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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Well, I don't know if you are talking to the guy
who nearly lost his bike... but..... (and I would like to keep this
friendly.)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> I have felt bad for the guy over
the past week. I figure if you are stealing bikes, that things are not
going well. The perp is having a far worse week than me. I really
wish that he was doing better in his life and that the consequences
of theft would not be worth it for him. I would hope that
the system treat him in such a way that he wouldn't repeat the crime ever
again.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> I can try and answer your e-mail
too with compassion. The incredible part of the story is not what happens
to the perp, it is the contribution made by an innocent bystander who refused to
stand by. He took action in his empathy for a fellow biker. His
fellow biker may have it better overall than the perp, but the biker wasn't
breaking any laws. Please don't set up a standard in which we give up our
bikes for the needy when we NEED those bikes ourselves - or standards of
lawlessness.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> I was asking myself, 'why
does someone need a bike, when there are ways of finding food and housing with
the help of our social structure.' I was thinking of my own materialism
vs. his. I can't say I fully understand his situation (can you? have you
asked him?).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> If you were to ask what my
situation is beyond the story of last week...... When I say my bike is
sacred - I mean the following:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> The bike
belonged to my father, who died two years ago. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> It is a 35
year old frankenbike that my brother and I worked on.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> It is my
primary means of transportation because of convenience, joy, cost, and that
whole global warming thing.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Some were asking, "why would you
use such a means of protection for a 'sacred' bike - ie. cable locks aren't
enough." I have been reflecting on that one too. Locks are
expensive. I know that I have a lot of choices and ways of making money -
I just don't choose to make lots of money. I am living simply on very
little - so losing a lock or a bike has a big effect. It may force me to
re-think my career path. (again, at least I have a career
path)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> So last week, I nearly had to
scrape up 400-600 bucks to replace my ride. We don't know his story, but
the perp posted $5000 to stay out of jail for a few weeks. How did he do
that?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Despite the flame wars on this
list, I am really happy to know the bikers are watching out for each
other. Andrew did some incredible stuff last week. Please admire his
action and see the goodness of that.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Lee</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=gh3451@yahoo.com href="mailto:gh3451@yahoo.com">Paul Centro</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=list@bostoncriticalmass.org
href="mailto:list@bostoncriticalmass.org">list@bostoncriticalmass.org</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, September 28, 2007 10:29
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [*BCM*] Cyclist foils heist,
Boston Phoenix 9/28</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>It might have been interesting if someone had spoken to James Johnson,
the alleged perp, for his side of the story. While I do not know
his circumstances, let me suggest an alternative read for stories such as
this:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>-Drug addict in the throes of addiction needs money for a fix. John
Doe of Boston who has been unable to find steady employment due to arrests in
his youth for minor offenses finds himself in increasingly desperate
circumstances. What started out as recreational use of cocaine has
become a $50 a day methamphetamine addiction. "I'd like to kick, but I
cannot afford treatment and all of the subsidized slots are filled," says Mr.
Doe.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>"I'm really sorry about the bike, and you have to understand how
desperate I am, I'm looking at 2 years in jail due to prior convictions.
Running is the only choice I have right now."</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Is this so far fetched? I would argue that most of the property
crime in this city is perpetrated for just such reasons. Can we feel
good that this person was caught? What's to become of him? Jail at
40k+ a year with no rehab or job training at worst, unable to work because of
a CORI that will follow him for the rest of his life and vote
dis-enfranchisement at best is what it looks like to me. All this for a
bike? I see no justice here.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Make no mistake, we pay for folks to use drugs and crime is the method of
payment. Drug laws have a human cost and I think it's time for a little
empathy in place of punishment. I am disappointed that someone
involved with Critical Mass is so stoked at the result. If these
folks are unable to see beneath the surface of things, who is?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Peter McNeff,</DIV>
<DIV>Jamaica Plain </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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