> 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.

Mark,
It strikes me that your are just into arguing at this point. Actually, I
don't remember the exact wording so I was softening my paraphrase of the
information from People's Guide to Mexico. But I am sure the exact words are
stronger than sometimes.

> > > 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.

Exactly my point.... So what. Why did you bother with this useless
information to support your point.

> We could debate this one endlessly. I would accept that more food is
> stolen by the hungry. Car parts I would dispute.

No. I don't imagine car parts can be turned into food now can they.

> > 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.

Not exactly. The original post was about head lamps (look at your own
subject line above)... and I offered an opinion about bumper mounted
headlights being vulnerable to theft.

It
> was not about where to leave your van parked for a week.

True. But it was you (and others) who took the discussion to a comparison
between crime in Mexico and the U.S.... so I only offered this experiment as
a way for you to prove your point.

In any case, it
> shows ignorance to treat all of Mexico City as a crime infested slum.

But I have never said that.... those are words you are tying to put into my
mouth.
So it is you who are ignorant of what it was I said. You have been takeing
my words out of context and reading things into them that are not there. If
you want to know what a person really thinks why don't you just ask them?
Wouldn't that be much simpler that attaching someone with your assumptions
about what they think? But then I think you just want to argue... your
really are not interested in what I think.

> 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.

You are wrong again. Obviously the bone you are so hungry to chew is more
important than finding out what I truly belive... which really makes no
difference to the original thread anyway.

Bill