PLFXpert 0 #1 January 9, 2006 Have ya'll heard/read about this? Apparently he's not your average teen---test scores put him in top 1% in the nation, enjoys debating politics, cashed in some of his stocks to make the trip. I'm just amazed he made it in. I would have thought they'd put a stop to non-residents entering the city for the time being. Apparently they told him they couldn't force him to leave, it had to be of his own free will. A bit ironic.Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #2 January 9, 2006 What? Baghdad? You mean this isn't Peoria? Damn got on the wrong plane...again! My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steeler 0 #3 January 9, 2006 Typical. Plenty of "book smarts", but zero common sense. What an idiot. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NlghtJumper 0 #4 January 9, 2006 This kid is a wanna be journalist, and thought he would get a great story trying to live as they live in Iraq. He was going to make the trip with family, and they saved up a nice chunk of change that he took on his own and left without telling anyone but 2 friends. He tried to get a direct flight in, but when connecting thru Kuwait, he couldn't get in. So he went to Lebanon, and stayed with some family until they could get him in. When he got in, he called the AP [associated press] to let them know what he was doing. They immediately sent soldiers to go get him and take him to an embassy or something like that. He was in Iraq for a total of like 3 days to a week before being sent home. It was also reported that when he finally called his parents to let them know where he was, his Dad started sending money. He was with family the majority of the time, and didn't get hurt at all during the trip. Upon return his school tried to expel him, but couldn't come up with a reason that would hold any water, so they just let him back in. He reported that when he got back to Florida he would "kiss the ground and thank god he is OK". I guess he didn't like it all that much. His Mom reported that he doesn't know Arabic... A man will do anything for the right woman, and when that woman destroys him, that man will become a hunk of meat with the common sense of a rodeo clown! ~ Christopher Titus Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Icon134 0 #5 January 9, 2006 Quotetest scores put him in top 1% in the nation doesn't sound all that bright to me... Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NlghtJumper 0 #6 January 9, 2006 Quotedoesn't sound all that bright to me... My thoughts exactly. A man will do anything for the right woman, and when that woman destroys him, that man will become a hunk of meat with the common sense of a rodeo clown! ~ Christopher Titus Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #7 January 9, 2006 I read the article in People magazine, as well as watched the interview on the Today show. According to those sources: QuoteThis kid is a wanna be journalist, and thought he would get a great story trying to live as they live in Iraq. Yes, he is interested in journalism, but the reasons stated by him for going in the interview, was feeling guilty about living his nice life and knowing things are so awful over there. He wanted to see how awful for himself in the hopes of doing something about it upon returning home. QuoteHe was going to make the trip with family, and they saved up a nice chunk of change that he took on his own and left Family has plenty of money---according to People magazine article and also interview, he cashed in his stocks to pay for the trip---no stealing from family. Quoteleft without telling anyone but 2 friends He notified his school he would miss a week. He also sent his family an e-mail as soon as he arrived in Kuwait stating what he was going to be doing. It doesn't sound like he was without concern for his family's worry. Quotehis Dad started sending money. His Dad helped him obtain a visa to get into Iraq stating he knew the boy was going to go help or not. As far as a know, no family money. QuoteThey immediately sent soldiers to go get him and take him to an embassy or something like that. In my original post---I stated the irony of him being in Baghdad was they could NOT force him to leave--he had to leave on his own will. Anywho...from what I gathered watching his body language and expressions while on the interview, as well as reading quotes from the article, I don't feel he went w/out good intentions for himself, his family and the people of Iraq. But having said that...!Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
