[battousai]

“So was most every act that made this once great nation great...
“

Yes your nation was made great by many brave people taking risks....but because THEY HAD TO in order to survive or to ensure that which the loved survived.

This is a lame stunt aimed at nothing but vain fame, do not insult those who have gone before you in founding your great nation, by comparing them to these glory hounds.

[Tolsti2]

There were (are? or are we done with that) that made the country great by going into space. That wasn’t necessary or anything, but was a great thing.

However, they were adults. 16 year olds most likely would not be allowed up. Doing it here is just as wreckless.

[battousai]

Hahaha case closed:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2533958/posts

Now I really hope someone makes them pay, this is ridiculous that some people somewhere have to foot the bill because these low lifes wanted to make money on their daughter's life.

[FunkyZero]

"Yes your nation was made great by many brave people taking risks....but because THEY HAD TO"

I have to agree. This stunt was for nothing more than personal conquest and/or fame. I'm not going to assume one or the other, but a 16 year-old girl sailing around the world contributes nothing to the greater good of man. I'ts been done countless times before.

It's true, doesn't matter what got her there, the rescue goes forward and anyone called on should respond as if it were their own family. It's the way things are.

Having said that, making an assumption of entitlement like this family did should be frowned on in a serious way. They should be taken to civil court and billed for it... even if they can never pay it all back, they shouldn't profit from this at the expense of the folks who dropped everything to save her butt.

[ejonesie22]

You think every venture that made this nation what it is (or was) was due to some group escaping their circumstance.

Columbus was sent here to expand the richness of the Spanish Empire and he did not do that for purely altruistic reasons himself.

As many had risked everything to build this nation for personal gain as did those seeking sanctuary and a new start.

Insult? This young woman, regardless of anyone else around her, embodies that spirit. She was no ignorant foolish girl, for such a child would not be able to pilot a sailing vessel around two continents.

[TigersEye]

Yes your nation was made great by many brave people taking risks....but because THEY HAD TO in order to survive or to ensure that which the loved survived.

No they didn't. They could have stayed in New York and Boston and worked in millineries and other sweat shops. There was absolutely no need for them to take extravagant risks settling the west and costing the taxpayer's tons of money sending the cavalry to their rescue. /s