Juanita, ¿dondé está mi arma?

Latin America, "dangerous."

According to the BBC, a Brazilian research group says that Latin America has the highest murder rate between 15-24 year olds.

An unfair representation, I think. I have visited several countries in Latin America, living in one for over 13 months. There is no marauding gangs, here. There is no turf-war. Believe it or not, there is no drugs, and the police? There is no corruption.

Ten-year-old kids are not shot in the street as they walk back from football, and goths are not kicked and stamped to death as they walk through the park.

I have found the people to be friendly, and never I have been called something maliciously in the street.

There is no happy-slapping, EVERYBODY votes when the elections draw near, and I don't think I ever saw anyone drink in the street (Except in Rio, where everyone does it, including myself).

Yes, I live in one of the countries mentioned in the article, and yes, it is one of the "safer" countries. What am I nuts? But to say Latin America is dangerous, is equal to saying any city in the UK is not.

For the record, I live in the North of one of these counties. I will backtrack, and say there is not a great deal of drugs IN THIS COUNTRY. I know they are transported by a neighbouring country, but they are ALWAYS caught, (This particular country is the exception to the rule:drugs, corrupt police and political unstableness). But THIS country is great!