I have read many emails about "security" in Buenos Aires, and everybody seems to believe it is an "extremely dangerous" place to live in. It is time we settle some things:
Don't be paranoid, be smart. I don't carry large amounts of money even here in NYC. I don't believe Buenos Aires is more different than NY in terms of security. I go around NY and Buenos Aires and nothing ever happened to me in both places, but I've seen many things happen in both places. Many people I know has been mugged here in NY or deceived by a con artist. Of course, if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time... when I first came to New York I did some research first, but I don't believe that because the city has "red areas" it is unsafe. It happens everywhere, but all of a sudden buenos aires seems to be the "crime meca" People begging in the streets?! what? there are no homeless in NY? Have you counted how many times are you asked for a Quarter in a day? 'cmon Did you know that the place that detent the higher rate of people killing other people are the United States? We don't have kids going into schools and shooting other kids in Buenos Aires and we don't have people pushing you under the subway. You can not get crack on every corner in the city in Buenos Aires. We don't declare unfair wars to other countries based on oil interests, so we don't have to expect or be afraid of a massive attack in Buenos Aires. We don't spend every day of our lives under "orange alert" Every city has it's pro's and it's cons. So go there, be smart, relate to people and if possible try to understand the culture (that is all around, not only at the milongas!!!), don't judge a culture on the parameters of your culture!!! (anthropology for dummies). Prejudice is a weapon and it has been used to justify the most vicious crimes in history. Many of them founded with CIA money, like the last military coups in all latin america!! Don't take me wrong, I live in the USA, and try to get in deep in its culture. I might be critical but not prejudice. Also (to add the nasty touch) if Buenos Aires is so unsafe why bother on going there? Stay home it seems to be pretty much safe. the pulpo www.thezvimigdal.com [email protected]
