A few days ago, El Nacional newspaper published a graphic photo of the conditions of a morgue in Caracas. The result was mixed, from outrage to quiet recognition. I have kept myself out of places like that and tried to avoid violent areas, but even so, I saw a cadaver on the side of the road one Saturday morning. A cadaver! I remember that we had to pass by that spot twice, so I was sure of what I saw. I was surprised by what I saw, but more surprised by the fact that I wasn't thoroughly shaken and haunted by nightmares. I just accepted what I saw as sad, and moved on.
No one, pro- or anti-government can deny that there is a serious problem with violence here. Anytime the topic is brought up in daily conversation, essentially every person has a disturbing story to tell, whether it be about something that happened directly to him/her or to a family member. I'm not going to share any of the stories; suffice it to say that most of the victims were not involved in illegal activities or anything of the like. They simply wanted to live a normal life. I don't think I will ever get to the point where I can understand this kind of violence.
Some people tell me that security and safety are a state of mind. I agree that how safe you feel and the way you live your life depends on your own perspective. But the facts don't lie- crime and homicides are widespread in Venezuela, which is very unfortunate for this beautiful country. I have grown to love a lot of things about this country and can only hope that they will find the way to move forward and make it a safer place.
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