Come On...

by Mike
(San Diego, CA, USA)

You can't put all, or even any blame on the tourists. Everything in that country, or anywhere in Latin America is corrupt and runs on bribes of various amounts and money. If you want that kind of stuff to stop, remove everyone from power, government or otherwise, and elect people with integrity and an actual drive to do good. Since that won't happen, this kind of stuff will not stop. As long as you can get whatever you want if you have enough $$$, corruption will cont., as will "illegal" activities. Don't blame those buying the services and goods, blame those providing it. If you could buy your hearts desire, or even a quick pleasure (tour a prison), for a cheap price, you would, and if you say you would not, i call you a liar.

Comments for Come On...

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Jun 07, 2010
 To Mike from San Diego
by: Anonymous

Typical Ugly American Attitude! We do not want tourists like you in Bolivia! Go home Yankee! All foreigners in Bolivia are guests of the country, and should behave accordingly, as they would want guests to their homes to treat the people living there. Unless, of course, you treat your guests to your home with disrepect. Mike, Mike, Mike, how sad you are. You can't even see that you are as morally and psychologically corrupt as the prison officials, guards, and some prisoners that were allowing those tours to take place! Your attitude, Mike from San Diego, CA, shows that you are not above, treating human beings as animals, to be observed as in the zoo! You should be ashamed!
May 30, 2010
 Corruption in Latin America?
by: John

I do not think the corruption is only in latin America, there is also in the U.S.A. or you think there are no criminals in the US?, if you have the money there is corruption anyywere, as long as you reach their price.
Sep 26, 2009
 Is a San Pedro Prison Tour your heart's desire?
by: Anonymous

In response to Mike (comment titled "Come on...") who said: "...If you could buy your hearts desire, or even a quick pleasure (tour a prison), for a cheap price, you would, and if you say you would not, i call you a liar..." I have this to say:

First of all, your comment assumes we are ALL tremendously shallow people. Some of us really aren't "into" quick (aka shallow) pleasures and I hardly think a prison tour could be someone's "heart's desire" but then again, you never know... Let's just say it's just not up there on MY list of things to do before I die.

I believe that just because you CAN have access to something doesn't necessarily mean you should MAKE USE of that access.

If doing drugs, stealing something from a store, beating someone up, raping someone, or killing a person gave you a "quick pleasure" would YOU do it? Those things do give some people pleasure and they do them. Does that make it right or justifiable? Of course not. When something is wrong, it's wrong.

Thankfully I had one of those moms who used the old adage "if everyone jumped off the bridge would you?" and taught me to consider others as well as myself ... so no, I wouldn't take this tour at any cost - even free.

At some point in our lives dear Mike, we all have to learn to act responsibly, ask ourselves whether or not our actions will cause those around us (in this case the prisoners and their families) pain, suffering or humiliation, and learn to put that built-in self control mechanism we were all created with to good use. Self control is, after all, not a curse.

To your other comment - I totally reamed the prison director and officials and think they are complete jerks for allowing this to happen and worse: fomenting it. I was elated when the government replaced them. I think making buku bucks off of this tour is just disgusting (same goes for the author of the book and soon-to-be-released movie). So no, my article clearly does NOT place all the blame on tourists.

I do, however, believe that when you travel to another country you are a GUEST in that country. In addition, we are ALL ambassadors of our countries no matter where we are from and would ALL do well to act accordingly - no matter where we travel.

Hugs and good vibes to you. Bella.

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