First, there were the bulgarian nurses in Lybia, in jail for 7 years

[question everything]

for "infecting" kids with AIDS and finally ransomed with $400 million (yes, million).

Now there is the British teacher in the Sudan arrested for 15 days (so far) but with her life in danger.

Why would anyone volunteer to aid these countries is beyond me.

[Warpy]

1. I have a friend who worked her way around the world

teaching school in third world countries. She taught physics and chemistry and said the third world students were the most motivated group she had ever met. She found one year of teaching in some third world hell hole more professionally rewarding than her total career teaching in the US until her "retirement" at 65. These were students who, lacking even rudimentary equipment with which to do experiments, would come up with ingenious substitutes and manage to do them anyway.

There are a lot of reasons to go to risky countries to teach or provide health care. The above is just one of them from someone I know who did it.

[Captain Angry]

2. Should people have refrained from offering support to the US after Katrina

Just because OUR government's nuts?

Some people like to go where the help is needed, and hope they are able to do so.

[question everything]

3. We do not trump up crimes and inflict severe

punishment on visitors here.

Of course, it is not as if they treat their citizens, especially the women in their country any better.

Remember some years back in Nigeria, I think, where a woman who committed adultery was scheduled to be buried alive?

And the women who get raped as punishment?

Yes, I understand the reward that helping people offers but while risk someone's life and liberty?

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

4. I hope we keep speaking to each other and interfacing with each other

I too deplore this story about the Teddy Bear. If a government with a theocreatic agenda puts a woman in prison over a Teddy Bear, then there's no telling what they can do and what they probably do when the media aren't watching. Fortunately, there are courageous individuals willing to travel to these theocreatic countries and do good work. I imagine that the kids who know this teacher do not consider her a Satan or a blasphemer. They are probably as concerned and distressed about this situation as we are. We've got to keep meeting each other and communicating. Otherwise, if we isolate ourselves and cut ourselves off, it will only get worse.