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I was blackmailed and threatened by Police Cheif
DiGuardio, it was in the papers, I was forced to return a $5000 piece of
meteorite. I could have fought it but did not have the time as I was traveling
alot last year.
He demanded the stone several times, threatend to
file charges, then in the newspaper interview, he said he never did that. If he
had not done that, I would not have returned the stone.
Mike Farmer
To the people in Park Forest? Is that piece I
returned to Police Cheif DiGuardio on display in the town, or did he re-sale it.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, March 29, 2004 6:04
PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] 'Rites
& Wrong Cartoon (2), and Mike Farmer's Park Forest
En un mensaje con fecha 03/29/2004 4:56:01 PM
Mexico Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
escribe:
Such thefts did not occur in Park Forest and I resent the
implication that they did.
For those of us not
fortunate enough to have the resources to visit the fair town of Park Forest
Illinois and partake in the thrilling permitted hunting, this is interesting
to read about, considering I am always hearing about how dangerous Mexico is
to travel in and whether it's true or not, I don't much like hearing
it.
Without confronting the alledged racist content which is not my
place to opine on your culture, of what was alledged to be an innocent
cartoon, this got me thinking about politics in general. Is it true that
Mike Farmer was blackmailed in Park Forest by the Village Manager and forced
to give up something he honestly purchased in good faith? I don't find
any of this humorous anymore, as I assume that this Village Manager person
represents the interests of the Village of Park Forest as she uses the
official email of Park Forest. I really am nort interested in the
legality of all this, but just would like to make a point that the next time
someone from north of the Border tells me about Mexico, check to see if all
back home on the farm is as rosy as you think.
A little internet
browsing on Park Forest turns up an African-American guy who was stopped for a
traffic violation, denied his lawyer, then beaten and tortured by racist
police officers (said officers convicted of racism) and given the death
penalty for a murder he tried to deny but was hooded and nearly smothered by a
typewriter cover, and denied food and bathroom for many hours until forced to
sign a clearly coerced confession.
It also turns up another case of a
young woman unloading the groceries from her car who was then butchered to
death by a knife wielding 15 year old in Park Forest, who was not allowed a
(parental and) lawyer visit in accordance with Miranda
rights.
Interestingly, it also turns up a long essay by a person who
seems to be respectful, complaining about the lack of funding for public
school in Park Forest, as she complains that since the town of Park Forest was
founded it has gone downhill as its mall was basically vacated in favor of
other better situated places, leaving the town mall in unacceptable
shape. The writer patriotically points out that the town sold some
property to counteract the downward trend for a apparently fair $350,000 or
so, but then sent them their tax bill assessment of basically the same amount,
causing him to have to walk (sounds like Farmer's dilemma?). The
author? Janet Murchnik.
Finally in its population of about 24,000
people, crime statistics are available...two murders a year, 20 rapes a year,
20 robberies a year, all about constant, but burglary (up 21% to 155), larceny
(up 27% to 468) and assault (up 42% to 54) are very disturbing as they showed
dramatic increases. (2002 / 2001) .
I would like to congratulate Park
Forest for hiring two new police officers last week to combat this type of
problem. But if this is a safe town as the tone of the Village suggests,
and if Wichita Kansas is right up there with it....PF, a Pueblo of 24,000
souls ... that's smaller than most major university student bodies. That
is a very very dangerous place by international standards. and it is
considered safer than surrounding communities? (Actually, Olympia Fields
seems much more safe per the statistics, so I am not sure about
that).
Perhaps Mark will even consider taking down his cartoon, if he
were treated with respect instead of the aggressive overtures of guilty before
deliberation: as it is clear why PF is so sensitive to these issues, but in
this case I don't understand why this type of polarization must come to the
list. I do understand Mark's problem: he has been accused of something
that is considered reason to be removed from the IMCA ... so he is forced to
speak up as he feels he is innocent ... Why is he being walked into a
corner? What ever happened to respect and friendliness to get things
done? How wonderful the meteorite chose to make Park Forest
special. I hope the town can make the best of it. A lot of the
natives were probably pretty happy with the needed income they received from
the meteorite hunters, publicity, and indirect income.
Congratulations!
Saludos
Doug
Mexico
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