What is teh Dominican Republic?

Is it an Island paradise, a war torn country, an Aids filled wasteland, an anti US radical nation? Thats exactly what I have gotten from this site

A few weeks ago, I asked some questions on this site about the Dominican Fiesta and places to hang for 4 guys in their 20's. I got blasted telling me that "sex tourists should stay home" Americans are killing Dominicans with Aids," Americans are ruining our Island etc.

Now I read where some crazed Dominican (One that made many of those insane replies, "ABE" saying the United States Coast Guard Rammed a small craft killing a Dominican.

All Four of us recently finished our TOD in the Coast Guard and this is the how we initially learned of the DR, from other crews who had been on life saving and drug interdiction in the Caribbean. They told us what a great place the DR was to visit. these guys must have been doing the drugs they seized.

The United States Coast Guard is charged with saving lives, not taking them, We do not "defend" the sovereign US Shores, that falls to the Navy except during War. We do not even come under the line of command of the Department of Defense.

More of my friends have risked their lives jumping into shark infested waters so desperate Dominicans wouldn't drown then you will ever know.

I don't speak a word of Spanish, I used a Free on line translation article to translate the post form the at drug crazed "ABE" The United States Coast Guard has a 165' boat within 3 hours of the incident, it won't be disclosed as it is involved in drug interdiction, but the Puerto Rican Rapid Defense Force was involved in this incident, The USCG does not "ram" boats, nor do they "machine gun civilians". What are you taking man. If the USCG were to stop these boats and they refused to heave to, they would have put a cutter across the bow and boarded with Zodiacs.

Why does the Dominican Republic waste their money advertiser for US tourist dollars when people like Abraham seem to be the rule rather than the exception when it comes to attitude toward US Citizens?

Below is the translation I got form "ABES" sad story of the US Coast Guard Cutter ramming the Dominican Yola

A naval unit of the United Rápida Force Acción (FURA), of Puerto Rico, would have been sent against a boat that transported 35 people who traveled of clandestine form when they approached the Puerto Rican coasts. The boat in which 34 traveled Dominican and a Haitian started off in two and a man of about 20 years, perished. The superintendent of the Puerto Rican Police, Pierre Vivoni, assured Thursday that the boat in which a group of Dominican immigrants traveled towards Puerto Rico Tuesday did not hit a police ship. The Dominican consulate in San Juan has already requested an investigation to the Police and the American authorities, that control the Puerto Rican borders. About 35 immigrants at night arrived from Tuesday at the coast the west of Puerto Rico on board of a gig boat and, according to its testimonies, they were attacked by a police ship that watched the zone, that left in two to the fragile boat and caused the death of one of the Dominican ones. According to the survivors, the police did not call to them, but that so soon saw them they accelerated the ship and they attacked the gig boat, that was divided in two. Supposedly, the agents did not make anything either to rescue them, but who called to another police boat for that task. DISCRIMINATION This unfortunate incident has revived the debate around the discrimination against the Dominican residents in Puerto Rico, that, according to the immigrants, has taken root in the Police boricua. Vivoni, that met Thursday with the consul of the Dominican Republic in Puerto Rico, Fermín Diaz, maintains the version of the Police, although it has ordered an investigation " directed to anybody in individual, but to an incident ". The police head, questioned on the accusations that the leaders have not done him of the Dominican colony in Borínquen, which they accuse to the Police to be a repressive body and with prejudices, has said that " I do not favor, like public policy, nor the Governor either, in the case of the government... the violation of human rights ". Nevertheless, it admitted that " that can have an isolated fact... is for totally unacceptable me, and the Police must be impartial in the handling of the subjects ". The group of 35 people divided in the gig boat Sunday for Puerto Rico from the Dominican locality of Juan Dolio, in the South coast, the region this. FRUSTRATION Nevertheless, bad weather made them return to the island of the Spanish, from where again they left Monday to arrive at night from Tuesday at Red Cabo, in the southwestern end of Puerto Rico. According to the story of the immigrants, when they were arriving at the coast approached a FURA boat to them (specialized unit of the Police), all remained on board and the ship ignited a reflecting center, were listened to firings, the boat accelerated its motors and attacked to the gig boat, it divided it by half and all fell to the water. A man died, seven people disappeared, two were hospitalized and 25 were stopped by the Patrol of Borders of the U.s.a.. THEY ARREST THEM The authorities arrested Thursday to three of the seven disappear, that think that they arrived at earth, since the boat sank near the beach. The three stopped were identified as Jose You become effeminate, of 22 years; Arelis Medina, of 30, and Jackeline Vazquez, of 27, all residents in Santo Domingo. " They (the police) almost happen to us superficially... did not help us when we turned ourselves... were people who did not know to swim and in the short while was when other two boats came that removed to us ", it said to a local newspaper one of the young people. According to the Dominican consulate in San Juan, the prisoners have between 20 and 27 years. The commander of the Marine Unit of Red Cabo, Pink Angel, assures that the gig boat was divided single, whereas the Coastal Guard of the U.s.a. maintains that the group of immigrants became hostile against the Police and that the agents stayed remote awaiting other units

You see every now and then the DR1 board let people exercise the first amendment and the radicals as it is normal everywhere make a lot more noise. As in any society, in this board there are many kinds of people. If you judge by what you read in the newspaper you'd get to believe the world is only inhabited by loonies; I know you know better, they are just noisier.

A word of advice: if a post sounds too stupid to be true, it probably is. Only take advice from people who don’t end up making personal attacks, those post/posters I never read, they are a waste of widthband. Where is the ignore button of this board?

Its all of the above. The DR has problems but amidst all that it is an exciting place where you don't know what will happen next.We are confused, argumentative bunch of mixed ancestry folks.We love to talk and get into each others lives from the big to the small. We talk for the hell of it and we are very emotional.That is the DR.We talk bad about each other, get angry in each other's face, tell off each other personally or behind their backs but it doesn't matter.We are truly free as a group of people. The whole DR nation is like one big family with happy moments, bickering so on and so forth.

Onions and carrots: great post! - it could be of and from any country on earth !!! Why pick on DR specifically? So, "I'll tell you what..." : it's HUMAN NATURE !!!!

Hi! Just want to let you know how much I appreciated your (this) post. As a Mom of three 20-year CG, seagoing, retired Coasties, all of whom saw many years of duty in the Carib. One a '77 Academy graduate (you know what it takes to get there!!); retired as Lt.Cdr. in 1998, now is one of only two retirees of CG helping enlisted men get captain's license - via home business, backed by Headquarters in D.C.
Second one enlisted at HS graduation; retired in 2000, seagoing CPO PR/newswriter/on-scene reporter.
The third enlisted during junior year of High School, retired 2001 (20 years), as seagoing MC quartermaster with many, many rescues and drug-running missions under his belt and a wall full of medals and awards. ...
Yeah, tell me about the USCG!!! I certainly can relate to what you have said. Admonishers: say what you will - but back it with facts - and real-life stories. Thomas, Good luck to you and your buddies. God Bless ya, too!!!! -Mame-

EXCUSE ME! SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE DESCRIBING THE U.S.A.!!!!

As one North American to another, I will tell you that my experiences in the DR have been exceptionally positive. I have found Dominicans to be friendly and courtious people. If you can learn a few expresions in spanish you will recieve alot of help and patience from people.

You must remember that when you recieve information you need to consider the source and for each rabid idiot with a computer and xenophobic tendancies in the DR we have 100 in the USA. Take your trip have fun be considerate and the welcome mat will rolled out for you. The DR is beautiful and you'll love it.

The DR is a beautiful country! Mainly the friendliness of the people and their calm lifestyle... I've been to the North end (mainly Puerto Plata) eight times in the last three years... other wonderful things; local expats, food, drink, beaches, music, music and music!