YITZCHOK2: There seems to be a lot you’re certain of that most people don’t seem to be in the least. If you’re so sure that other people are against YOF because they’re co-ed, maybe that says something about you, because I don’t think that that’s a natural mindset to have.
I was operating under the assumption (being dan lekaf zechus) that the whole Lakewood thing was legal. If it isn’t then I can’t defend it.
I repeat- if Lakewood is receiving the money legally, then to whom must they apologize? The taxpayers? It is the government that decides where money goes- let them apologize.
In this case, though, the kids directly negatively impacted specific people (the other passengers, the flight attendants, etc). It is menschlichkeit to apologize for the frustration.
As to why the askanim didn’t mobilize everyone to help them- hey, maybe you’re right. I’m choosing to be dan them lekaf zechus and assume that by the time they heard about the story, the kids were well on their way- of course, also, they may not have wanted help for all I know. I really haven’t got any idea, and it’s a moot point, because they managed. It’s all your mindset- if you want to be so judgmental, feel free, but you’re not benefitting anyone.
I assure you, like I said, if anyone from any of the “frummest of the frum” were to do the same thing as these kids did, I would have exactly the same reaction- unlike you, I can’t answer for anybody else.
Bottom line: you make way too many assumptions (and, being a girl, I have no idea if you can daven at the amud without a hat- though I assume that if a person doesn’t own one they’d either lend him one or just forget about it- I have a very nice shul that cares more about internal veahavta lareiacha kamocha more than it cares about external clothing).