| | |  Travel & Outdoors 
What if the Shoe Was On the Other Foot? Some Thoughts on Violent Crime and Tourism
 Lydia 'Lola' Gregory - MexicoPremiere.com
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October 11, 2010
| | Should we close up California because, according to the LAPD, even though overall gang crimes fell 12.2 percent, 31 more people were shot (this year) in suspected gang crimes, an increase of 4.9 percent? | |
What if CNN headlines blared "Drug Violence Claims 4 Lives in Popular Vacation Destination" every time a gang-banger (any color, any race) shot up a rival gang’s sidewalk in Los Angeles?
What if Fox News ran a constant ticker that read "Murder Chose Chicago 131 Times This Year" and held forums discussing why the city should be boycotted? (In fact, September in that city ended last week with 30 homicides. Nearly 20% of the victims were teens.)
Should travel warnings be issued for the Windy City? Should we close up California because, according to the LAPD, even though overall gang crimes fell 12.2 percent, 31 more people were shot (this year) in suspected gang crimes, an increase of 4.9 percent?
I wouldn’t be lying if I said the US has more violence than other first-world countries — and that’s been a fact even before drug use in this country escalated to the point where every enterprising dealer south of the border wanted a piece of the action.
We have more robberies, rapes and assaults here. We glorify violence in our movies and our TV shows. We breed serial killers. Meth labs are popping up like daisies in the suburbs (and we all know how sweet and mellow meth-heads can be.) We are now even venturing into suicide promotion with the sudden spike of bullying in our schools.
So... honestly. Where are our travel warnings?
Are you mad yet? You should be. This is a great country. It’s a beautiful country. And if you stay away from the scary section of town, if you don’t deal drugs, if you aren’t a hooker and you steer clear of shady bars, chances are you’ll have a ball and be safe as houses in every city, coast to coast.
It’s not a guarantee, though, because even in this great nation of ours, innocent lives have been claimed in crossfire. But the police scanners certainly won’t keep me from enjoying the fall weather along the Navy Pier in Chicago or spending a weekend of pure fun in Los Angeles.
So why should I cancel my visit to Puerto Vallarta? Or forget my plans to visit Mexico City for a week?
I shouldn’t. And neither should you.
Yes, be careful. Yes, take normal precautions. No, don’t go to the locus of the cartels for a drive or a drink.
I know I’m not the only one out there who thinks this way. I’m not a lone voice in the wilderness, but sometimes it sure feels that way. So, I’m doing what I can with the tools I have.
Here are just a couple of links from like-minded people.
The Economist Blog: Mexico: Safer Than Canada
Mexico Boutique Hotels Blog: Travel Warning for the United States?
I know there are many more of you out there. Raise your voice. Let it be heard. Thousands upon thousands of people in Mexico depend on tourism for their livelihood. People who can’t feed their children become desperate. And we all know about desperate people. Please help reverse this desperation by looking beyond the headlines.
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