One really brave (and stupid) teen...

**danzig** · December 29, 2005, 06:47 PM

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/12/29/D8EQ72LO3.html

Pretty amazing and amusing in some ways. Gotta give the kid credit though for actually wanting to make a difference and get an intimate insight into Iraq though really probably took the whole journalist thing a bit too far. Glad nothing bad happened to him so it makes the story funny of an American teen (who's parents came from Iraq 35 years ago) journey to Baghdad...would make a great movie or a book someday for him.

**Dr. X** · December 29, 2005, 07:11 PM

The kid seems to be somewhat naive, but it's still quite impressive.

We might hear about him again, if he becomes a journalist. Especially if he keeps showing this kind of dedication.

**danzig** · December 29, 2005, 07:24 PM

Originally Posted by Dr. X

The kid seems to be somewhat naive, but it's still quite impressive.

We might hear about him again, if he becomes a journalist. Especially if he keeps showing this kind of dedication.

Yeah VERY naive and it was dumb but you have to give him credit, Im just glad he lived to tell the story. Hope he does go on to become a journalist because your right that type of dedication would probably make a great reporter.

WHat and ignorant and stupid thing to do. This kid who doesn't understand a thing about the ME and doesn't even speak the language or knows the customs travels to Baghdad alone, IDOIT!

Pfft you missed the point, yes it wasnt smart for him to attempt to it but you have to admire he was determined enough to do it. He went there because he didnt know it, that was the whole point of his class to immerse yourself in it to see what its like from their point of view. Yes it wasnt too smart but the kid did more trying to live up to his journalism class then most 'professional' journalist do today.

**QuackyNC** · December 29, 2005, 07:44 PM

Yes it was pretty stupid, but he has alot more balls than most americans, including me to go over there.

Thats pretty amazing though he managed to make it over there by himself without any outside. I didnt know it was that easy for a 16 year old to leave the country. Huh, gives me some ideals.

**~~Removed_user_012521~~** · December 29, 2005, 07:14 PM

WHat and ignorant and stupid thing to do. This kid who doesn't understand a thing about the ME and doesn't even speak the language or knows the customs travels to Baghdad alone, IDOIT!

**John I Tzimisces** · December 29, 2005, 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by Evan_Kikla

WHat and ignorant and stupid thing to do. This kid who doesn't understand a thing about the ME and doesn't even speak the language or knows the customs travels to Baghdad alone, IDOIT!

*chuckle*
Do you?

Brave kid, if, ahem, misguided.

**Francisco Montana** · December 29, 2005, 07:51 PM

Whacky. I'm glad the guy is safe though. But still, whacky.

**~~Removed_user_012521~~** · December 29, 2005, 08:00 PM

Pfft you missed the point, yes it wasnt smart for him to attempt to it but you have to admire he was determined enough to do it. He went there because he didnt know it, that was the whole point of his class to immerse yourself in it to see what its like from their point of view. Yes it wasnt too smart but the kid did more trying to live up to his journalism class then most 'professional' journalist do today.

He was stupid and this reflex nothing on how brave he is. He was just stupid, not in the fact that he could of gotten killed but in the fact that he did no prior research, he did not know the customs or the language of that area and could hae easliy inflamed a situation because of his ignorance. I have no problem with him going but I mean God baghdad isn't much for tourism. At least know something about where your going and the customs of those who are there.

P.S I dont know much of the languag (though I have know problem with learning) but I do have knowledge of there customs and such. Aww... this is kind of mean but wouldn't it have been funny to see him go during Ramadan?

**John I Tzimisces** · December 29, 2005, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by Evan_Kikla

He was stupid and this reflex nothing on how brave he is. He was just stupid, not in the fact that he could of gotten killed but in the fact that he did no prior research, he did not know the customs or the language of that area and could hae easliy inflamed a situation because of his ignorance. I have no problem with him going but I mean God baghdad isn't much for tourism. At least know something about where your going and the customs of those who are there.

He didn't go for tourism, eesh, he went so he could see what it was like. Of course, not going without, oh, armed bodyguards is not the brightest decision, but at least he LOOKS like a local, which in all honesty is good for something. His parents were born in Iraq. Its impossible that they could have passed on Nothing to him in the way of customs.

**Libertine** · December 29, 2005, 08:07 PM

Evan_Kikla....your siggy is FAR too long, could you change it to 6 Lines of text please.

As for the boy? I commend the fellow, as a budding Radio Journalist myself (and a dedicated one too) I would never have the balls to go there unless i went with my TA Squad and several Bomber Squadrons as backup.

**danzig** · December 29, 2005, 08:14 PM

Originally Posted by Evan_Kikla

He was stupid and this reflex nothing on how brave he is. He was just stupid, not in the fact that he could of gotten killed but in the fact that he did no prior research, he did not know the customs or the language of that area and could hae easliy inflamed a situation because of his ignorance. I have no problem with him going but I mean God baghdad isn't much for tourism. At least know something about where your going and the customs of those who are there.

P.S I dont know much of the languag (though I have know problem with learning) but I do have knowledge of there customs and such. Aww... this is kind of mean but wouldn't it have been funny to see him go during Ramadan?

You need to read the story and see why he went there I think before making such comments that have no baring on the story

He wasnt a tourist, he had a plan and he knew he could blend in because of his parents who were from Iraq so no doubt he DID know of basic customs of the region (gee his parents are from there Im sure they imparted some of that on him though no doubt he wasnt an expert given his attempt to get a menu at a resturarent) even if he didnt speak a word of Arabic.

**RZZZA** · December 29, 2005, 08:29 PM

"You go to, like, the worst place in the world and things are terrible," he said. "When you go back home you have such a new appreciation for all the blessing you have there, and I'm just going to be, like, ecstatic for life."

LOL, is this a direct quote? And this kid wants to be a journalist? Nothing he said immedietly causes me to think this kid is anything special at all....he just happned to, for some incomprehensible reason, decide to follow through with his boyish childhood type fantasies of running away and living in a vastly different country. We've all had such fantasies....but we werent stupid (or brave?) enough to actually do it. This kid is obviously overprivileged and rich... (who has $900 to drop on plane tickets right now? thats what I thought...). I found what the U.S. soldier said to Hassan to be interesting...the U.S. soldiers are treated better amongst the Sunni's than amongst the Shia? Thats interesting and kinda weird...because the shia far outnumber the sunni's anyway, right?

**John I Tzimisces** · December 29, 2005, 08:33 PM

Originally Posted by RZZZA

"You go to, like, the worst place in the world and things are terrible," he said. "When you go back home you have such a new appreciation for all the blessing you have there, and I'm just going to be, like, ecstatic for life."

LOL, is this a direct quote? And this kid wants to be a journalist? Nothing he said immedietly causes me to think this kid is anything special at all....he just happned to, for some incomprehensible reason, decide to follow through with his boyish childhood type fantasies of running away and living in a vastly different country. We've all had such fantasies....but we werent stupid (or brave?) enough to actually do it. This kid is obviously overprivileged and rich... (who has $900 to drop on plane tickets right now? thats what I thought...). I found what the U.S. soldier said to Hassan to be interesting...the U.S. soldiers are treated better amongst the Sunni's than amongst the Shia? Thats interesting and kinda weird...because the shia far outnumber the sunni's anyway, right?

I could easily get the 900 bucks. ALL of the money I make at work minus like 20 bucks a week that go towards lunch at school goes into a bank account. Accumulated over about 3 years, i have a lot of money in there, just sitting there. It IS my account, i could drive there right now, and make a withdrawal. More surprising to me is that he could get the Visa or permission or whatnot to leave this country and go to that one without being an adult.

**Farnan** · December 29, 2005, 08:09 PM

He should have brought one of the "tools" from the gun control thread

**Guderian** · December 30, 2005, 06:31 AM

Originally Posted by Farnan

He should have brought one of the "tools" from the gun control thread

If he had, he'd be dead by now

I wish I had $900+ US dollars.

**Cain The Kohan** · December 31, 2005, 04:35 PM

Originally Posted by Guderian

I wish I had $900+ US dollars.

Man i wish i would be able not to care about anyone or anything and just do some things like that, to get $900+ aint that big of a problem for anyone in the west, but would you do that even if you had them

?

**Sétanta** · December 31, 2005, 10:47 PM

and then he spent 250 bucks on a taxi ride
Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars on a TAXI!!! WTF

spoiled kid. whos betting he doesnt even get punished
ahh well i admire him nontheless

**Handsome Huss** · January 01, 2006, 08:19 AM

What really angers me (like, "Huss smash" type anger) is that his parents gave him so much money and he just threw it away.

Geez, what I'd of done with $1500-ish... buy some new sneakers, a cd, some McDonalds, a sooooda.

Anyways, I do wonder now about getting in and out of the country. I know you cant cross the border alone until 18, and under that I think you need written permission stamped by...somebody. Stamped by...an insurance company? Does that sound right? Anyways, you need your parents to sign it and it get stamped by something. I'd assume it would be the same for getting on a plane though.. maybe not.