Rio police now reportedly say alleged robbery of US swimmers was actually a confrontation over a broken door The story shows the confusion, and the shocking cultural differences between the US, and Brazil. More below. When I lived in Mexico, I was perpetually bewildered about the laws. Early, after arriving in Comalcalco, Tabasco, I noticed many people driving around with open beer containers in their cars. It was hot, so I bought a beer, and drank it while walking home.
The local Federales drove around in a "turtle truck" it was a three door van, with the double back doors removed, and a standing plate installed, and hand rails so the "agents" could ride on the back like old timey firefighters. They were young, perhaps early 20s, and in civilian cloths. As the turtle truck passed me, one of the young men on the back spotted my beer, raised his M-16, and when the truck hit a bump he touched off a half dozen rounds. Needless to say, I ditched the beer, and took off at a full sprint. Because they never came around for another pass, I always assumed that the shooting was an accident, and they thought it better to get out of dodge, then discuss matters with a superior. Later in the afternoon, I talked with Juan, a young boy I knew, and he told me it was just fine to drink beer while driving a car, but I could not drink beer while walking down the sidewalk. I was, to say, nonplussed. I suspect that Lochte et. al. thought they were being robbed. The guards thought they were apprehending some bad guys, and money changed hands. Whether Lochte vandalized the place is unknown, but they were drunk, and stupid, in a wild and wooly place like Rio. This is a good learning lesson, which should simply be thought of as a misunderstanding. The money lost paid for a valuable lesson learned. And now learned by the entire world. The best way to watch the Rio Olympics is via television. If you really have to have the full effect, have a big burley neighbor come over, and slap you around for a few minutes, and then take the money out of your wallet. He can buy the beers later.
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