A few days ago I wrote that the greatest threat to our freedom comes not from totalitarians but rather from our fear of them. While I still believe that to be true, it’s also the case that my fears grew upon arriving in Brazil.
Fear isn’t all negative. I savored my last night at home with Helen. I thought a lot about my children. I felt more grateful than usual for the security, freedom, and prosperity that I take for granted.
But then, later that night, I started reading about São Paulo’s notorious criminal syndicate, the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), and its ties to President Lula’s ruling Workers’ Party (Partido dos Trabalhadores, PT). Noted one analyst, “the group has the ambition to influence politicians at the highest echelons of power.”
The thought occurred to me: what if I made it through the border only to be kidnapped on the way from the airport to my hotel? At first I banished the thought as paranoia. But then I remembered the key lesson from Gavin de Becker’s landmark book on personal security, The Gift of Fear: never ignore your fears.
