As for the earlier discusssion about parenting... My take on it is this. I think it's natural to say you would or wouldn't do something, and probably, a lot of the time, you might or might not, in fact, based on your own principals and values, experiences, etc. I think, on some level, we all do that. But then there are a lot of things that happen during the parenting process that change your thinking, as well.
Because I think you realize, at some point, as your kids are growing, that your whole purpose in being a parent is to prepare your children to become independent. It starts when your kids are little and you teach them basic things about manners, safety, how to read, how to dress, then later, how to succeed in school, how to hold a job, how to handle money, how to drive, and all those things. We do this all the way through high school.
But something happens when it comes time for them to graduate from HS and move on to college. You're at a different mindset because it's time for them to leave the nest. That's the time when it all comes together - you've prepared them for independence, and now it's a go; soon, they'll be on their own. There are many, many things that are uncomfortable during this process, but we still have to move forward. We all laugh about parents sitting up worrying waiting for our kids to come home, but that's the reality. We have to let them go at some point, we can't keep them sheltered forever, even if we'd like to. Although there is some sense of joy you get as a parent seeing your kid grow up and spread their wings. It's kind of bittersweet.
Anyway, Natalee had graduated HS and was headed to college in the fall that year. She wasn't going with just one or two other girls, she was going with a huge group of people! One hundred and twenty four other parents all said ok, too, not just the Holloways. I trust that the information they all had was that it was going to be a good, safe trip. I mean, I sit here and think to myself, would I have liked the idea of my DD going on a trip like that? Well, yes and no. I imagine I'd be sitting at home a bit worried about the flight (cause that's me) and about things like accidents and drowning (cause that's me), but I'd also be happy about how much fun she'd be having as well and how well she was growing up. I don't think I'd ever dream that something like what happened, would happen. I know I would have conversations about drinking and about hook ups (although I'd probably imagine that happening more within the group than with strangers from the island), and I'd sincerely hope, and probably believe, that my DD would take my advice. But I'd also know that there are never any guarantees. What I can't imagine is saying No to such a trip if that was what my DD really wanted to do, with this large group of people she/we knew, just because I was worried about her safety. A parent always worries about safety, even on a day to day basis. But it doesn't mean we stop them from living their lives.