Otto Warmbier's Family Seeking 1B in Restitution f... - Page 2

aggravated · ‎03-12-2010

This is a horrible tragedy. Otto must have been familiar enough with the regime to realize that any transgression was going to be serious. He left the floor of the hotel that the group was warned strictly not to leave in the middle of the night, went to another floor in the hotel, and stole one of the posters of the "great president" "fearless leader" hanging there. While in this country we are programmed to think "what a cool stunt"; in North Korea it's a crime, a serious one. The group was stopped at the airport and Otto's luggage was searched and following that, he was arrested. Torture and eventual death because of it obviously is just sick - over a poster.

golding76 · ‎05-19-2012

Otto had also traveled extensively with his family. No doubt he believed that traveling -- even to remote areas of the globe -- was not challenging in the least. He was comfortable visiting increasingly foreign lands, I recall reading. His parents were with him (one or both) on all his early visits.

And yes, it is true that he went to the floor that was verboten. After all, as described, he was intelligent and highly curious. Perhaps he wanted to see what was there that was so dangerous to be seen. No one knows.

But kids, eh? I think Otto was used to being excused for small and innocent rebellious acts as many of our nation's children are. Not that there is anything wrong with that. It must have been a horror movie come to life for poor Otto when he realized that the powers in the land he was visiting had a sick and perverted sense of power and of what is right and wrong. A child of well-off parents, living in suburbia and then studying at a selective university whose grounds are the stuff made for a scholar's dreams suddenly forced to endure hard labor and torture. What a nightmare! What a h___ on Earth!

Subjected to torture for hideous reasons! I could not have endured this, and I am certain this sensitive boy suffered mightily.

ValuSkr · ‎03-15-2014

According to the New York Times,

"If the Warmbiers are awarded compensatory damages, they can draw from the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund, established by Congress to pay out claims, with a cap of $20 million per person, or $35 million for a group of plaintiffs."

That's not quite $1 billion, but still a lot of money. Not sure how I feel about a government payout, if it happens. The family has to demonstrate to the court that Otto was a pawn in the confrontation between the US and North Korea.

persiflage · ‎02-16-2014

North Korea provided footage of an unidentifiable figure claiming it was Otto. Two months later when he made his confession/apology on state tv it is not known if he was pressured into making the statements from a script. Some of the details do not make sense making experts think these were not Otto's original words. The story provided as the motivation for the "prank" is not believable.

Propaganda is powerful.

RIP Otto Warmbier

Pearlee · ‎06-11-2011

Well good luck to them on collecting even a penny.

esmerelda · ‎03-10-2010

To what end? Money won’t bring him back, heal their hearts, teach NK anything.

Better to to spend their time warning young people what harm they can suffer when away from the protection of the US. Otto’s loss of his life might save others.

*********************
Keepin' it real.

Goldengate8361 · ‎01-27-2014

I have to wonder what is motivating them to do this. Surely they don’t actually think they’ll collect a single cent out of this! They should NOT receive money from the US from any victims fund!!! It’s a tragedy any way you look at it. They should do public service announcements about respecting (and sometimes fearing) the laws of the land when visiting other countries.

ms traditional · ‎03-09-2010

i understand the Warmbier family's move to return attention to authoritarian brutality. there are many regimes that practice same in today's world, and this subject deserves the disinfectant of sunlight. i know they feel it is an appropriate way to associate Otto with something good in the final analysis. they have endured more than they should have had to. i hope this brings them comfort as well as brings up the subject of many being held around the world who have been forgotten by the general public.

cherry · ‎03-09-2010

I think people should be strongly urged to go elsewhere, and presented with material ,documenting abuses. If they still decide to go ,there isn't much anyone can do. With freedom, comes responsiblity, to use it wisely

I doubt they will get a cent for their sufferings