DAMN, WE ARE BAD!

I know the U.S. is the evil incarnate with our capitalism, our bigotry, our exportation of western values and morality and fast food, the evil-user of natural resources, raper of mother-earth and foremost culprit of global warming, among many other sins too numerous to mention.

But I never really had total understanding of how bad we really are; I had never considered this:

‘18 With a Bullet’: Exporting U.S. Gang Life to El Salvador
New York Times

The documentary “18 With a Bullet” suggests that crime doesn’t pay much. Young members of the 18 street gang in San Salvador, this Wide Angle special on PBS reports, earn about $60 a week selling marijuana. No wonder they have to shake down bus drivers for protection money too.

But the film has a larger, more disturbing point. Usually, when the United States is criticized for exporting American culture and values, the references are to fast food, sugary beverages, violent movies and inane television shows. Now “18 With a Bullet” illustrates the ways this country is exporting gang culture as well.

Salvadorans who emigrate to Los Angeles, for instance, sometimes become part of street gangs there. When these young criminals are deported to their home country, as many were after the civil war ended there in 1992, they just set up shop in the new location.

That's right folks. It is our fault. Damn. Have we no conscience?