Natalee Holloway: Alabama Gov Calls For Boycott

Frankly, as an American, I find this disgraceful. And although I rarely support boycotts of any kind, this is a particularly misguided attempt to flex American economic power which 1) will fail and 2) only makes us look foolish in the eyes of the world.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Gov. Bob Riley is calling for a travel boycott of Aruba until authorities on the Dutch Caribbean island cooperate more fully with the family of a Mountain Brook teenager who has been missing since a graduation trip in May.

In a Tuesday press conference, Riley asked the governors of the other 49 states to join him in urging a boycott of Aruba on behalf of the family of Natalee Holloway. The 18-year-old Mountain Brook High graduate was last seen on the island May 30.

Comments

[!]

I just wish they would find her and give the family some peace. God Bless Natalee where ever she may be.

Posted by: iwabwu | Nov 8, 2005 5:50:34 PM

I second that. :O)

[Justice for Natalee]

If I were in Beth's shoes, I honestly would not know what to do.

[chance]

Punt?

[Brooke]

The Gov of Alabama will NOT tell me where to travel to nor will BT! If I want to go to Aruba I will.

I have a travel agent friend and she is going to advertise Aruba to all the clients of her agency.

Aruba would and could have conducted a good investigation if queeny stopped her interference
and obstruction of the investigation.

Outrageous!

[Erik]

I support the boycott. Enough is enough. Look Dan, what you you think the next step should be then? Just keep waiting for something that will never happen. It's pretty evident to everyone thats been following this case that Aruba "has" been hiding info all along. If this is not evident by now, I don't know what is. Maybe this will get some movement in this case which Aruba truly wants to GO AWAY. Well it won't go away and I believe this more reinvigorates the case with a much needed blast in the foot....the aruban foot.

[Dreamquestrob]

Lesson number 1: The Butler did it.

Lesson number 2: Never ever underestimate the power of the silent majority in American. In other words don't bash the victim or the victim family in an effort to redirect attention from the accused. Bashing only reinforces the rationale used to call for boycotts.

Lesson number 3: Clean house internally if you don't want everyobdy else looking at your dirty laundry.

[Michelle]

Wohoooooooooo! I for one am thrilled! I will also being putting up Coycot Aruba signs over the ´travel deals´ to Aruba they are offering on bus stops here in Colombia!

Funny how polarized we are on this!

[Rubby]

Beth is doing the right thing.

God give her strength to keep fighting the evil ones.

[Don Symank]

I will not travel to Aruba and furthermore I will boycott any Travel Agency whom I see promoting travel to Aruba.

[DiedraMichelle]

They are already advertising discounts here for Colomibans to travel to Aruba! All over the bus stops. I feel bad for the average joe from Aruba, but come on! Someone spill the beans , and tell us where Natalee is!

[Rubby]

GiG'em Aggie and keep helping Beth. I have been glued to this case from day 1.

I believe she is also a live and hope she can be returned home to be helped back into a normal life. I also see a woman taking actions she would rather not do but she has no other options!

I also believe Joran and company knows her fate.

BOYCOTT ARUBA!!!!!!

[Anne]

GO BETH!!!! Do whatever it takes.

And, please stop the bashing.

[iquitos]

The boycot is akin to trying to squeeze blood out of a rock. the aruban courts and the aruban law enforcement authorities are bound by the laws of the land. They cannot conjure up a crime and a perpetrator. they need the elements of a crime (corpus delicti) . Apparently these do not exist. So you can boycott Aruba until you are blue in the face and you will not get the desired results unless there is a break in the case, which it might be too late to discover. It might not be the current suspects either. a kidnapping is a good possibility as is Natalee Holloway just walking away. We are not 100% successful in solving cases in the US either. the boycott violates the principles of fair play. It is a travesty which will hurt the Aruban people who cannot be held accountable for any failings of their police and prosecutorial powers. I hope this vocal minority will not succeed in hurting innocent people because of their ignorance of how things work in a foreign country.

[fiesta819]

KUDOS to Gov. Riley for standing up for Americans. The Arubans must think that if they do nothing, this mess will go away.........what, until another Natalee Holloway goes missing? As Barney says, "Nip it in the bud!"

[Shari]

IT'S ABOUT TIME!!

Hey, if anyone is interested, ebay is selling "boycott Aruba/Find Natalee stickers. I already ordered mine.

[new2blogging]

Posted by: lionhunter | Nov 8, 2005 6:10:48 PM

Thanks for that very interesting, educational and well written post.

[Colorado]

No one will tell me where I can travel to and where not! BOYCOTT ALABAMA!

[DiedraMichelle]

ignorance of how things work in a foreign country

well I for one have lived overseas all my life, and I am all for this boycott.Who wants to send their children over to an island where if something happens the POLICE botch up investigations? As a female I would be scared to go over there.

This is not about not having proof. This is about the botched , incompetent investigation. Aruba is not safe. Look at what happened to that poor windsurfer many years ago. He vanished without a trace as well.

Aruba can be euqated to the bermuda triangle for America tourists. Who would risk that?

Aruba BOYCOT! SWEET!"

[MoscowGirl]

You know? it's America after all. People are free to boycott, and people are free not to listen and travel.... :=) And then some of us are free to have opinions about those who boycott...

And then some of us are free to make an extra effort to ensure and send tour groups to Aruba.... And I am working on arranging a charter flight for New Year full of "evil immigrants" who think that "Alabama request" is totaly nutty and unreasonable.... :=)

[Brooke]

Kudos to a gov that makes a fool of himself?

Here's my answer to that stupid boycott:

http://www.arubatravelinfo.com
http://www.purpleroofs.com/caribbean/arubata.html
http://www.hobotraveler.com/agents.php
http://www.travel.org/caribbea.html

GO and ENJOY a beach vacation!

NO silly I am NOT an Aruban I am an American that is tired of being hated all over the world because of stupidity like this so called boycott.
BT and the gov need to GROW up!

[MichelleDiedra]

I am sure people will still travel there, but there will be a good drop in tourism for a while to come now. Why go to Aruba if there are so many other beautiful placces in the world?

[Brooke]

Well queenie is going thru one of her tantrums yet again!

"No one will tell me where I can travel to and where not! BOYCOTT ALABAMA!

Posted by: Colorado | Nov 8, 2005 6:26:55 PM"

Love it BOYCOTT ALABAMA !!!!! LOL GOOD idea.

[whatever]

never bite the hand that feeds you....

[southern girl]

Gov Riely blows, as usual. What a freakin' bufoon. I'll travel wherever I please, thank you very much!

[betsy]

MELANIE, you said it right! I haven't once heard Beth Twitty assume any responsibility for her daughter's plight. She did allow her to go to Aruba. I don't know if this is true or not but I read Dave Holloway didn't want Natalee to go on this trip but Beth and Jug let her. Anyone know is that's true or merely a rumor. I know if my daughter had gone missing on a trip like that, I'd feel quite responsible and admit it. Beth just wants to blame others and go for the jugular of people who are innocent, hard-working folks living and trying to eke out a living in Aruba. That's awful. No wonder we're called Ugly Americans in foreign countries! How could it be otherwise?

[c]

Posted by: lionhunter | Nov 8, 2005 6:10:48 PM

Are u saying that Beth is more stronger then the Mariotts, Hiltons and other American companies, that are doing business in Aruba.

[c]

Incidentally, Dan, you accusing Dr. Phil of being a ratings whore is pretty hypocritical, don't you think?

Posted by: lionhunter | Nov 8, 2005 6:10:48 PM

why do u think it is pretty hypocritical....
where is Dan getting paid for ? can u explain me that ?

[peggy]

1) will fail and 2) only makes us look foolish in the eyes of the world.

``````````````````````````````````````````````

I think the call for a boycott is merely symbolic and meant to ruffle some feathers for some much needed action on this case.

And I don't agree that it makes us look foolish in the eyes of the world.Any warm,compassionate,human being can empathize with a desperate mother searching for her daughter on foreign soil.

[TuxedoJunction]

I am sure people will still travel there, but there will be a good drop in tourism for a while to come now. Why go to Aruba if there are so many other beautiful placces in the world?
Posted by: MichelleDiedra | Nov 8, 2005 6:31:32 PM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Because they are/will be having great deals!
Aloha...

[findnat]

where is Dan getting paid for ? can u explain me that ?

Posted by: c | Nov 8, 2005 6:41:54 PM

I beleive that is a question for Dan and it
is upto Dan to answer it.

[usmcdad]

Love it BOYCOTT ALABAMA !!!!! LOL GOOD idea.

Posted by: Brooke | Nov 8, 2005 6:33:35 PM

Know the difference between a Yankee and a Damn Yankee... the Damn Yankees like you Brooke and Colorado never go home.... Great place for an open attitude like yours, it's called France here's a link www.francetourism.com/

[Northerner]

Typical smallmindedness. Imagine what would happen if a foreign country called a boycott of the US for a similar reason (ever heard of foreign tourists getting shot in Florida?). The US State Department would be all over that country. But of course, to the Average American who has never been outside their own borders, everything "out there" is much more dangerous because it is "different from home".

Anyway, good luck with the boycott. A Dutch airline (not KLM, a new one) just this week started started flying direct to Aruba because of increased demand. And I don't think the average European spends any less than the average American. Probably more, because we have longer holidays.

If you think you'll be safer vacationing in Jamaica, the US Virgin Islands, Barbados, or wherever you decide to go instead of Aruba, you are just deluding yourself. But go right ahead and reinforce the stereotype of the American tourist who is totally out of his/her depth the moment things differ slightly from what they are used to.

[findnat]

I will not travel to Aruba and furthermore I will boycott any Travel Agency whom I see promoting travel to Aruba.

Posted by: Don Symank | Nov 8, 2005 6:13:47 PM

Ditto here.

I too will not travel to Aruba and will not support any travel agency that promotes travel
to Aruba.

[MichelleDiedra]

Oh well stereotype me. BOYCOTT ARUBA!

[c]

Posted by: findnat | Nov 8, 2005 6:45:57 PM

The reason I am asking this question is because if u go to the SM website, u see all the advertisements, etc. This is how u make the money I am assuming. I donot see any ads on this blog.. and wanted to know what other ways are there to make money ? any ideas.

[Brooke]

"Know the difference between a Yankee and a Damn Yankee... the Damn Yankees like you Brooke and Colorado never go home.... Great place for an open attitude like yours, it's called France here's a link www.francetourism.com/

Posted by: usmcdad | Nov 8, 2005 6:46:01 PM

Damn yankee? I am ASHAMED of narrow minded people like YOU who call themselves Americans! TYPICAL southern red neck!

[Max]

What a disgrace. That Twitwoman should've been protective before her little girl went on a wild trip. She shows classic signs of guilt denial. It's a bloody shame that this is happening and it will hurt Americans far more than anyone else. People already think this kind of American behavior is delusional grandeur. Now they will act on it. And in the state the world is now we need every ally we can get.

Posted by: melanie | Nov 8, 2005 6:24:12 PM

I totally agree. This boycott is nothing less than economic terrorism. Beth Twitty has waged a campaign of disinformation that is going to give this country another black eye.

[new2blogging]

Posted by: betsy | Nov 8, 2005 6:38:31 PM

I am sure she suffers from the guilt over that everyday! Doesn't every parent suffer that whenever *anything* happens to one of their children? She is not responsible for what happened to Natalee. But SOMEONE is.

Why is it so hard for some people to have compassion for this mom, regardless of what anyone thinks about what truly happened to Natalee?

[FlightofFancy]

Thank you for posting that Dan. I agree wholeheartedly. How a superpower like American 300 million strong can cause economical terrorism to a tiny island of less than 100,000 people, men women and CHILDREN is beyond me. No wonder the rest of the world hates us. Whatever sympathy I had for that mother is completely gone. She is a selfish woman who wants revenge for not getting her way. Why doesn't that governor tell us what happened to the black assistant principal, Walter Moore? He has been missing longer than Natalee, and he went missing in ALABAMA. I say boycott Alabama. Where is the NAACP on this thing? They should be picketing and protesting that Governors house every day to demand they find Walter Moore. I say BOYCOTT ALABAMA.

[findnat]

The reason I am asking this question is because if u go to the SM website, u see all the advertisements, etc. This is how u make the money I am assuming. I donot see any ads on this blog.. and wanted to know what other ways are there to make money ? any ideas.

Posted by: c | Nov 8, 2005 6:49:06 PM

Again,

I believe that is a question for Dan and it
is upto Dan to answer it.

Only speculation on my part...Maybe he spends his own money cuz this may be a hobby or he may be very wealthy and just wants people to have a place to discuss world issues or maybe folks who use this site send in checks in support of the site..who knows

[Brooke]

Oh excuse me I meant to say typical DAMN SOUTHERN redneck!

[new2blogging]

Posted by: FlightofFancy | Nov 8, 2005 6:53:21 PM

Right, and it takes someone willing to step up and get the action started. That's how things happen in America. So get your picket signs and head on down to the Governor's Mansion.

[Max]

IT'S ABOUT TIME!!

Hey, if anyone is interested, ebay is selling "boycott Aruba/Find Natalee stickers. I already ordered mine.

Posted by: Shari | Nov 8, 2005 6:23:53 PM

They need to start selling BOYCOTT ALABAMA stickers. I'm going to write them and suggest it.

SUPPORT ROY MOORE FOR GOVERNOR OF ALABAMA 06

[TxGirl]

Incidentally, Dan, you accusing Dr. Phil of being a ratings whore is pretty hypocritical, don't you think? How many pro-Arubans do you get on here? How many hits does your website get a day? How much do your sponsors pay per hit? Tom and Red and SM might be morons but you're a sellout: pro-Beth only as long as the money rolls in...

Posted by: lionhunter | Nov 8, 2005 6:10:48 PM

Obviously you didn't research this very well.

[c]

Posted by: findnat | Nov 8, 2005 6:54:04 PM

Thanku, since this great economist Mr. LionHunter, had accused Dan being hypocritical...etc, I wanted to know from him, but I guess ....

[Jan]

No wonder the world mostly hates the U.S. - we are showing what true big bullies we can be - totally 100% pathetic. and support that I had remotely left for the parents is now gone - I am now planning on travelling to Aruba - never before wanting to go there - but now I will mainly because to boycott a country over 1 possibly botched investigation is just WRONG!

[boywonder]

Thank you for posting that Dan. I agree wholeheartedly. How a superpower like American 300 million strong can cause economical terrorism to a tiny island of less than 100,000 people, men women and CHILDREN is beyond me. No wonder the rest of the world hates us. Whatever sympathy I had for that mother is completely gone. She is a selfish woman who wants revenge for not getting her way. Why doesn't that governor tell us what happened to the black assistant principal, Walter Moore? He has been missing longer than Natalee, and he went missing in ALABAMA. I say boycott Alabama. Where is the NAACP on this thing? They should be picketing and protesting that Governors house every day to demand they find Walter Moore. I say BOYCOTT ALABAMA.

Posted by: FlightofFancy | Nov 8, 2005 6:53:21 PM

Who needs a boycott? The Aruban's have enough bad publicity to chase away vacationer's for the next 10 years.... What's gonna be difficult though is to convince people that Aruba is a safe tourist spot again. It will take more than an end to a boycott...

[Shari]

They need to start selling BOYCOTT ALABAMA stickers. I'm going to write them and suggest it,
Posted by: Max | Nov 8, 2005 6:57:25 PM

Good idea - they'll need the extra income.

[Max]

Why doesn't that governor tell us what happened to the black assistant principal, Walter Moore? SNIP: He has been missing longer than Natalee, and he went missing in ALABAMA. I say boycott Alabama. Where is the NAACP on this thing? They should be picketing and protesting that Governors house every day to demand they find Walter Moore. I say BOYCOTT ALABAMA.

Posted by: FlightofFancy | Nov 8, 2005 6:53:21 PM

He disappeared a week before Natalee. I agree with you; until that man is found we should all boycott Alabama

SUPPORT ROY MOORE FOR GOVERNOR OF ALABAMA 06

[Colorado]

They need to start selling BOYCOTT ALABAMA stickers. I'm going to write them and suggest it.

Posted by: Max | Nov 8, 2005 6:57:25 PM

Great idea!!! I'll be first in line to buy mine.

From The Damn Yankee in Colorado.