Australia Responds by Calling for a Tourism Boycott of the United States
Today, former Australian deputy Prime Minister - Fischer urged Australian tourists to avoid America to protest for stricter gun controls in the United States in honor of Christopher Zane. (Read CNN’s Report.)
Citizens in America and Australia mourn for Christopher Zane, a collegiate baseball player and student studying abroad in the U.S.A. Our sympathy is not enough over the death of an innocent shot because three teenage “thugs” were bored. There must be justice and change.
Recently, a Costa Rica citizen chimed in on a ClearCause memorial blog written in honor of Justin Johnston the week of August 19, 2013. This comment reads:
“I am sad for you but you do not understand Costa Rica. Hotels have been robbed by armed banditos. The fact that any court here at all gave a 15-year sentence to the shooter is remarkable. Here this is considered a long sentence,
especially in that the guard was attempting to do his job. This is a third world country with much crime and the guards are poor, uneducated people. Nothing excuses what happened, but truly if he got 15 years in jail, you are lucky. I walk armed in my neighborhood at night where the guards know me and things are lit up. From my understanding, your son was sneaking through a barbed wire fence after a curfew set to ensure safety. I wish I knew what to tell you but this is life here – all the guards are generally uneducated, untrained and often illegal aliens. If you think you are going to change a third world country’s behavior, you are not. They gave a sever sentence for down here. I have many friends from America who have been shot and stabbed and the perpetrators received no sentence. And, in those cases, it was not an accident but an assault. Some have been murdered and the perpetrators received a less sever sentence than your son’s shooter. Rather than seeking vengeance against a poor third world country doing it’s best, maybe this sad thing will serve as a lesson for future tourists down here to be careful, follow rules and not expect much justice. Your son could also have been attacked by a Puma, Jaguar or bitten by a fer-de lance snake – it is dangerous down here, especially if rules are not followed.”
especially in that the guard was attempting to do his job. This is a third world country with much crime and the guards are poor, uneducated people. Nothing excuses what happened, but truly if he got 15 years in jail, you are lucky. I walk armed in my neighborhood at night where the guards know me and things are lit up. From my understanding, your son was sneaking through a barbed wire fence after a curfew set to ensure safety. I wish I knew what to tell you but this is life here – all the guards are generally uneducated, untrained and often illegal aliens. If you think you are going to change a third world country’s behavior, you are not. They gave a sever sentence for down here. I have many friends from America who have been shot and stabbed and the perpetrators received no sentence. And, in those cases, it was not an accident but an assault. Some have been murdered and the perpetrators received a less sever sentence than your son’s shooter. Rather than seeking vengeance against a poor third world country doing it’s best, maybe this sad thing will serve as a lesson for future tourists down here to be careful, follow rules and not expect much justice. Your son could also have been attacked by a Puma, Jaguar or bitten by a fer-de lance snake – it is dangerous down here, especially if rules are not followed.”
ClearCause Foundation replied promptly stating:
“Thank you for writing and enlightening uninformed readers about the dangers of Costa Rica. We wish you safety and peace.
Seeking justice for Justin is not the same as vengeance. Vengeance would be without due process.
Tourism is a major source of income for many third world countries. Third world countries have changed when their actions or failures have resulted in tourism boycotts.
It may be exactly the boycott we need to shape a better future. We share one world.”
(Read the conversation here.)
No laws govern our overseas programs escorting American students abroad. Please advocate for change by sending an email to your lawmakers at http://www.clearcausefoundation.org/voices
Safety means the world to America’s most precious treasures, its sons and daughters on programs abroad.
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