“And I thought that we are so screwed in this country that the only option left to us in the end is thanking the thieves.” This quote from Alberto Ramos in, The Drive-by Victim, ironically shows how chaotic the criminal justice system is in South America; more specifically in the highly populated cities.
Bus 174 tells the story of Sandro Rosa do Nascimento, a man from Rio de Janerio. In his early life, he witnessed his mother’s murder and was forced to a life on the streets. As a deserted youth, he ended up in jail and eventually found a family at Candelaria; an old historic church in Rio de Janerio. There Sandro created friendships and was able to survive. However, on July 23, 1993, the Brazilian police shot on Sandro and his friends, allegedly killing eight and wounding more. He cites that this massacre was his reason for taking hostages on Bus 174.
From previous movies and readings, South American countries are becoming urbanized and governments do not have enough resources to safely protect its citizens. Thieves can continually rob and live well enough to continue and forgo searching for a real job. The police force is undermanned and underfunded. Bus 174 documents jail life in Rio, showing an overcrowded cell with inmates who are undernourished. One man stated that he was from another country and had been in jail eight months past his release date; he exclaimed, “I’d rather be dead than in this jail.” Leaders in the government are hoping to establish “modernity” through out South America. President Carlos Salinas de Gortari signed the North American Free Trade Agreement which opened up better trade relations between the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Several local Mexicans view this transition to modernity negatively because of Mexico’s unique history with out the nuances other advanced countries benefited from. However modernization is a necessity for progress, otherwise actions like Sandros will continue to occur. Through T.V. coverage, Sandros was able to bring light to his situation. Through movies like Bus 174, more people have been immersed in the problems South America is facing today.
I believe they are moving in the right direction. Mexico’s subway is now one of the longest urban railways in the world. Citizens are able to commute to their place of work more efficiently, and fewer workers will have to travel through the city. In 2014 Brazil will host the FIFA World Cup, which will boost the economy tremendously. Two years after, Rio de Janiero will host the Olympics. These events will force the government to clean up the streets of the cities, improve hotels, and increase funding to the police force, which will in turn improve the quality of life in South America.
Although Mexico's subway system is now one of the longest urban railways in the world, the effects that it had on the merchants and even the mariachi players created more devastation. Those that were out of work and had no people to pay for their goods or services were forced to look for other ways to earn a living. In a city that is rapidly developing, it would be hard for those that had an old style way of earning a living, like the mariachi players, to find work. This would create more like Sondro and other street kids, where their parents could not support them. Unfortunately it is a great thing for the urbanization and modernity of Mexico city but a bad thing for those inhabitants who have yet modernize and adapt their trade.
ReplyDeleteI think the most striking aspect to 'Bus 174' that hit me was that the police forces in many Latin American countries are comprised of people that are poorly trained and not apt to be in such a position. It was maddening to watch as the government allowed a man to take control of a bus in front of the whole country, eventually resulting in the loss of two lives due to their incompetence. Not only was the girl who died, an innocent victim, but Sandro was a victim of the system. He had been let down by the government and police, and I don't think it was completely his fault for his actions. He had been subjected to a life in which the government showed little respect and regard for him and others in his condition, and when he was in prison he was not taught to reform himself, rather he was subjected to more brutality and little regard for human life and conditions. It was sad to know that the Brazilian government failed him, and so many others in this manner. Good post!
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