Book:
Born in Blood & Fire
(A
Concise History of Latin America)
Written
by: John Charles Chasteen.
Commentary on article: La Violencia, Pablo Escobar, and Columbia's
Long Torment
La
Violencia was an internal war that Columbia had, starting in the 1948 lasting
till 1958. It started after the assassination of a famous populist leader named
Jorge Eliecer Gaitan. The fight was about Social Economic Change. The
fight was between Liberals and Conservatives an which lasted 10 years.
Resulting in the 10 years passing over 200,000 Columbians were murdered.
Pablo
Escobar being born right before La Violencia started, and then finally ending
in his late teens. He was baptized in Violence and surrounded by it, his entire
life. Growing up, he first was involved in petty crimes He did anything
petty to get money just to survive. Robbing people, lying, selling false items
just to make a buck. Being shown how bad the world can be at such a young
age in the streets, created a domino effect for Pablo's future
behavior that tormentented all of Columbia and parts of the U.S.
Pablo
Escobar seen by his behaviors he didn't want to be a victim, and he didn't want
to be at the bottom of the food chain either. His Attitude toward life was
cocky and arrogant. After growing up in the environment of
crime and death around him also being involved in the Medellin Drug Cartel, he
saw that violence was the only thing that can bring change to his life. Which
was a very sad truth that he learned in the streets. The simple idea
of violence finally led him to be the Biggest Drug Lord in Columbia and
one of the wealthiest men in the world.
People
may think, well why didn't he just leave Columbia and start a new life in
another place? As if it were that simple, keep in mind surrounding countries
were all at war with Dictatorships, Governments with their Cold War Scares, and
hiding Guerilla fighters that would have killed him if he didn't join. So
his chances were best to just stay in Columbia were he knew the territory, had
his own connections with family and friends, and lastly having resources in
Columbia. Columbia was the safest place for him to stay where he had a chance.
He saw that the Drug Business had many opportunities at that time when he
entered it competition was low, so he just jumped right in. Pablo had a
very strong will and a go getter type of attitude towards life. Violence helped
him get quick results.
There are simply two perspectives in
which Pablo Escobar can be seen in. Either people hated him or loved him.
Many
people's perspective in the America's and Columbia on Pablo Escobar
was that he was a money hungry monster that poisoned millions with his Cocaine,
and murdered anyone who got in his way.
Terror was a means to get whatever he wanted.
While
on the other hand, others saw him as a Robin Hood helping the poor, giving
ordinary people hope to become something more than to just be a powerless
peasant. With the money of Escobar he built hospitals, schools, funded civic
activities and housing projects and also backing kids football
teams. Everyone especially Young kids were drawn to him and his
Cartel, because the only way to the better life in that time was to be involved
drugs. It was a sad truth at that time, but it also gave peasants hope for the
better; which also powered Pablo against the Columbian Government.
In
Conclusion, my personal perspective towards Pablo Escobar was that he
was just an animal surviving in the jungle, and the two animals there were
either enforcers or victims. He did
wreak havoc to many and I understand why people would hate him. Especially his
victims families, but in the end he was just surviving and helping much people
as he can in his own way.
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