Yes, we should
I agree with your Nov. 11 editorial “Manhunts and boycotts.” As a single parent, my children are my world. The thought of losing one or both is disturbing. I wrote my governor to support the boycott. I have watched this investigation from the beginning. I heard about blood being found in a car, but then heard otherwise. I heard about a bloody mattress, and no DNA testing was done on that. Bones found in July (supposedly donkey bones) are just being sent for forensic testing in October? What ever happened to “Leave no stone unturned,” or even decency for other human beings? I would like to know my children are safe. How would this country keep my children safe? No one is being held accountable for lies or for trying to give a false alibi. And the cover-up only gets bigger. A little understanding and compassion is something no one seems to be able to muster. Just say a prayer for the Twittys and Holloways. I cannot guarantee Oklahoma will join in any boycott, but my family will not even think of traveling to Aruba or the Netherlands until this is resolved. That is from one parent to another.
Daphine Peck
Wetumka, Okla.
Illegal, hypocritical?
I am grieved at the loss of a teen who made a bad decision after partying with classmates and locals. The call by a governor of a state, however, is an illegal call by a government official against another country. Beth Twitty and clan can call for a boycott; that is their right. When the government advocates such, it is against all America stands for. There are political avenues our government can take; Alabama has done this for a socialite family. The blacks that are missing in the state of Alabama are never mentioned or cared about. This is the hypocrisy of Alabama officials. If you are not a socialite or have money in America, you are at the bottom on all lists of justice.
Carl Tirpitz
Baton Rouge, La.
No, we shouldn’t
Just a few questions: How many persons have gone missing in Alabama since Natalee Holloway disappeared? How many of those cases have also resulted in a boycott or similar consequences against the offending parties? How many of Natalee’s classmates/chaperones have undergone rigorous interviews by the legal staff of the honorable state of Alabama in an attempt to resolve this unfortunate issue? Were the chaperones really conducting themselves as true chaperones or were they just on vacation?
Why did Natalee’s friends let her get into a car with unknown people when she was “not acting like herself?” Would the honorable state of Alabama have allowed Aruba to bring in outside authorities, i.e. the FBI, the Dutch Air Force, the University of Florida Forensic Crime unit, all Aruban government employees, etc. (you do the translation from Aruban to Alabamian culture), in an attempt to solve the case?
I do agree this is a very unfortunate case. I do not agree with your position on this. I would suggest that if we adopt this as a model there will not be one city in your state, or my state of Michigan, that we will be able to visit in the future.
Dick King
Garden City, Mich.
