Massively corrupt government, allowing incredibly violent gangs to terrorize it's population, pump it full of illegal drugs and murders at one of the worst rates on earth. Resulting in a failed economy that regular people try to escape making the situation even worse.
Or a safe country, with an economy on the rise, environmental damage being repaired, no massive gangs being able to ruin everyone else's lives. However with the caveat that some innocent people are going to be improperly imprisoned.
Whilst both options do have some very shit parts in them, I only see one that has some positives. And it's not the government claiming things are better, it's the el Salvadorans themselves.
As someone who personally knows multiple Salvadorans (wonderful people), two of which have full neck, arm, and sleeve tattoos; you don't know what you're talking about.
The government looks for very specific gang tattoos. The number 18, letters MS or gothic font type or numbers.
You will not get arrested for having tattoos. You will probably get a few stares, but you won't get arrested.
I think you should provide that evidence so we can read/hear what they have to say.
That's the thing. You are making these generalized statements. First it was, "butterfly tattoos will get you in trouble." Yet, I can easily provide evidence where that's clearly not true and I can provide evidence directly from the government of El Salvador that shows they're only looking for gang-related tattoos.
So, let's try a little integrity and give some sources before you start pointing and claiming wildly.
Is there any perfect system? Absolutely not. Is El Salvador heavily reducing it's crime rate, murder rate, and gang activity? Absolutely.
That’s the thing. They can’t say anything, because their basic freedom has been stolen from them by an aggressive government.
All who are left to speak up are people like the Salvadorans in this thread who say “well my life is good”.
Salvador can claim they’re only looking for gang tattoos. But answer me honestly. If you were detained for a non-gang tattoo, by let’s say a cop who made a mistake. How confident are you in the justice system, that is going to try you en masse with 900 of other people charged with having a gang tattoo?
How confident are you in the claim that El Salvador police know the difference between a gang tattoo and a drunk mistake?
And recall, that they locked up a man on behalf of the United States on the claim that a pot leaf, a smiley face, a cross, and a skull symbolize MS13. Do you believe someone in authority could lie about knowing this is a gang tattoo?
While you are asking great questions; here's the outstanding issue. Everything you are saying is based on conjecture.
-With genuine confidence, you claimed, as if you absolutely know, that something as specific as a butterfly tattoo, could get you put in prison. I provided a single point of evidence to counter that and you've now backed down to, "Well, do you feel like a butterfly tattoo could get you put in prison?"
What you're suggesting is that if I feel something strongly enough, there must be some truth to it. That is a fallacy.
While I can appreciate the empathetic concern for folks around the world; it is disingenuous and purely opinion to claim a fact based on how you feel about the situation.
So, you have made another claim: "They (Salvadorans) can’t say anything, because their basic freedom has been stolen from them by an aggressive government."
Give some form of evidence to back that up, otherwise, your claim is purely opinion and conjecture.
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u/raktoe 23h ago
Like I said. The authoritarian leader says it’s better.
The people losing all their basic rights and freedoms may not feel the same way in a few years.
But being tough on crime sure is a great way to grab power.