Do Americans really need to go hiking in Iran?

[Anonymous]

This recent story sounds crazy I am TIRED of these idealistic youngsters getting into these messes. The money that is spent on the negotiations to get them out of trouble out to be paid by their families.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/05/world/middleeast/05hikers.html

[Anonymous]

I don't think their families could ever afford the ransom, and I think we will be forever bailing out idealistic young sillies. Their punishment no doubt is what is going through their heads right now: 3 clicks of the heel and "There's no place like home". Let's get them home; I am sure they will never again hike in dangerous border areas.

[Anonymous]

Maybe they should be made to pay for the cost of their rescue. Don't a couple of states have something like that for people who need to be rescued after getting into trouble while doing dangerous activities like getting lost while hiking or mountain climbing? Something to remind them every paycheck for the next ten years. Kind of like a student loan. But more like a life experience loan.

[Anonymous]

This story is two months old. What made you think of it now? (Not challenging but curious.)

[Anonymous]

I think they should be just left there. They are grown-ups - time to take responsability for their own actions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This recent story sounds crazy I am TIRED of these idealistic youngsters getting into these messes. The money that is spent on the negotiations to get them out of trouble out to be paid by their families.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/05/world/middleeast/05hikers.html

Idealistic youngsters? Jesus, how old are you?

[Anonymous]

What's wrong with idealism?! Idealism and curiosity and a desire to travel and learn about the world? I would LOVE the opportunity to hike in the mountains of Iran. It looks like an amazing area of the world. The only thing they did wrong was to go there without the appropriate visa. But it sounds like you are chastising these 'idealistic youngsters' more for what they represent (peace activists going to one of America's enemy countries) rather than for traveling without a visa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's wrong with idealism?! Idealism and curiosity and a desire to travel and learn about the world? I would LOVE the opportunity to hike in the mountains of Iran. It looks like an amazing area of the world. The only thing they did wrong was to go there without the appropriate visa. But it sounds like you are chastising these 'idealistic youngsters' more for what they represent (peace activists going to one of America's enemy countries) rather than for traveling without a visa.

There is such a thing as being foolhardy as well. I am sure North Korea has beautifal sights as well. But yes indeed I will chastise the young adult who foolishly goes in to North Korea against all state department warnings on a mission to show that they have some magical idealistic powers which will succeed where formal methods of diplomacy have failed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's wrong with idealism?! Idealism and curiosity and a desire to travel and learn about the world? I would LOVE the opportunity to hike in the mountains of Iran. It looks like an amazing area of the world. The only thing they did wrong was to go there without the appropriate visa. But it sounds like you are chastising these 'idealistic youngsters' more for what they represent (peace activists going to one of America's enemy countries) rather than for traveling without a visa.

There is such a thing as being foolhardy as well. I am sure North Korea has beautifal sights as well. But yes indeed I will chastise the young adult who foolishly goes in to North Korea against all state department warnings on a mission to show that they have some magical idealistic powers which will succeed where formal methods of diplomacy have failed.

Yes, but i think the case of North Korea is a little different to Iran. There are many Iranian-Americans who travel to Iran to visit their families every year. I doubt there are many North-Korean-Americans who return home for a family visit

[Anonymous]

Don't quite see your point. I don't think these hikers were Iranian-American. (And in fact, there are many Korean Americans, whose families were originally from North Korea, who return to Korea every year and who might be tempted to try to finagle their way into one of the family reunification tours, so I'm not sure the difference you posit is all that great.)

[Anonymous]

I think it's fine as long as they have to pay every penny that is spent on bailing them out. All good skiers know that if you ski off-trail in restricted areas and get hurt or lost, you'll be billed for your rescue efforts. Same should be done here.

They sound like complete morons.

[jsteele]

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned that according to other members of the hiking group (that just happened to miss that day's hike), the hikers didn't know they were in Iran. They were hiking around Iraqi Kurdistand and had been told about a nearby mountain that was a "must see" sort of thing. But nobody bothered to tell them it was on the Iranian side of the border. Mountainous borders are often not well-marked, or not marked at all, so this seems plausible. Of course, equally plausible is that they are US spies. In either case, they really shouldn't be held responsible for getting arrested.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, but I'm with the OP. It is important and wonderful for anyone to want to see the world, but surely there are many other "exotic" and must-see places in the world not in danger zones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, but I'm with the OP. It is important and wonderful for anyone to want to see the world, but surely there are many other "exotic" and must-see places in the world not in danger zones.

Count me too. Honestly, don't these hikers have a GPS?

[Anonymous]

US spies disguised as idealistic youngsters pointlessly poking around border mountains? I seriously hope we can do better than that....