IN STEREO

Well, to be able to speak for the people, I can say that my neighbourhood in particular [and] our city in general is very calm. We are not aggressive, no. There is not a war among us. Everything is simply friendship. We love each other. [We’re] a little aloof, but we take into account that we are [all] people, and we still have respect for the elderly. But now the youth.... It has deteriorated so that there is no respect for the elderly. The boys take over the sidewalk. At night, when they go out to drink, malicious people beat us up. Or beat them up – not me anymore, because I don’t go out at night. The ornaments in the little squares, [of] pure iron: I found them one night, kicking, kicking, kicking, until they destroyed it. And there is no case of messing with them because they will mess with you. The youth is spoiled now. Rebellion, rebellion. They think they are important when they leave this [graffiti]. They think they are very important. It’s interesting to say, “That’s what I’ve written.” But the years go by and when they are old, they will say, “Why did I write it?” They think they know best. They’re fools. They don’t know what they want. – Don Freddy

I remember the streets; I remember my childhood, my youth – although it is no longer the same people. Other people, many people came from the provinces. But the streets are the same. Those years were very different from the present. Now everything is about drinking, smoking and women. Before, it wasn’t. I spent my childhood, my youth, all in the company of my friends from Nogales Street. My friends are [still] there. Now they are professionals and some, well, they have left. Some of them have passed. In the end, every person of age becomes independent, is married, or death awaits us. – Don Dario