The Worst Thing In South America I’ve Seen Thus Far

When traveling in third world countries, you will see many things you don’t agree with.  The run down cities, the poverty, the way women are treated differently from men, the starving children, the stray animals, the way the governments do nothing to really help; the list could go on forever.  But as a traveler, there is only so much you can do to help.

You want to help feed the children, give the beggars some spare change, find homes for the stray animals, protest the government and fight back for the people – but you can’t do it all.  In fact, sometimes, you literally want to fight someone, but you have to remember to restrain from doing so in order to protect yourself.  After all, you’re in their world, not the other way around.  Recently I spent a few days in Copacabana, Bolivia, and it was here when I wanted to lash out at someone more than I ever have before.

I was with a group of six fellow travelers sharing a relaxing dinner at a small outside restaurant on the beach.  Copacabana is a small city with many stray dogs roaming the streets, not unlike other cities around South America.  However, one moment we were clinking glasses for some newly poured $3 a bottle rum, and the next, I had a feeling overcome me unlike ever before.

I’m normally not a fighter.  I am the type of person that avoids confrontation at all costs and never try to confront anyone in public.  I’ll tell you things straight in private, but not in public, that’s just not me.  However, the following moment put me in complete disarray.

As my friends and I were sharing a drink at the table, we heard a motorcycle rev it’s engine and as we turned around to see what the noise was, we witnessed a young man (probably between 18-24 years of age) purposely spin his front motorcycle wheel on top of a dog lying in the middle of the street.  This was no accident, and as an animal lover, complete rage filled every last drop of my blood.

I shot up out of my seat as he then proceeded to drive over the dog and pull his motorcycle into the restaurant I was sitting at.  The dog immediately whimpered while limping away.  The man (more so a pathetic boy) was smiling the biggest grin I’ve ever seen and just laughed.  He thought it was funny.  He thought injuring a poor animal was a complete joke.  He was wrong.

I had two options – go beat the living shit out of the guy and teach him a lesson or walk away.  This was a decision I was not going to take lightly, but my brain luckily overpowered my rage and I chose to walk to the beach to cool down.  For one reason, I don’t know if the guy had a weapon or family and friends nearby with a weapon.  Any weapon at all and I’m outnumbered.  Second, helping the animal is more important than hurting the guy.  I looked around on the beach for awhile following the incident but could not find the dog anywhere.  However, for your own peace of mind, I’m pretty sure I saw the dog the next day who seemed okay.  Thank the Universe.  Finally, even if I had attempted to fight the man, he wouldn’t even learn anything if he got beat up.  And that’s the worst part.

Here’s the thing – I have to remember that these people don’t know any better.  They see stray animals every day and to them, they’re just a part of life that apparently to some, are just a joke.  Instead of being upset, I just pitied the guy.  While I wanted to make him pay for what he did to the poor, innocent dog, I just felt sorry that something like that is what amuses him.  In some twisted, sadistic way, that brought him joy.

All I can do is hope for the health of that dog, hope for the health of all of the stray animals, the children, the women, and the people, and hope that their world gets better.  They live in a different world than I do and while I want to help change it for the better, I must first understand it.  We must all understand it.  Not every person is like that in third world countries.  Most people I meet on a day-to-day basis seem very happy and enjoy helping out the stray animals even when they themselves have nothing to give.  But things like this will happen.  That’s just the way life goes.  But Nomadder What happens, you can’t let those things take away your focus from the bigger picture – from doing good in the world.