Why My Hair is Dark Instead of Grey

No offspring.

Boy, is this kid ever in trouble with Mom and Dad.

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A 16-year-old from Florida who traveled to Iraq on his own without telling his parents was put on a flight home Friday, the U.S. Embassy said, while warning Americans of the dangers of undertaking similar journeys.

Farris Hassan, of Fort Lauderdale, had been under the care of the U.S. Embassy after being on his own in Iraq for several days. [SNIP]

The teenager, whose parents were born in Iraq but have lived in the United States for about 35 years, says he wanted to travel to Baghdad to better understand what Iraqis are living through.

"I thought I'd go the extra mile for that, or rather, a few thousand miles," he told The Associated Press.
Skipping a week of school, he left the country on Dec. 11, telling only two high school friends of his plans. His travels took him to Kuwait and Lebanon before he arrived in Iraq on Christmas Day.[SNIP]

Hassan does not speak Arabic and has no experience in war zones, but he wanted to find out what life was like there.

"He is very driven and he is very patriotic. He believes in democracy," his mother said.

More ‘stones’ than brains, but he appears to have a lot of the latter also. It was reported that some of the Iraqis were...nonplussed, shall we say, by hearing Farris' American English come out of his Iraqi-appearing face.

Someone give this kid a job to keep him out of trouble! I'm sure his mom and dad will thank you.

Read his essay regarding his reasons for going to Iraq.

(Thanks to Pajamas Media)

Comments

[teal marie]

Farris, hmm. Wonder if he commandeered a parade float and sang Danke Shoen with the Swiss misses.

[torchy]

LOL Miss marie, I have never seen Ferris Buellers Day Off, had to look it up. I was working on a reference for Farris and Hassans most excellent adventure, couldn't manage anything and now I won't. GMTA, but I concede to the greater.
Maybe he can get a job writing about the dangers of life in Iraq for the NYT or WaPo.

[Patrick Chester]

Yep. Sounds like one of those "grounded until thirty" situations.

[Yogimus]

Say what you will, but this kid had more testicular fortitude than our congress and media combined.

Screw punishment. Give junior an ROTC scholarship.

[triticale]

The evidence that he has brains is the fact that the trip was bankrolled with a portion of the money he received as his share of what his mother made investing in stocks he recommended. A couple years after his grounding expired he'll be making news again.

[Aaron]

A natural born journalist I'd say, somebody who wants to see it for themselves.

[Fausta]

Why My Hair is Dark Instead of Grey
Your title reminds me of a comment my friend (who's 80 & has 3 children) made when I told her my aunt died at age 106,
"Obviously, your aunt never married & never had children"!

[Maggie45]

What I love about his young man is that he wants to help the Iraqis, and understands that the TERRORISTS are NOT the Iraqis, unlike groups such as Code Pink. I think he's going to be one hell of an adult.

[Eric]

Farris reminds me of the old-school stories of teens lying their way into the military during the Civil War, World Wars, etc.. We need more of that ferocity of spirit and belief in our country.

Farris' story raises my hopes for the future of our country. This kid is one to watch.

[curious george]

I am a bit curious about how the logistics of all this worked...how he got the money and managed to get away without his parents having a clue. And, did his friends end up telling his parents where he went?? Or, did his parents get a call from the American Embassy on Christmas day?

[Don Surber]

LOL
In a headlin and two words you said more than all other commentators combined