with a complete boycott of Aruba. Instead I would like to see parents of American teens and young adults think twice before funding vacations so their inexperienced youth can go to a foreign country to drink and party. I have three young adults (23,20,and 18)myself, none who have ever gone on spring break or any "party" vacation. I hate to state the obvious but inexperienced drinkers in a foreign country is a receipe for disaster. When tempted to "give in" (yes my kids have begged and pleaded telling me all their friends are going) I just remind myself of movies like "Midnight Express" and "Brokedown Palace". Kids are vulnerable. Let them experiment, if they need to, in our country (close to home) where we can get to them quickly and we know the laws. I marvel at the people who appear to know what is going right and wrong in the case in Aruba when they don't know the Aruban law. Laws are different from country to country. Just because haveing sex with a drunk girl in the US is rape that is not the case in all countries. Let's keep our youth and tourist dollars in this country.

[onehappyisland]

Why is it ok for an american to murder an american (check your statistics), american to murder foreigners (Iraq) but a foreigner murdering an american under no circumstances is accepted, killing/kidnapping children is part of the American society and yet you pretend that the US is the best place to be. The president and congress decide who gets sit on the Supreme Court that is political power....In Aruba Politics and the Judicial System is held far...far apart.
There is no televised inquiry about your past and your views on abortion, health car or have you smoked pot when you were 12 years old. Can you do the GOD DAMN JOB is what counts!!!
You can buy your ass out of problems with law in AMERICA...case in point....KOBE BRYANT...Remember him and what about the victim, I think she somewhere sipping on PINA COLADAS maybe in HAWAI. LOL

[sean]

For anyone to suggest that a boycott of Aruba is premature is absolutly crazy. They have done nothing to settle this case, they(aruban authorities) played along through the summer hoping it would disappear. The only reason there is still a possibility of justice in this case is because of beth twitty.
We supply that island with the majority of their income, without us there is no hotels..ie work, no tourist money, no anything, and if under these circumstances we ask for something, we should receive it. Our boys (FBI) would have closed this case out already.
This was a young women who was taken advantage of (drugging) to have sex with her, by three guys who in reality would have trouble getting attention froma blow up doll. Their "game" was absolutly lame, immoral, and it cost us in Alabama one of our own.If you think this southern mother is going away or this will die out without resolution, you better think again. Any of you morons saying " no Boycott" or she's on the island somewhere or any other poinjtless dribble that flows from your should close your ignorant mouths, and realize you are always one drink or bowl of soup from being in the same boat.

[Lily Westhoven]

I've posted a response on this thing before, and i've just returned to see whats been goin on and i am astonished. I am amazed at the insults thrown at Aruba from people who have never been to the island, or even met an Aruban. Who do you think you are? You think you're so intelligent and updated on all that is going on in this case? Think again. Dutch law is different, they do not, and will not realize details to the press about an open case. Period. So all of you who speak of 'details' of this case like it is fact are completely...for lack of a better term retarded. Also, all these ridiculous rumors like she is in a 'sex slave cult' or something is made up by bored and stumped reporters. She was an irresponsible 18 year old who got drunk and got in a car with strangers (not arubans i might add). It is tragic but think if this happened to an Aruban in America...would there be f-16's flying around to find her or him? I think not. All of you boycott supporters are just uneducated, close-minded, redneck hypocrits.
A boycott will do absolutely nothing to bring Natalee back. Infact, tourism is up since the 'boycott' was announced. This is because most americans that are intelligent and can afford to visit aruba have common sense and know Aruba and its people had nothing to do with her disappearance. Most of these intelligent/open-minded people live in the North (where about 78% of their tourism comes from). So alabama boycotting aruba will do exactly...shit. Anyone that wants to argue with me feel free. I am prepared to lower my IQ to try to reason with you idiots.

[Jay]

First off this debate is foolish. It all based on opinion. Thanksfully we are not all feeling the emotional pain of having a child missing and possibly dead. And I dont even want to imagine what was done to her before she died. Her family is frustrated and rightfully so. They are upset at the Aruban. Sadly enough Natalie is not the first tourist to go missing there and not be found. That case was screwed by the police there as well. If one feels safe going to Aruba or anywhere than go And if one doesnt than dont. Plan and simple. And for the person who meantioned Oakland and Detroit I have been to both places. NYC where I live scares me alot worse than there. I hope you too have been to those places and are not just making assumptions about places you have never been to.

[Jay]

Lily Westhoven I am from the north. Born and raised in NYC. And we may have a lot of money because where greedy but we are nowhere near as smart as people in other states who have 5 bedroom homes for the price we idiots pay in rent !!!! Sorry for above typos all. Its been long day.