posted
That would be self-preservation. Not love, not hate, nor anything like that. How I know? Well...I had a darn good first-hand experience today.
Well...my life surely hasn't been dull, this week. Three days ago...well...yeah, you know. Now, today, I had to run at least 200m. with bullets flying around me. Oh, yes...at least 10 or 12 shots were fired, I'm pretty sure. When I was out there, in the open, the sheer fear of dying lent wings to my feet. I run as I never did nor will again, I guess.
It's strange, because you think some silly stuff, like "just bought a book I'll never read", "will my ex- cry if I die?", "If I die here, my Internet friends will never know what happened to me", "Never got to give my brother his birthday present". Uncanny, really.
And each step, you wait for the impact. For the bullet. Man...he he. When I got to the bus, I was shaking. Serious...almost soiled myself.
I didn't tell what happened yet, did I? I went to teach in one of the "favelas" where I work. As I was walking uphill (as it is in a hill) 5 police cars just stoped near the entrance, and there were many shots coming over my head, from the top of the hill. The police returned fire and I, and some other poor people who were petulant enough to be walking about in the street, we were suddenly in the middle of a battle. Police shooting from below, drug dealers shooting from over my head.
As I ran downhill, waving my arms and screaming, the police officers stopped shooting for a brief time, and helped me and other half-dozen people to leave the area.
I didn't see if anyone was killed or wounded. Never looked behind.
A thing I remembered in the bus:
"The enemy's gate is down."
Always remember it, my friends. It can save your life. Posts: 1785 | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
Oh my God. I cannot even comprehend what this must have felt like.
I am so glad you're alright, Eduardo. I already admired you for what you do, teaching in this dangerous place... but this is incredible. The idea of police shooting with innocent people around...
I'm glad you're here, glad you're okay, and glad you kept your head and ran. Hope you're mentally okay, as well as just physically... *****hugs*****
Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
The only time I've ever seen anybody shot was in Brazil. The police and their prey started shooting it out in the middle of traffic. The suspects went down, and the police grabbed them (or their bodies) and threw them into the back of a suburban. Another cop jumped in their car and drove it off. Within a minute, everything was back to normal.
Posts: 16551 | Registered: Feb 2003
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posted
Hehe...that's my country, Porteiro. Yup. Now I know you've really been here.
And people, please. I tell you again. Rio de Janeiro is a very pleasant city. It receives more than a million tourists every year. The places I have to wander (because it's my job) are really dangerous, sometimes but, as a tourist, you would not want to go there (Porter was a missionary, so he probably also went to some rough spots). Most of the city is pretty safe, and very, very beautiful.
Posts: 1785 | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
When I was in Israel, years ago, I was in a situation much like the one you just described, Eduardo. It made a lasting impression.
I'm very glad you're all right. You know, I know a few people in Central America who can afford to hire trustworthy but underemployed "spotters" to run ahead and tell them when an area is about to get hostile; is this something that would be practical for you?
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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Eduardo, I'm so glad you are unscathed. I'm glad you remembered that the enemy's gate is down.
Don't feel like it's only in Brazil that things like this happen. The gang wars in US urban areas heat up periodically and we end up with little kids getting killed in the crossfire, or stray bullets hitting people in nearby homes.
Insane that your police would just start shooting like that!
Posts: 22497 | Registered: Sep 2000
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posted
And here I thought this thread was going to be about free t-shirts....
I'm really glad you're ok. It sounds to me like your job entails putting yourself in mortal danger way too much - good thing it's a worthwhile job. Posts: 5879 | Registered: Apr 2001
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Yeah, I strolled without fear as a missionary in places that I would never go now. I shudder just thinking about it.
Posts: 16551 | Registered: Feb 2003
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Bob: from what I hear, that's generally what the police are like in the favelas. I've heard children being executed in the streets by drug cops is relatively common.
Another victory in the war on drugs. Sorry Eduardo, but your safety comes second to the political saftey of the politicians.
Posts: 1769 | Registered: Feb 2000
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posted
Eduardo, I think hatrack should all chip in and buy you a Dragon Army Bullet Proof Vest™ to wear to the favela. Does cafepress do those?
Posts: 6246 | Registered: Aug 2004
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damn, that is nuts. I can't imagine what I would do if I found myself in between opponents in a gun fight. I am glad to hear that you are ok.
I came within a hair of getting myself killed once doing a stunt for a video for a class project. I don't really remember what went through my head when it happened (it was many years ago) but I remember apologizing to my parents because it was on my Dad's birthday and so they missed his party. My mom thought I was nuts, laying in the hospital...and apologizing for messing up a stupid party.
Posts: 1901 | Registered: May 2004
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posted
I was within the proximity of a shooting once, too. The amazing thing was how quiet the gunshots were. Seeing all the movies and TV you'd expect them to be huge blasts, but, no, it sounded just like firecrackers. It took me a while to figure out what was going on.
Never been shot AT, though. That's something.
Posts: 2258 | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
Hmm...Trevor...you're absolutelly right. Nex time (I hope there won't be a next time, though) I will lay down.
Posts: 1785 | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
I dunno. I think I'm going to go on instinct in situations like that. 3 billion years of evolution are probably smart enough not to be totally discounted. I think if your instinct was to run, then that was probably the best thing to do. We're really well equipped to survive in extremely harsh environments. We just forget that we are, those of us who are lucky enough to have civilization around us, who are lucky enough to be safe.
Those of us who are crazy enough to willingly leave that safety get occasional opportunities to remember this.
Eduardo, I can't say enough how much you rock! You're my hero! I really hope you come up to the States for Eduardocon next year. I'd love to get a chance to meet you. Posts: 6246 | Registered: Aug 2004
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quote:I dunno. I think I'm going to go on instinct in situations like that. 3 billion years of evolution are probably smart enough not to be totally discounted. I think if your instinct was to run, then that was probably the best thing to do. We're really well equipped to survive in extremely harsh environments. We just forget that we are, those of us who are lucky enough to have civilization around us, who are lucky enough to be safe.
Projectile weapons have been around for less than an evolutionary heartbeat though, Anne Kate. I doubt that we've had the time to evolve an appropriate instinctual response to being shot at, personally. I suspect that it's a rare person who would have the presence of mind, in that situation, to do anything other than follow instinct and run away, arms flailing, but I'm not sure that it's the best response.
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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posted
Well, true, but think about it. If he'd stopped and dropped he would have presented a smaller target, but then he also would still have been in the middle of the situation, one that seemed to be escalating. As it was he got OUT of there. I think he did the right thing.
And is it really true that projectile weapons are that new? Not for billions, maybe, but at least for millions of years humans have been throwing things. Rocks, darts, spears, arrows, and so on. I still have great respect for instinct as a survival tool. Posts: 6246 | Registered: Aug 2004
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posted
When I got home, my father also gave me a lecture about "how I should lay down and wait" in such an occasion. He was in the army when he was young, so I guess he know something about it. But it's hard to keep yourself motionless when bullets fly around you. The imput to run away was stronger than any reasoning I could do.
Posts: 1785 | Registered: Oct 2003
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Hey man! Glad you ran the right direction! Glad you are ok, I would have run like he** too. Hindsight is always 20/20.
Posts: 1870 | Registered: Mar 2003
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Eduardo, that is really, really, really scary. I am so glad you weren't harmed and you live to tell the tale! Now I too am worried what it may mean if you suddenly disappear....
Posts: 7050 | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
Ouch... Man, you really have an interesting life, don't you?!
I'm glad you're all in one piece and with no additional holes in your body... As for the ongoing discussion about wether to run or stop, etc, I'd say: don't be there when they start shooting! And if you do, well, there's not much time to think about it, so unless you are really trained it's useless to think now about what you'd do...
I'm also glad that this cured your blues... In a way... Posts: 4519 | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
Ya know, as screwed up as American society is when it comes to gun policy, I'd be more than a little reticent to purchase a flack-vest and send it to a South American country. I can't believe that wouldn't send up a few red flags at least to the ATF if not the CIA.
Seriously, though, Eduardo, I'm very glad you are OK. Unfortunately, the only way to ensure there won't be a "next time" is to stay out of the favelas, which really sucks for the many people you help out there.
posted
Oh, he's going back for sure! He's addicted now. Adrenaline is addictive.
If we order it from somewhere online and have them send it directly, then we aren't doing anything scary are we? I really think we should see if we can't get a dragon army logo put on it, maybe, or at least "The Enemy's Gate is Down". <laughs> That would just be too cool!
I wonder if he would be eligible for this? I really think he should be. He's doing such an important job.
posted
Hey, guys, thanks for the thoughts and all that, but no need for bullet-proof vests or such. Let me tell you why:
1)See...the best protection teachers and social workers in general have when entering dangerous places is that we're thought as peaceful and harmless. Having any military or military-seeming equipment would compromise such protection. Example: if some drug dealers caught me, I could say "I'm just a teacher, I teach over there, in the relief society building". They'd let me go. It already happened to some of my colleagues. If I had some protective vest...well...let's say that... "this? Some American friends sent it to me. Neat, don't you think?" - would be quite a weaker answer, that could lead to unpleasant consequences.
2) Guys...Brazil has quite a different policy about guns and military equipment than the U.S. if you want to lawfully acquire a gun or any military equipment (bullet-proof vests included), there's a big load of paperwork, bureaucracy and taxes to meet. Only two kinds of people have military equipment in Brazil: the military (including the police, here) and...the ones who don't care for legally acquiring guns: outlaws in general.
But thanks for your kind thoughts. I'm touched by it, really!
About "curing my blues": well...when you have to run for your life, It helps to put a lot of things into perspective. I'm still quite sad, but, hehe, as I said in my firs post in this thread...now I know the most powerful force in existence. Posts: 1785 | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
Actually the "Freeze" reaction is thought to be an evolutionary throw-back to a time when most predators hunted by detecting motion rather than still creatures.
However, as most military professionals will tell you, bullets tend to fly parallel to the ground because the shooter is, in theory, aiming at a standing target.
You cannot outrun a bullet - but by minimalizing your target profile, you will limit the chances of you taking a stray round. And you are less likely to draw the attention of a nut who wants to shoot at something moving.
Even just throwing yourself prone and wrapping your arms around your head will broadcast you aren't a combatant and not worth a bullet. Unless, of course, it's a shooting rampage in the States - in which case, you might as well run because he's gonna shoot anyone he can reach.
posted
Pretty much what my father said, Trevor. I guess you're right. As I said, the problem would be keeping control enough of yourself to do that.
Posts: 1785 | Registered: Oct 2003
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