Now some long distance buses in Peru play videos. The choice of videos, however, is really shocking, they are so violent. I am wondering whether this is just my luck or whether it is a generalized phenomenon.
Yesterday, while driving through for hours through some of the most depressing industrial slums I have ever seen, including the entire city of Chimbote twice, we were treated to two videos. First, Rambo. Then, one about human trafficking in the D.F., Juárez, and New Jersey, with some very graphic rapes and beatings. I and the several of my neighbors – these passengers being a very hard working, broken down, and exceedingly sweet crowd – seemed to want to watch videos so as not to look out the windows, but on the other hand, kept looking out the windows so as not to have to see what was happening in the videos.
I kept thinking, these people live in this landscape and these videos are what are on their TV screens … while commercialized cumbias blare in the smoke-filled streets, drowning out, sometimes, the sound of construction. How do they handle it? I think they handle it because food, cell phones, transportation and Internet stations are still available, there is some employment, there are goods in the markets, and there is no war here.
That is to say that Peru has not yet turned into a one hundred percent ruined African country, and that consumerism is an effective drug. I am told that Dickens was horrified by the United States when he visited because it was so much more savage and ravaged than his London. This is how I feel about Peru as it is now.
Axé.
coldhearted scientist وداد 
I think the reason for the movies is that these are what are available in pirate versions in the markets.
What an interesting perspective; in particular, this makes me think:
“How do they handle it? I think they handle it because food, cell phones, transportation and Internet stations are still available, there is some employment, there are goods in the markets, and there is no war here….
….these passengers being a very hard working, broken down, and exceedingly sweet crowd – seemed to want to watch videos so as not to look out the windows, but on the other hand, kept looking out the windows so as not to have to see what was happening in the videos.”
Yes – what do you think? I think the pollution on the coast is absolutely awful and that the entire population should be airlifted out and intensive healing should be done on the land. This w0uld also help with global warming, since with less pollution the Pastoruri might melt less.
However everyone I have talked to so far has a very different idea, they say Peru is improving greatly and that the pollution is no worse than anywhere else, that they are taking the Chinese road to development and riches and that they have faith in it. And they, not I, live here for real, so I am not sure what to think.