Dear Dr Phil,

I appreciate your attention to the tragedy of Natalie Holloway and her disappearance in Aruba. While I agree, that it is disappointing and unacceptable that her case has not been solved or that she has not been found, your patriotic rhetoric and call for the “boycott” of Aruba is a case of holding other’s to a standard higher then you hold your own.

The disappearance of a teen or individual is something that happens on a daily basis within the U.S. Do cities and towns in the U.S. who fail to solve a case deserve to be boycotted too? What of the three young men who were mysteriously murdered in the U.S. Virgin Islands shortly after Natalie Holloway disappeared while attending a wedding? Where is the attention to their case? Given that this case is unsolved and that the U.S. Virgin Islands have a dramatically higher rate of murder than Aruba, why are you not calling for a boycott of this vacation spot as well?

Having been to Aruba several times, including shortly after Natalie disappeared, I can say that the vast majority of Arubans are horrified by the disappearance of Natalie and are friendly, welcoming people. Calling for Americans to boycott Aruba to cause economic hardship on the Aruba tourism industry is punishing the 99.99% of citizens who have done nothing wrong. A country whose citizens have already devoted more resources, time and effort than what would have been given should the situation be reversed. Would the U.S. government give its federal employees a half day off to join in the search for a missing Aruban?

Until you hold the U.S., including yourself and its territories (U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico) to the same standard. Please do not wave the Star and Strips and “Americanismâ€? in everyone’s faces.

Natalie and her family remain in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Your attention to the missing is appreciated. Your rhetoric is deplorable.

Sincerely,