[Protagoras]

Exactly. I hope other parents learn a lesson from this. Teenagers have no business leaving the country,

Sorry, I disagree. Living in fear is the same as being dead.

There are many reasons to travel and many ways to plan the trips. Many are good reasons and many are good plans. Some are not.

[Tax-chick]

There are many reasons to travel and many ways to plan the trips. Many are good reasons and many are good plans. Some are not.

Good summary.

[1L]

Sorry, but you are simply incorrect. Being careful doesn't amount to living in fear.

Except in very rare situations, a teenager leaving the country without at least one parent, older (and responsible) sibling, or other close family member or trusted responsible adult, is stupid. There's no other way to put it.

If there are very similar numbers of adults (and I mean over the age of, say, 25 or 30), then that might be one of those rare situations. Its one thing to go to Colorado, but another thing to leave the US.

[Publius6961]

Sorry, I disagree. Living in fear is the same as being dead.

Hyperbole aside, runner-up for "Most stupid remark of the Day".