Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2000 06:20:19 -0800
Reply-To: Mark Drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mark Drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: Re: [Syncro] Head Lamps
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Bill Davidson wrote:
>
> Well don't believe me.... the author of People's Guide to Mexico (forgot his
> name) has been going for 30 years and he points out that they do sometimes
> drive without headlights on....
Bill, you first said that they did this often but now you cite a source
who says that they do it sometimes. Which is it? I have sometimes seen
Mexican cars driven with one or both headlights broken/dim/missing/badly
aimed. That is not the same as claiming that they often drive around
with them turned off. It sounds like you mischaracterized that part of
your source also.
> >
> > The class of people who commit crimes is the criminal class.
>
> Circular argument. Like saying the people who drink water are the thirsty
> ones.
True, so what.
>
> >The only
> > place I have ever had parts stolen from my VW vans was in Lake Tahoe,
> > California. That is hardly an area known for poverty and hunger.
>
> Mark.... You're a statistic of one.
>
Yes, so I suppose I was the only crime victim that week. That's not what
the cops told me though. They said some drug dealers had moved into the
area and that petty theft had gone way up. They did not have time to
take a report right then and it was only a couple of rear view mirrors.
> >Drug
> > and alcohol use is a better predictor of crime than is economic status,
> > at least in North America. Mexico is our neighbor and friend.
>
> Perhaps. But that doesn't negate my proposition that there is more crime
> committed by the hungry...
We could debate this one endlessly. I would accept that more food is
stolen by the hungry. Car parts I would dispute.
>
> But back to the subject. And the subject was Mexico and the FACT that things
> do get ripped off of vehicles... Hey, don't believe me... read any of the 50
> or so travel guides... I don't think you'll find any of them recommending
> that you leave your van parked on the street in Mexico city....
The original post was about driving through the country of Mexico. It
was not about where to leave your van parked for a week. In any case, it
shows ignorance to treat all of Mexico City as a crime infested slum.
There are parts where the van would be safe for a week and parts where
it would not be safe for 5 minutes. Same as L.A. or any other big city
in my experience but with perhaps more areas of the latter.
>
> >Please
> > don't be an ugly American.
>
> Mark,
> Your condesention is unwarranted. You have no idea what my beliefs are about
> the people of Mexico or the people of any other country for that matter...
By you numerous remarks I would say that you believe most Mexicans to be
poor hungry thieves. I believe differently.
>
> Leave you van on the street in Mexico City for a week... perhaps you can
> prove my advice to be wrong.
>
> Bill
Again, the topic was about driving through a vast and varied country at
night. You can certainly travel in a van for a week in Mexico without
experiencing any theft of parts. Leaving it parked unattended for a week
is another matter and no one suggested it but you.
Mark
