From: Rand Nicholson writserv at nbnet.nb.ca> on 2003.02.06 at 16:03:24(9936)
Hello All:
The retrieval of the stolen cycads by the Quail Botanical Gardens in
Encinitas, CA and the San Diego Sheriff's Department Officers is
great news: My best hopes that the plants do recover from the
experience and continue to be healthy and thrive!
I had wondered (and feared) that these plants, or some of them,
might not end up "in a
ditch along the road". The fortunate thing is that someone had either
the conscience, or the fear of consequences, to inform the Gardens of
their liberation site. Although the theft was indeed a dastardly deed
at least one of the individuals involved must have had some
appreciation of the intrinsic _value_ of these rare specimens as
opposed to the common price in guilders they may have obtained
through illicit trade.
To me, this begs the question: If so, then why steal them in the
first place knowing the risk to the well being of cycads this action
would entail? Greed? Covetousness? Surely such a deed must have had
some forethought and planning and not have been done on impulse.
On the other hand, if the return of these plants was simply an
attempt to mitigate any consequences following the theft (and
possible apprehension of the perpetrators), then the whole affair is
sadder still.
I have worked in administration in a "Correctional Institute", been
regularly down in population and am overly familiar with the mindset
and attitude of people who think that taking something that is not
theirs to take is just another piece of work. Perhaps this is
whimsical of me and it has no bearing on the events, certainly does
not change a whit what has been so wrongfully done, but I would like
to think that at least one of the thieves (and thieves they are, all)
had a concern higher than his own butt.
Again, heart-felt congratulations to all of Quail and Julian Duval
for this reversal of fortunes and thanks to Susan for keeping us
updated on this List.
Kind Regards,
Rand
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