Honestly, this is kind of impressive considering the abundance of firearms. But people do love their machetes here! 🙃 And there's just something much more intimate about killing at stabbing distance, you know? #Colombia
(Also, if you missed the news in 2018, Eswatini used to be called Swaziland. TMYK. 👍🏻)
https://news.yahoo.com/eswatini-country-profile-173059716.html
@MLClark: An Army combat vet I knew back in 2008 provided me some insight into that phenomenon by way of what he learned in Afghanistan and in Iraq. Basically, guns don't have the history or cultural significance that they do in Europe and the United States. His example was:
To clear a crowded street for a convoy on the way to an active fire zone or just to get obstinate, cynical regular folks out of the way in confined areas, waving guns did no good. He was told that guns are a quick...
@MLClark: ...death and that very few people were scared of them after all the local and national authorities terror, the Soviets, the various Islamic gangs and militias, and Al-Qaeda, etc., and the Europeans. On the other hand, raise a big rock, a machete, or a scimitar and shout at them, everyone will flee. Those are slow, brutal, and painful death or lingering pain and permanent disfigurement, and they go back 2,000+ years.
@thedisasterautist That's a telling insight. Thanks for sharing it.
Here, I was being glib, but machetes are deeply useful tools for rural folks. In Bogotá, 3/10 homicides last year were by smaller blades - quick vicious attacks for turf or during robberies, but in rural country or in poorer barrios one's simply more likely to have a machete on hand for finca work or everyday defense of one's vending stand / vehicle. First thing one grabs in a heated argument. I've seen them menaced... often!