| Watch the news recently, and you'll find stories of | | | | been the safest place in the world. However, in the |
| Argentina filling your television screen. A country hit | | | | wake of the country's economic downfall, crime levels |
| particularly hard by the swine flu, the South American | | | | soared. |
| nation's government is being closely watched in its | | | | Though the Argentine economy has now somewhat |
| handling of the situation by the rest of the world. | | | | recovered, safety and security remains a huge issue. It |
| In recent years, in fact, the land of the tango and of | | | | is rare to speak with an Argentine who has not at |
| Eva Person has come to receive a great amount of | | | | some point faced robbery and theft. Fraud is |
| international attention. A female president, a drought, a | | | | commonplace, and mistrust runs rampant. Businesses |
| relentless battle between farmers and the national | | | | are frequently robbed at gunpoint, and men and |
| government - the Paris of South America has had its | | | | women are roughed up on the streets. Citizens are |
| share of newsworthy events. | | | | constantly looking over their shoulders and |
| What the international community is not talking about, | | | | second-guessing the intentions of others. A culture of |
| however, is a much more disturbing yet quotidian crisis | | | | fear and of mistrust has emerged that is for many |
| that Argentines face every day of their lives: that of | | | | Americans unimaginable. |
| crime. | | | | This jump in crime has carried the issue of home |
| Argentina was one of the nations to most suffer the | | | | security in Argentina to a new level. Several |
| economic downturn that followed the terrorist attacks | | | | homeowners have installed home security systems |
| of September 11th, 2001. While during the 1990s the | | | | and home alarm systems in their homes. Windows are |
| country had enjoyed a period of unprecedented | | | | covered with bars, doors are dead bolted several |
| prosperity under president Carlos Menem, the world | | | | times over, and fences are topped off with spikes. |
| economic slipup in 2001 tore the Argentine economy | | | | Whereas Americans may be used to locking the front |
| apart. Revealing the faults and shortcomings of | | | | door while leaving a window open to let in the breeze, |
| Menem's highly-capitalistic economic policies, the crisis | | | | for Argentines today, this is unfathomable. In the face |
| caused the Argentine peso's value to plummet, leaving | | | | of the high rates of crime in the streets threatening at |
| many in ruins. | | | | their doors, the Argentine people have been forced to |
| This collapse shattered the looking glass in which | | | | quadruple their efforts in home security. |
| Argentines had seen themselves and drove the | | | | This rich and beautiful country has, unfortunately, been |
| country into chaos. Overnight, citizens had lost a large | | | | tainted by greed and crime. While walking out of the |
| majority of their lives' savings and the national | | | | front door is something that few Americans fear, for |
| government had fallen to failure and impotence. Like | | | | those who live in Argentina, such an action is a choice |
| many Latin American nations, Argentina had never | | | | that means facing the danger that waits outside. |