RSS
Home
Safety versus authenticity: which would you choose?
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Argentinians protesting against Israel
One of the things I love so much about traveling is you never know what kinds of things you’re going to stumble upon. And while most times I’ve stumbled upon things that are fun and interesting, lovely and breathtaking, every once in a while you run into something… not so much, and yet still a vital part of the experience. That’s how I felt when I came across a demonstration against Israel over the Gaza conflict in the heart of Buenos Aires.
Now, I know that protests of varying kinds happen all the time everywhere in the world, including Los Angeles. Hell, I was amid the crowd of Prop 8 protesters on Hollywood Boulevard back in November after it was voted down. But there, even though emotions were running high, it felt like there was a sense of camaraderie and a definite goal in mind to have voices heard calmly and collectively. We knew something was up when we passed cops dressed in SWAT gear in front of Casa Rosada, but didn't know the extent of it until we walked down the closed-off street and saw the swarms of people prepping to march. When I saw the protesters with their faces covered, only allowing a thin strip of skin to show around their eyes, carrying sticks and implements somewhere in-between a knife and a machete along with their posters decorated in cartoonishly dripping blood and angrily-slashed letters… certainly they had a goal in mind too, but it felt a lot less peaceful.
Had I been traveling alone I would’ve been more inclined to duck off to another street and avoid the melee, just out of precautions. Granted you can’t judge a book by its cover, but by the same token, you just never know… and when you’re in another country where you don’t speak the language (save for “Where is the shoe store?”), it’s a better bet to safeguard yourself. However, I was traveling with a girl gang led by a guide who insisted we would be fine if we followed her lead. “Hang on to your purses tight, walk swiftly, don’t dawdle and follow me,” she instructed, and we did. I was mildly tempted to whip out my camera and take pictures when we were in the thick of things, but decided that was likely not smart – especially at the sight of those weapons. And though we got a few curious glances, mostly we were left alone and made it to our transport without incident.
I don’t want to sound patronizing or like a slack-jawed yokel, but it was one of the more fascinating things I’ve seen when on a trip. They were so incredibly focused, marching along with a drummer, chanting… it was unreal. I mean, I dig the typical touristy things just as much as the next girl, but when it comes to authentic, slice of life experiences? I’m much more apt to want to wander through a neighborhood and get a feel for a place based on the locals rather than go to the Disneyfied version of a locale (unless it’s Disney, obviously.) However, had I not been with the guide (who assured us we’d all be fine if we stuck to the rules), I don’t know that I would’ve walked right through the middle of a hundreds-strong throng where tensions are overwhelmingly strong. I’m glad that I did, but I don’t know that I’d ever do it again… or recommend that someone else do the same.
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
