Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Bend bicycle rider killed by driver of silver Mercedes in hit and run accident.

When I first heard this, I thought it was like some sick and twisted metaphor for Bend. To cap it off, the driver is a 22 year old from California, with a father who helps him cover up the crime.

About 12 years ago, when we still had our Mountain View Mall store, my wife had an incident with a 10 year old kid who spit his gum out onto our carpet. When she asked him to pick it up, he ignored her. When Linda told the father, he looked at her and said, "Why should he?"

12 years later, a 22 year old kills an bike rider, and the father's impulse is to burn the Mercedes and try to claim the insurance.

Now if this was a novel, it would be the same father and son. And in a sense, it is -- the same disregard for other people.

And Bend is left mangled and dismembered in their path. I know this is really reaching, and I apologize if it seems inappropriate, but man -- it really does seem like there is an evil karmic energy in the world this week.

That, after the incident in Virginia, actually left me depressed this morning. I think I'm going to have to stay away from the news for a few days.

But -- I absolutely think it is the wrong thing to do to show pictures and video's of the Virginia killer. In my gut, I think its a huge mistake. Let him be an anonymous nut. The media has enough sense not to show extreme acts of violence, why can't they use the same kind of common sense when it comes to these idiots? Don't feed the next sicko.

19 comments:

Keeneye said...

I thought the same thing. Why... WHY post his violent manifesto? His posed photos?

The spotlight should not shine on these types of people.... it will only end up enticing others to have the spotlight upon them, too.

Sad, sad times.

Bend Economy Man said...

I thought the same thing that: that the Californian hit-and-run killers somehow epitomize what's happening here.

Over the last 10 years ago we have seen these waves of Californians with their flashy styles, nice cars, confident (and sometimes condescending) attitudes. We built an economy based on it. Some people said "keep the Californians out" but more said "we need to attract more Californians here." And the Californians themselves were like these visiting dignitaries, scouting houses in our neighborhoods in their fancy cars, rolling down Westside streets in the summertime with windows up and A/C on (remember the summer of 2005?).

A speeding, late-model silver Mercedes driven by a young Southern Californian mowed down a Bend bicyclist, decapitating and dismembering her, then sped away. When the frightened young Southern Californian brought the damaged car back to his father, the father and son decided to take the car into the woods, set it on fire and report it stolen. At the least, this incident shows that the people in at least some of those fancy cars with California plates are true monsters. The migration from California has brought economic prosperity, true, but it has also brought an evil, a disregard for human life and anything not directly resulting in increased status and pleasure, that Bend never saw before.

It's a devil's bargain this town has made.

IHateToBurstYourBubble said...

Ditto. It's hard to figure out WHO is more vile, NBC, ABC, et al or people for their morbid curiosity for wanting to see it. DOES anyone want to see it? Airing this crap reminds me of Roger Bannister breaking the 4 minute mile of May 4, 1956 (I was not alive at that time). Until that time, it was viewed as "impossible", now it is a standard for all middle distance runners. Showing this crap on TV just emboldens others, and makes them KNOW that they too can go out in a blaze of "glory". Pathetic.

I'm also ready to wretch from hearing such MORONIC phrases as "We can let the healing begin." Who comes up with this crap!

And I've been raging against scumbags forever, mostly of the Cali variety. And as BEM can attest to, some almost seem inhuman in their rude indifference. I saw more than one post on his original blog where some Cali-skank took enormous pleasure in destroying everything in their path. The whole World is moving in this direction, but Cali scumbags are the standard bearers. This is exactly what I was trying to escape by coming to Bend, and it is just infuriating to come to a place to hopefully live amongst "normals", only to have it invaded by the biggest assholes on the planet.

And I've seen the result of this sort of all encompassing selfishness. That biker getting splattered all over, and the subsequent coverup say it all. All others are inconsequential peons, I AM THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS, is their attitude. It is almost borderline criminal the rude indifference and contempt for human life that some people have. In this case it IS criminal. When did this happen to this country? Why?

I've been known to go on the occasional bender, and this is at its root. I can tolerate outrageous home prices. I can tolerate assholes who let their dog shit on the sidewalk or the park, I can tolerate people abandoning their shopping carts in lanes of traffic, I can tolerate even being cutoff in traffic, and I can tolerate littering. But what I loathe is peoples malevolent attitude, that it is their RIGHT to imperil my life and my families, so they can shave 1/2 second off their commute, that if they KILL me or others they have every right to cover it up and do all in their power to escape punishment. This all-encompassing selfishness is the root of all evil. And it's come to Bend and is wrecking it. It's really wrecking this country. Is there anywhere left where people are just decent?

Just think about that poor woman. She is dead, and the scumbags who did it thought NOTHING about killing her. Their own welfare trumps ALL. God, I want to puke.
[Rant Over... for now]

BEM: "sometimes condescending"? Man, you must know the good ones. I can tolerate "sometimes". I don't know a single one that isn't a full time asshole jerk. Not one.

RDC said...

Keep in mind that this is not the first hit and run of a bicyclist that Bend has experienced. The list of those committing the acts of hit and run has included localists as well as outsiders. Yet, I find it interesting that one of the comments jumps immediately to the all evils are caused by people from California view.

If one goes through the list of hideous incidents over the past few years such as the robbery, shooting of pets, and burning of a house last year, the recent break in of the house of the family whose son who had just broken his neck snowboarding, etc. You will find that many if not most of those were committed by "locals" and not just people from California.

Duncan McGeary said...

rdc.

I know. I just thought it was such a perfect METAPHOR.

I thought it was a pretty good metaphor early in the day when all I knew was that it was a late-model silver Mercedes.

But I just had to write my blog when I found the Mercedes had California license plates.

Pearl2Lotus said...

Wow, BEM. What a sweeping generalization:

"At the least, this incident shows that the people in at least some of those fancy cars with California plates are true monsters. The migration from California has brought economic prosperity, true, but it has also brought an evil, a disregard for human life and anything not directly resulting in increased status and pleasure, that Bend never saw before."

And Bubble Burster, too. "I don't know a single one that isn't a full time asshole jerk. Not one."

Switch Californians for Mexicans or another ethnic group and you’d be hung out to dry. You guys are a little frightening.

I find these over-the-top statements to be about as reprehensible as the over-the-top news coverage of what’s going on at Virginia Tech. It certainly catches the attention, just like the flashing fonts and graphics on Fox News and CNN.

I, too, am frustrated by what seems to be growth for growth’s sake in Bend. So much of what you say I can agree with … people too lazy to return their shopping carts, people who don’t pickup after their dogs, the litter … all of these things drive me crazy. But are YOU the one to decide who gets to live in Bend and who doesn’t? Who controls that gate? I see plenty of people on a daily basis driving with one ear to the phone and one eye on the vanity mirror, and man would I like to have them drive away for good, regardless of whether they were born in Bend or born in California. But who made me the gatekeeper on immigration? I get to live here, but no one else can? Is there a timeframe in which someone is acceptable to your community? If I moved to Oregon from Washington in 1991, am I grandfathered in? And the “disregard for human life” … any stats on crimes committed in the county and who did the crimes? Native Oregonians? Californians? Washingtonians?

I just really dislike blanket statements with a complete absence of facts. You want a homogeneous culture? One in which all inhabitants were born in the same place? Because that’s the logical progression of your statement. And if that’s what you’re going for, then there are some nice white robes with white pointy hoods out there for you.

Duncan McGeary said...

I think that people aren't as polite, aren't as community minded, etc. as they used to be. A lot of the stereotypes seems to me to be true.

However, the locals bought into the new lifestyle awfully fast.

And while locals may have been more polite and casual in the old days, they were also more redneck, cheap, and conservative.

Really, you think Bend is conservative now....

No school budget ever passed when I was a kid without getting stripped to the bones. No minorities whatsoever, and the few that ventured here were made to feel unwelcome. A local cliche that pretty much ran things.

So....good and bad, with the new and the old.

Pearl2Lotus said...

Duncan, I agree, but I think the “stereotypes” are more applicable to our modern culture of consumerism and “Me” than it is to any one state in the union. We are a nation of people out to fulfill our desires and justify the ways in which we get there; even the large churches preach about monetary success being a divine right.

I am saddened by it, but I find it hard to pinpoint one region that is to blame.

In all honesty, it all makes me want to go vegan and join a small commune somewhere.

IHateToBurstYourBubble said...

"I just really dislike blanket statements with a complete absence of facts."

You don't get out much.

And my post was more about the over-the-top selfishness of this country in general. It seems to increase every year. And it's to the point where decent people are endangered (in traffic) or inconvenienced beyond belief (there is garbage everywhere, at my kids school parent ROUTINELY park illegally such that NO ONE can escape the parking lot, and giant blind spots are created that endanger every kid out there) such that this town is destroyed, this country is being destroyed. At it's root is selfishness. And I meet more CA types who are so blind to their own incredible selfishness it boggles my mind.

Californians (and many others nowdays) by and large adhere to one rule: You are either a selfish pig wrecking the lives of others without regard for their welfare, or you are one of the crushed masses. I usually only have to talk to a CA type for a few seconds to realize where they came from. Selfishness imbues every single word, every idea.

Switch Californians for Mexicans or another ethnic group and you’d be hung out to dry. You guys are a little frightening.

Interesting you should say this. Do you assume I'm white? And male? What if I were black or Mexican? THIS is the Ultimate Racism. Don Imus was "hung out to dry" SOLEY because he is white. SOLEY. Black people get away with such statements 1,000X/day. Imus' statement WAS NOT even strictly racially based. "Nappy headed"? What the hell is that? Hoes? But by God, every girl on that team and especially the vile coach made it out that they were practically raped. Unbelievable. Sticks and stones you morons.

We are practically REWARDING a culture of hatred & racism in this country. Imus is a big fat nobody. But BECAUSE HE IS WHITE, he is hunted down and KILLED. And we are all supposed to stand up and cheer. We are institutionalizing bigotry.

If that Virginia Tech murderer was Black, you can bet your ass Jesse Jackson would have proclaimed him a victim of white oppression. He'd be OJ II, a freakin hero.

What is the matter with America? We are creating & cheering the witch hunts on each other by psychotic racists.

You & I agree on one thing: I also want to join a commune to get away from these psychopathic idiots.

Pearl2Lotus said...

No, I don’t get out much anymore … can’t much afford to in this town. But I do have choices. I can stay here, bitch about it constantly, and grow very angry. I can move and find a new town. I can join that commune. Or I can stay here are deal with it and try not to let the assholes---wherever they come from---get my blood pressure up.

For now, option 4 is what I’m going with. But option 3 is always on the table.

Bend Economy Man said...

Pearl,

I guess I'm trying to debunk the myth that every time you see a fancy car with Californian plates, it's a well-heeled, trendsetting Baby Boomer here to overpay for our knicknacks and McMansions. It could well be a person who'd just as soon smash you to pieces with his car, then drive off for some early-morning arson and attempted insurance fraud.

Could it have been a lifelong Bendite in a crappy little pickup who did this thing? Possibly. But it wasn't. And you can't deny that the symbolism is very powerful.

See, 150 years ago or so, there were two paths (among others) that a person heading West could take. One branch led north to Oregon, where plenty of fertile land awaited those with the patience and willingness to work it. One led south to California, with the promise of gold and quick riches - but only if you were willing to defend your claim and your fortune against the highwaymen and con artists that flourished there.

Then in the 1930s, in the days of the Dust Bowl, thousands, maybe millions of Okies and Arkies, forced off their land by drought and poverty, found themselves in California. Some starved; many others endured humiliation and ridicule. The survivors and their descendants, having struggled and fought to gain a foothold in California, are now some of the most powerful people in Orange County and the Central Valley.

California has always been a place of competition, triumph, defeat, riches, poverty, windfalls and hard luck. And, well, Oregon's just kinda always been sitting up there to the north the whole time.

But now, like flim-flam men have done since time immemorial, these folks have come in here and told us to picture hotels over there, housing developments over here, a waterslide up there, a Ferris wheel to the left, a golf course to the right, and boy, then you just sit back and watch people fight to give you money, because you got a hell of a place on your hands here, a real paradise. Gosh, you'd have to be crazy not to want to live here.

I don't know where this ramble's going. But the tragedy of the silver Mercedes, to me, seems a fitting capper to this boom we've had here. An End of Innocence, a Lifting of the Fog, an Unmasking. Maybe these folks who've been impressing us with their fast talk and flashy cars aren't exactly who they say they are, and maybe the gifts they bring are gold-plated, not 24-carat.

Bend Economy Man said...

"fitting capper" sounded glib and was a poor choice of words. I meant that it's almost like the moral of a fable we've all taken part in. Obviously this is a huge tragedy for everyone involved, and their families, and their friends, and for us. Anyway, I don't think I have any more to say about it. For whatever reason it's made me angry, and disappointed, and very sad for all of us. I hope that no matter where we're all from we can work to make our community a safe and caring place.

Meany-Mean said...

There are a lot of people coming up here from California with completely different ideals and standards then the people who have lived here all their life. I'm not saying a born and raised local would not have done the same thing, but it's a fact when you look around. The Californians are turning Bend into their own little version of Los Angeles. Of course it's a simmered down version of LA, but how long until it's exactly the same. Then they'll find a new city, to move to and corrupt...and then one day, Oregon will be no better than California. It's sad for the people who love Oregon for all the reasons they hate California...and it's being ruined everyday to the point of no return.

Pearl2Lotus said...

BEM, you’re right … there is powerful symbolism there. Look, here’s the thing. I think we agree in that we’re concerned (sometimes frightened) about the direction in which this town is headed. But for me personally, I just don’t think it’s okay to lump one group of people and make such a blanket statement. Unlike Bubble, I’ve somehow managed to meet some kind and thoughtful Californians. I’ve met plenty of native Oregonians who I could do without. And I’ve met other Californians that make me dig my fingernails into my palms. What am I trying to say? I dunno. I just don’t think that spouting hatred toward a general group is going to get us anywhere. I refuse to write anyone off because of where they came from. I don’t want people judging me because I drive an old truck; and I don’t think it’d be fair for me to judge someone else because they drive a new BMW (or whatever).

I leave it at that. Time to pay attention to my job for the rest of the day. Duncan, way to get everyone going with this post!

IHateToBurstYourBubble said...

Or I can stay here are deal with it and try not to let the assholes---wherever they come from---get my blood pressure up.

I guess that's what I'm saying... these are assholes who have NO PROBLEM killing others if it means the slightest gain for themselves. they cut you off in traffic. They litter (I know it's not lethal, but it pisses me off).

I'm saying this: If EVERYONE acted in the same sort of selfish manner that many people do, CA and non-CA alike, the World would literally fall apart. We'd be dying left and right. We'd be overrun with litter.

Your passive, "Let it be" attitude allows it to continue. Don't let "them" get comfortable. They will kill you, and separate your head from your body, and it won't bother them a bit. GHWB:

THIS


WILL


NOT

STAND!

Plus we get WONDERFUL stories like this:

Central Oregon's retail wishes and dining dreams
We asked which stores and eateries you want. Here's what you said ...


What sort of lunatic bases their idea of what lifes all about based on RETAIL STORES? Answer: Californian Whackos. Lifetime Benders DID NOT sanction this story. This is PSYCHOTIC. Read the story... it's almost ALL CA retail & restaurants.

Brent said...

These comments both encourage and concern me.

This was a blog chapter on a sick twisted person who had no respect for a human life and his father was just as bad trying to cover up his evil actions.
Some folks who commented have it right, it’s a social problem not unique to Californians, but everyone.

Just as much as Oregon has been flooded by Californians, Californian have been flooded by others from all over the world.

There truly very few "native Californians" just as there will be fewer and fewer native Oregonians.

If you go into any major city in California you will find ex texans, new yorkers, mexican, indians, and all other walks of nature.
Those Californians that lived in the coasts, mountains, and farmlands and enjoyed private quite life's 50 years ago had to put up with others coming in and building up their cities just as Bend is experiencing now. If you went to LA 50 years ago you would have seen a very different place than it is today, and the same with just about every other city.
What is going to make the difference is if the people make this town a place where respect and consideration of others is taught and shared to our children rather than parking them at home in front of the TV and complaining that they don’t have a chance because the Californians are moving in and making it expensive.

Educate yourselves, invest in yourself and your community and you will reap the rewards.


Now with that said, I really think the news should stop showing this mass murders video on the news all together, it does not have anything to do with censorship. I has to do with respect for the innocent families and children sitting at home watching this twisted glorification that this guy knew he would get by sending in his videos and pictures. The news acted out of respect for Steve Irwin when he died, no one cried censorship cause they didn’t get to see the discovery channels video of it... Why would you want to see perversion at this level anyway? Not everyone learns from this type of message.. Those who might have mental issues of their own might view this in a much different way that you and I who know this person was mentally sick.. Why feed the fire.



Off the soap box back into my hole.

IHateToBurstYourBubble said...

Educate yourselves, invest in yourself and your community and you will reap the rewards.

Hallelujah brother!

Unfortunately, we have majorly under-invested in this town, and doubled up on 34 red, and spun the wheel. Could we win? maybe, but I would never make such a bet.

Flicka said...

Are ALL assholes 'californians'??

I moved to Oregon in the 60's, I haven't been back for forty year, but I remember it well.

Everyone in hurry, self important, they even have a word for a 'stop-sign' its called a california stop, where you slow down to about 25mph, near a school before you go through the intersection. If you have the audacity to acutally stop the folks behind you honk their horn.

When I moved to Orygun there were signs that said, visit but don't stay.

Our fore-fathers were smart ol bastards, they weren't politically correct. They knew that californians were a fester, a canker sore, a cancer of the worst kind. They're in bend and they're breeding.

The silver mercedes is simply a product spawn of his/her parents, they can be found near Drake Park everyday drugged out while their parents whore at the local RE or MTG shop.

Bend is a Gold Rush town Just like the 1849's, trouble is the Gold is Gone, and its going to take awhile for the carpet baggers to figure this one out.

There is NOTHING wrong with calling a Californian what he/she is, its an Orygun Tradition.

Oregonians are like Hobbits we're gentle folk and NOT in a hurry, almost ALL calfornians are Goblins.

The politically correct crowd in Bend may say its NOT PC to tell the truth, but the truth is that MOST folks from CA are Goblins, and they Spawn more Goblins.

givepeaceachance said...

The californicators are a hostile, low consciousness bunch. I have seen increasing road rage, unrestrained anger and utter selfishness. Tonight, some calif. terrorist in a dark sedan with red and white plates (lic# 078....3)turned left from Pinebrook onto Brookswood and drove for a few hundred yards on the wrong side of the street until they could get past the median. They sped crazily down Brookswood and careened onto Greatwood Loop. The whole time they had their middle fingers waving out the windows. They were angry at the world. The car in front of them hadn't turned fast enough...hand't taken a stupid risk. So where were they going at 70mph in a residential neighborhood? To buy some Meth? To a barbecue? To nowhere? Someone knows these people. They might be your neighbors. They might be your relative. Be very afraid. They could have killed any child, animal, bicyclist, innocent who wandered into their path. They wouldn't have cared if they did. We have got to ostracize people like this. Send them packing back to where they belong.