Story 3 - when my kids were reading comic books, I had another parent ask me why I let them read that. I asked her, "Oh, what are your kids reading?" No answer, just a dirty look. Lo, these many years later, and I still believe that kids reading comic books is much better than kids who can't read at all. If you want them to learn to read, you have to provide something that they WANT to read.
As someone who teaches children how to read, I strongly agree. They need to have that personal motivation to work hard and practice and if a comic book is what gets them interested and engaged then age appropriate comics should be encouraged.
The Tourist Story. Yet another Clinically Psychotic Tourist. Hell I WANT to Travel the World someday but people like that put more level-headed Americans like Me under scrutiny by other Countries. It's getting harder for the "Don't Judge a Book by its Cover" Aspect to apply because of those types of people...