[possible spam][dsn_klr650] klr rider missing in mexico

[Bogdan Swider]

I stand by what I wrote except for the misspelled word !! Bogdan From: Mark Harfenist Reply-To: Mark Harfenist Date: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 1:28 PM To: Bogdan Swider , "DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Subject: [Possible SPAM]Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: KLR rider missing in Mexico I didn't say any of that.  Seriously.  I didn't say it's not more dangerous than it used to be.  I didn't say your friend shouldn't leave his truck in El Paso if he wants.  I didn't say avoiding places in the States is "no different" from avoiding harm in another country.  I didn't "imply" that anything anyone might do can "guaranty [sic]" safety.  Hell, I didn't even say anything about whether anyone ought to feel "safer" if carrying a gun; I said that it's silly to view this as "the problem," which is what the previous poster had stated.    I'm happy to read alternate points of view--particularly from people with direct experience.  If you'd rather not respond to what I actually wrote, that's your privilege. But if you're going to read all sorts of extraneous stuff into what I say, I guess we're all wasting our time here.   Safe journeys all! Mark  [b]From:[/b] Bogdan Swider [b]To:[/b] Mark Harfenist ; "DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> [b]Sent:[/b] Tuesday, February 25, 2014 12:15 PM [b]Subject:[/b] Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: KLR rider missing in Mexico I guess I'm just "silly". I've traveled by motorcycle from Colorado to Central America 3 times. I've ridden into Mexico - Guanajuato, Veracruz etc. - a number of times in addition. I've taken groups of students for a month long stay in Baja where we camped in various places ..I could go on. Oh yeah .I speak Spanish. FWIW ..I grew up in a dangerous neighborhood in Chicago where I was robbed at gunpoint in front of my house. Therefore . when I was robbed at gunpoint in Sonora, it wasn't the first time. These mis-adventures didn't cause me to leave my part of Chicago or keep me from returning to Mexico.    I strongly object to the tone of the post below and what conclusions may be taken from it.   Sorry it is more dangerous south of the Rio Grande/Bravo then it used to be. One example of many I know : An old friend is from a village in the center of Chihuahua. He used to drive From Colorado Springs to there; now, because of lawlessness,  he leaves his truck in El Paso and takes a bus the rest of the way. Would I motorcycle into/through Mexico again ? Yes, carefully, if I had a reason. However, saying that avoiding dangerous areas in the US is no different than avoiding harm in a foreign country is not true. Also implying  that by avoiding states with dangerous reputations,  staying alert and culturally aware you will guaranty safety is not true.  I've never carried  firearms in Mexico but I don't know what the gratuitous comment on feeling safer if one could, legally,  being " even sillier " is based on. I'm writing because I'm afraid inexperienced people  will get a wrong impression. Bogdan

From: Mark Harfenist Reply-To: Mark Harfenist Date: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 9:42 AM To: "DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: KLR rider missing in Mexico

  To say that Mexico is unsafe and no one should go there is just silly, akin to saying that the USA is unsafe because you saw school, movie theater or military base shootings on the news.  To say that "the problem" is that you can't carry firearms there is even sillier.   Thousands of riders from the USA and all over the world ride in Mexico every year without incident.  I've been one of them, for months at a time. This particular rider was on his own in a famously strife-ridden area, and by all indications was way over his head there.  It would be fair to say that riders shouldn't blunder around blindly in the parts of Michoac n or Guererro where narcotraficantes are currently battling it out with both federal (military) authorities and unofficial (local militia and vigilante) groups .and that if doing so one shouldn't accept "military escorts" of unknown and unknowable provenance. It would also be fair to say that when riding internationally riders should stay alert and bear in mind that language and cultural issues often prevent them from getting accurate reads on whatever situations might arise.   For what it's worth, I liked riding in Venezuela, too--a wonderful, friendly, beautiful and fascinating place.   enjoy, Mark  Mon Feb 24, 2014 12:05 pm (PST) . Posted by: robert@...?subject=Re%3A%20KLR%20rider%20missing%20in%20Mexico >Problem is, you can't carry firearms in Mexico, especially if you are  >not a Mexican citizen. And all the bad guys are armed. >Best to stay away unless in a tourist zone, and even then, it's iffy. #ygrps-yiv-1897945650 #ygrps-yiv-1897945650yiv4747874257 #ygrps-yiv-1897945650yiv4747874257 -- #ygrps-yiv-1897945650yiv4747874257ygrp-mkp { border:1px solid #d8d8d8;font-family:Arial;margin:10px 0;padding:0 10px;} #ygrps-yiv-1897945650 #ygrps-yiv-1897945650yiv4747874257 #ygrps-yiv-1897945650yiv4747874257ygrp-mkp hr { border:1px solid #d8d8d8;} #ygrps-yiv-1897945650 #ygrps-yiv-1897945650yiv4747874257 #ygrps-yiv-1897945650yiv4747874257ygrp-mkp #ygrps-yiv-1897945650yiv4747874257hd { color:#628c2a;font-size:85%;font-weight:700;line-height:122%;margin:10px 0;} #ygrps-yiv-1897945650 #ygrps-yiv-1897945650yiv4747874257 #ygrps-yiv-1897945650yiv4747874257ygrp-mkp #ygrps-yiv-1897945650yiv4747874257ads { margin-bottom:10px;} #ygrps-yiv-1897945650 #ygrps-yiv-1897945650yiv4747874257 #ygrps-yiv-1897945650yiv4747874257ygrp-mkp .ygrps-yiv-1897945650yiv4747874257ad { padding:0 0;} #ygrps-yiv-1897945650 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[sh8knj8kster]

responding to what Criswell said- "You have to have your danger antennae out anywhere you go." Ain't that the truth!  Last time I felt threatened was just outside of Naples Fla. heading towards the Everglades.  I stopped at a gas station right out of town on 41 to fuel up my bike before crossing the Everglades as the next place for gas was the four corners, in Dade County (Redlands).  This was better than 15 years ago as I was living in the lower Fla. Keys then.  I was visiting Mom in Naples and on my way home late at night as I wanton to do.  I love travelling at night Anyways, I had a Moto Guzzi then, I was the only one at this filling station.  A group of three kids maybe late teens pulls up like they were getting gas but they were checking me and my bike out asking the usual questions like what kind of bike is it, but I noticed they were circling me and I felt that imminent danger so I maneuvered myself so I never had my back to anyone of them.  They in turn knew I was onto them so they left w/o further incident, probably to look for an easier mark  Some years prior, in early 89', I remember the date as I just left a job and had 2 weeks vacation coming.  I put in for the vacation before giving notice so I was sure to get my paid vacation=:-)  One of the two weeks we spent splitting our time between Merida and Cozumel.  While in Merida one night, walking to our hotel from dinner, I decided we should walk off the main drag to check out the neighborhood.  Not a good move.  One short block off the main drag we noticed someone following us moved from the other side of the street to our side.  We quickened our pace and got back on the main drag and that was the end of that I could go back even further, like the mid sixties when I was about 10 or so.  I was with my parents in Belle River Ontario.  We sailed there from the Detroit river on some friend's of my parents sloop, with their family, one of which was a girl about my age and we were walking into town...just crossed the railroad tracks with her in tow when I spotted some older boys and they were heading towards us.  I could tell they were up to no good as they looked menacing to me anyways so I grabbed Jodie's arm and told her to run with me.  We got out of there into a safer part of town, w/o any trouble yes you need to be aware of your surroundings, when home or abroad   Best, Jake Reddick Fla.