23 Aug, 2010 Drugs And Violence
It is with more than a little regret that I now get on this plane to head back to London, reason being that I enjoyed Brazil so much. A snapshot impression for you, – and it is only a snapshot as obviously we get little more than fleeting glimpses of places that we visit.
While the various societies in UK/Europe/America are assuredly becoming flat out tired due to myriad circumstances, Brazil on the contrary feels like a young upstart. It has its problems for sure, and the poverty as well as the violence that almost visited us when we were in Rio symbolizes some of that. Nevertheless the country seems to be brimming with an energy and confidence re its future destiny, and come on now, how many other countries in the world can we say that about right now?
As for violence, well where in the world are you safe from that? My hometown of Glasgow has one of the highest murder rates per capita in the world and if that is not reason enough for its citizens to feel depressed then what is? Undoubtedly relating to that sad and shameful reputation, United Nations just last week released figures that listed Scotland as being sixth in a list of two hundred countries suffering the most from wide scale drug abuse within their populations. This is truly tragic stuff to read about, never mind have to deal with on your doorstep on a daily basis. Quite simply, it breaks my heart!
Given those stats, imagine how difficult it is not to smile wrly when people on discovering that I was heading for Brazil would warn me to be very careful in that “dangerous place.” Or similarly the irony when some on discovering how much I like to spend time in Sicily will often enquire “Are you not afraid of the Mafia with their violent reputation?”
Huh, the Mafia? What about the dangerous place that I myself come from, what about it’s violent reputation?
But lets set the record straight. As many who have visited Glasgow or Scotland will more than likely agree. The chances are that you came face to face with no violence or drugs at all. None whatsoever. Far from it, you probably had a ball amongst some of the friendliest people you are liable encounter anywhere. Those who visit our hometown whenever we play almost always say this, and the fact that Glasgow – London apart – hosts more business conventions than any other UK destination is proof of how much people like to visit and enjoy themselves with zero safety problems.
So where is the drugs and the violence we read about occurring then? Well just as in Rio, or similar destinations, it’s mostly in the fringe areas, among the desperate poor, the mostly uneducated and therefore unemployed. It’s happening mostly in the zones where these people have no option but to live. The housing schemes, ghettoes and favelas of the world is where this stuff takes shape, takes control and then eventually spreads out – despite the fact that these areas are also populated mostly by good people desperate to somehow get by in their lives among the colossal hardships enforced on them.
How in the world did drug abuse ever mange to get to the woeful proportions that now sees it decimate entire communities? I have no idea. Likewise I have no idea what can be done about it although surely legalizing drugs has to be more than considered as an option. I do know however that sweeping it under the carpet as an issue achieves nothing and for that reason I give total respect to the journalist who brings me this article and the newspaper that see’s fit to print it.
Jim Kerr