If you were vacationing in Aruba would you help search?

Yes.....absolutely meaning that you would take part in some way.....
passing out flyers, going to command central, whatever NOT necessarily out wandering about.

No....not anything to do with it whatsoever.

and the reason i ask is:
a person that i had a conversation with yesterday said they'd "never search or get involved" as they are there on vacation AND it is too scary. (scary, I agree)

I think that everyone is entitled to feel however they want, but am curious to see if some would search?

That person also said that they'd feel "pressured" to search, and that would make them feel guilty. She said "how could we sit comfortably on the beach knowing that we were not helping?".

valid comment and am wondering how others feel.

Sherry knows I am posting this and she is concerned that it may be "harsh" and i hope you guys do not see it as harsh and answer the poll.

My opinion is, Paul and I would somehow take part, but maybe would leave the trekking in the desert and the cliffs to the professionals and would get involved in other aspects.

I would do anything I was allowed to do without interfering or comprimising the investigation....If they just wanted me to stand downtown to direct traffic...so others could concentrate on more complicated matters ...I would...!!!

Andrea, that's what I would do as well.

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There is no way I could just sit trying to enjoy when something like this was going on. I suppose having a teenage girl Natalee's age hits home. I would want anyone and everyone to help if it were my child. I feel bad being *here* and not being able to do anything...Personally, I think anyone who wouldn't get involved in some way, even a small way, might be cold, uncaring and selfish...

I would do the same! Whatever they wanted me to do, I'd do it!

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~Amy~®

26th trip to Aruba: April 2012
27th trip to Aruba: Sept. 2012

Yes, I would do whatever I could to help. I could never just sit back and do nothing.

I would absolutely try and do something to help. Like andrea said though the trekking in the dessert would be left to someone a little younger and able bodied. I don't think my husband and I could sit idly by and watch as the whole island was in despair. We were married there last year and consider it, pardon the cliche, our "home away from home", so anything bad that touches it, touches us. I would hope anyone there would do something, no matter how small, to help.
ruba

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Only happy people allowed!

I would do whatever I could. I might leave the actual footsearce to others as I'm allergic to spiking plants, which are numerous on the island, but anything else I would do.

Yes, absolutely. I sure there a many aspects in which a person can help like even manning some phones or anything directly related to the search teams. It is the decent thing to do when a family is hurting.

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Relaxation on One Happy Island!

I needed to give this no thought what so ever - absolutely! I also think of Aruba as my "home away from home" and if they need my help for something, they've got it!

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It's truly like "there for the grace of God go I." No one is special... bad things can happen to any one of us...

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I would definately be out there doing something, anything. It also appears that they are welcoming people. A lot of times here the police don't want non-official people involved, but if they said it was OK, I would be right there.

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For whom the bell tolls.......it could be my kid out there somewhere!!! You bet I'd be out there looking.

This was a no brainer.- but a sore subject around my house. When you feel helpless - you just want to do something - anything. All of this JUST plain SUCKS!

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I lead with my Heart and my Body follows

Dan & Sweet Georgene

I would help search if I was there, but I have to wonder why the friends of this girl did not help the night she disappeared.

If twenty to forty "friends" saw her get into a car with strangers, why didn't someone try to stop her or go with her. It seems all these people saw her, but not one remembered it is a very bad idea to get into a car ALONE with complete strangers.

Secondly, why didn't anyone notice she didn't come home that night? Every report says the parents noticed she didn't show up for the flight? Didn't anyone room with her and wonder where she was ALL night??? It seems many precious hours were wasted, and the first are the most crucial.

Also, if these people had the money for Aruba, surely someone had a cell phone. Why wasn't anyone keeping tabs on teenagers wandering the streets, getting into nightclubs, and leaving with strangers at 1AM.

Everyone needs to remember the buddy system, and have check-in times. And don't wait until the next day when your plane takes off to notice someone is missing.

It seems all this could have been prevented, and most of the fault seems to lie with the group travelling from Alabama and not the island of Aruba.

Jin - This is niether the time nor the place for this argument. What has happened has happended. We cannot change that. We can however, support the family and friends of this young lady and pray for a safe outcome. Lets not get into the blame game right now.

Andrea - I do not see this as "harsh". I would look everyday if it helped.

donnie, let me explain that 'harsh' comment. i didn't think it was harsh. i felt some in this heightened emotional state we are all in would perceive it as harsh. andrea asked not only a valid question but one that would make us think hard about ourselves. i personally thought it was a wonderful thread and hoped others would think so too.

Once again you are right sherry!!! And I totally agree it is a great thread and we all are in that emotional state.

i love being right. ask murray, hahahahaha.

Oh you are a hoot sherry!
Murray - does sherry love being right all the time?

Is Murray quivering in his shoes 'bout this time??? donnie... need you ask - we hebrewlite women are ALWAYS right!!

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two of my favorite words are 'yes dear'. then there's the three word phrase...oops...sherry you need to remember ... pg-13, pg-13.

I would do what ever I could, and I also agree Aruba is my Home away from Home. I keep praying for her family thorugh all of this.

We leave for Aruba next week with mixed emotions. I really don't know what to say other than I hope they find her soon and I pray the outcome is a positive one!

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Aruba, no other place like it!

I know Elaine, but I had to ask!!

sherry - we would get along fine. Those two words are what I constantly tell Val - "Yes Dear". By the way, it does keep me out of trouble, not the doghouse, but trouble!

Like all of you, my heart goes out to Natalee's family. We just returned last week returning home the same day Natalee was to go home. I think of her constantly and wish I was there to help in the search.

See if you guys can get this website. I've kept up on what's happening thru it. just spin on the bottom (where it says spin) till you see the pic of Natalee (then click on the picture...there's also another story and the picture is of the volunteers going thru the brush to look for her!
http://www.comcast.net/providers/fan...tml?v=34337006

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"These are a few of my favorite things"
...Elisa

elisabeth, you need to be a member of comcast to get to it unfortunately.

I wish I could be there to help in what ever way is needed. I hope the good people of Aruba know that along with prayers for Natalee and her family we are praying for them too! They are our Aruba brothers and sisters; our home away from home and we will be back without hesitation!
For some people at home who have never been to Aruba it is hard for them to understand.

Dang I did it again...but the funny thing is...I'm not a member of comcast!

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"These are a few of my favorite things"
...Elisa

how weird! wonder what connection your server has to them to allow you to get it? i know verizon can't.

I'd want to help, but not be where a professional should be - our role as tourists and supporters/lovers of Aruba does not make us cops, but as humans we feel compelled to assist in some way. As said above, even if it's just directing traffic so that one more official can be searching, that's helping....

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I would do whatever I could to help. Like others have said I would have to leave the searching in the rough areas to others but I could hand out fliers and talk to people etc...

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LynnS

Would I help-yes.On the other hand some people save up for a long time for a first vacation in years to a place known as paradise and then something like this happens and they are thinking I do not know this girl,I do not know this family and I have saved a long time for this trip and now I feel obligated if I go there to search for this girl-maybe I will cancel.I think in no way should you feel guilty if you just want the nice vacation you planned and saved for.That was what that person was saying-they just did not have it in them and I certainly would not judge them for that and I think they have a right to go to Aruba and have the vacation they want.Not everyone has to help physically-put them in your prayers and hope they can get through what they need to get through.

Iwould help while on vacation and Ill tell you this i would probably smack the flames out of a few people.

feel the same way

Absolutely YES, I would definitely help out in any way possbile. There is no way I could be on vacation, and just sit there and do nothing like something was not going on. I don't know how anyone could do that. My conscious would never allow that. My husband and I have already had this conversation, especially since we had gotten back from Aruba the week before this happened. I would also hope that others would do the same if it were someone in my family.

after what happened to natalee holloway and the way the case has been handled i assure you i will never go to aruba again and neither will my friends...i will stay in the USA!!!!!!!!!

OK, do you have a time share in Aruba you would like to sell?

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Divi... you'll have to fight me for it!

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I guess you won't be coming to New York either after 9/11!

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Wonder what city gina lives in? Maybe she won't be able to go out into her neighborhood. Since there are missing people in every city in the USA. And to add to that..it takes an arm and a leg to get someone to help look for a missing person. Just MHO!

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Aruba, no other place like it!

Obviously Gina you are not someone that has come to realize just how beautiful Aruba and it's people are. This is an isolated incident and should not have any bearing on whether you will or will not visit again unless it never really was a place of interest for you. You are entitled to your opinion but I must say that you are shorting yourself if you choose not to enjoy the beauty that Aruba has to offer.

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Donna

Give me a break Gina!!! That's the problem with people today. They are so small minded.
Aruba is a beautiful place and this is an isolated incident. This type of thing happens everyday in the U.S. or don't you watch the news?

Let me remind you there is no other country that would even care that your daughter went missing or provide any help in finding her!!

ok everyone, we are off topic and we are doing one of those personal insult things. no matter what we think, gina is entitled to her opinion.

so, back to the original topic.

Your loss. Do you have a timeshare you want to sell?

I would definately volunteer to help in anyway possible


Aruba is a lovely island inabitaded by beautiful people

tom c

Another suspect was arrested today which makes it now four being held. I feel so bad for her family and what the parents must be going through. This person they said is from an influential family on Aruba and is Dutch. The politics in this case must be intense. The truth lies there somewhere between these four. I only hope they can put enough pressure to get a confession from someone. Any thoughts on this? Marie

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Relaxation on One Happy Island!

I agree 100% Marie! I think these boys know the truth and wish they would come forward so the parents can have some closure and put Natalee to rest!

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