Undesirable Criminals

Sol Prendido Borderland Beat from La Polaka

Much has been written about the direct harmful effects produced by the activity of organized crime groups, in the communities where they operate, but these can reach levels of real emergency because they go beyond the mere scope of public safety.

High levels of insecurity, restriction of ordinary activity, closure of businesses and cancellation of jobs, impact of economic activity in general, are just some of those negative, harmful effects generated by organized crime when its presence and activity exceed the capacity of the authorities responsible for combating it.

But there are other equally damaging effects that are seldom noticed. The operation of health services, for example. Recently, various media of national circulation announced the news that, in Salamanca, Guanajuato, the Red Cross announced the suspension of its services, due to insecurity.

According to the notes published in national media, the announcement was made after Saturday, August 13, an ambulance was detained by armed individuals to take a wounded man, informed the honorable institution last Sunday. A statement from the headquarters of the Red Cross of Salamanca warns that it "closes its doors until further notice" for security reasons, and asks for understanding to the public.

This is very serious.

But those who live on the border have already seen this horror movie. During the black period of insecurity in our city (2008-2012), the temporary, partial or definitive closure of hospitals was practically every day, either because its facilities were saturated and medical personnel were insufficient, or because of the latent threat that represented hospitalized people assaulted by gunfire in our streets. We have already lived it.

Here the obligatory question and reflection must be: How will society continue to allow crime to hijack our daily lives?  That overpowers our spaces, times and activities?

Yes, the authorities have the important task of containing the ravages of organized crime, but to us as citizens, as a society we also share the task of not allowing other citizens, other Juarenses, sometimes family or close friends, to dedicate themselves to this activity, very lucrative for them, but extremely harmful for the rest of society.

Those who today are dedicated to breaking the law and causing severe riots by producing or trafficking drugs, extorting merchants, stealing cars, homes or businesses, do not come from Mars, or were born spontaneously.

They are people who emerge from this society, who have been, were and are embedded among us, are citizens of this community who have decided to put themselves on the other side of the Law.

Our social responsibility is important. We demand that the authorities carry out their work, but we must also do the part that corresponds to us.

Let's educate our children well, build citizens of good, with values and away from crime, and not let others steal our peace, sleep and life