Monday, February 28, 2011
Street Fight in Hanoi
I have never seen anything like it. Nor do I think I will ever see anything like it again. Today when I was riding my bicycle down the busy main road back to work after my lunch break, I noticed that the traffic was slowing and a small group of curious commuters were gathering looking at something on the sidewalk. If I was in my home country, I would have slowed down, looked and then kept on driving but because I know that everyone stops and has a nosey here, I decided to do the same. As I stopped just far enough away to see what was happening, I saw an angry guy holding another by his shirt. There were another couple of angry guys walking around looking very edgy. There were around 3 or 4 random people casually trying to break up the argument but most other people were just standing around. I tried to figure out what exactly had happened, and when one of the other guys started violently kicking over every sign he could see, another guy grabbed his own motorbike and started to try to drive away. Two guys stopped him and started punching him in the face, repeatedly and for a long time. Then things escalated to a point I never would have imagined. One man fell to the ground, probably from a punch to the face and so the two men started beating the crap out of one other man, over and over and over their fists went into his face until he lost his feet. Then while one of his attackers looked around for a weapon, the other went to the man fallen on the ground and took the biggest kick I have ever seen into his face and kicked him over and over again. I was so angry that noone was really going over to break up the fight, I knew there was nothing I could do because I can't speak Vietnamese, and there were even two army men there who were just standing, watching. Then I was horrified when I saw one of the main attackers come back with a huge brick, and by brick I mean it was 40 x 20cm and the guy could hardly lift it, but in his anger he lifted it up and up and I saw praying, no , please no, but yes, he brought it down with all of his strength onto the mans head. At this point I couldn't believe that all of this was happening on the street, and so many people were standing around just watching, not doing anything. The three guys got back on their motorbike and slowly drove off, right past the army men, and the man lying on the floor who had been round-house kicked to the face struggled to his feet. I couldnt recognise his face for all the blood. He didn't stand for long and at that point I felt so sick in my stomach that I turned and left, as still noone was helping them. What makes me angry, so angry is that how society can be like that, that no one helps, even when someone is at the point of being killed?! The attackers had no weapons (apart from a brick that was too heavy to do anything against a conscious person anyway) and it would have been so easy for a bunch of 4 or 5 guys that were standing around to say, ok, you grab that one, we will grab this one, and we will wait for the police to arrive. But the army guys were there. What use were they? I just cannot fathom how anyone can just stand around and watch that take place. A friend said, well yes Charlene, they were too scared to get involved. Who cares!! there were enough men around to easily overcome all those involved, its just that noone did it. I have lost all faith in this society. Maybe just today while I'm so angry, and yes, I know things like this happen in our countries sometimes, but no, most of the time people do help others, especially in a situation like this with so many people watching etc. Isn't it our human in built duty to protect eachother??? Or maybe I'm just dreaming of a society like that because in recent disaster videos I heard so many people saying, no, lets just help ourselves and save ourselves. Why are we like this?? Is there any way we can change this?? I would like to hear your comments below. For me, I will spend the rest of the afternoon trying to focus on work, but with flashes of the violence coming back into my mind. As a Christian, I am drawn to the bible text that says- "I have told you these things, so that in me (God) you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." So, I know where I will find my peace in this crazy world! How about you?.
7 comments:
I really don't know what to say about this. I'm shocked and I have tried to imagine what I would do/think/feel if I were there. I'm certain I would have stood there shaking and trembling and unsure and frightened and angry.....wow Charlene. What an ordeal! I pray that you do find God's peace over this.
Yeah but..... you describe the fight quite well but i still could not tell who were the good guys and who were the bad guys.
hi Charlene.
A bit self introduction, I'm an Hanoian too. And i've been a victim of a street fight too.
It happened about 3 or 4 years ago, I was on my bike, riding from a martial art class to home. It was 10 pm, and since the weather that night was breezing, i decided to take a longer route. Put on my mp3 player's headset, play Eagle, shit was awesome.
Then suddenly I realized the music has stopped. My earphones flung out from my mp3, which was still in my pocket, because two riders took it when riding past me. Realized they are thiefs, I quickly hid my mp3 in other pocket. Then did the most stupid thing in my life: chase hem to get the earphones back.
As I was riding next to them, I shouted them to give me back what they have taken. Then denied they have stolen it, told me I'm crazy and forced me to stop at the curb. I realized I have done something really, really stupid. They have two and a motorbike, the sreet was quiet, I was alone with my bike.
The fucker who took my earphone stpped down, walked toward me in an aggressive manner. Shaken and scared, but I quickly punched that fat fuck in the face. He dizzied a bit, and became more agressive by picking up a big brick left on the sidewalk and throw at me. I quickly ran backward, avoided it.
Lucky for me, there was an old man riding a Honda cub shouted at them. I hid behind him, tell him they are robbers. It appears that his presence turned them down. They quickly rode away.
The old man asked where I live, and offered me to escorte home. Since it was less than a km away, I turned that offer down, thanked him and pick up my bike.
Big. Mistake.
That other two came back, pused me to the ground again. I quifkly jumped out from my bike, just to be hit from behind from another motorbike. I turned around, asking the man who hit me for help. He didn't help, but kicked me. Surprise, that two fat fucks called reinforcement.
I was helplessly kicked around, pulled around by 3 or 4 of them. People starting to gather around to see, and one of the thugs explained that I hit their friends. Oh well.
Finally,I lied down on the street. I was waiting for a finishing move. A brick lands on brain? Or a knife in the stomach? What would it feels like? Suddenly the meaning of waiting for Indiana jones 4 that summer didn't mean anything.
Nothing happened. I heard the sound of the engines, fading away. Standing up, realized they have left. Realized there was about 20 people standing, just observing. No one intervened, no one called the cops. How silent the audiences were. How dedicating of them to a street performance.
Still shaken amd can barely speak, I checked my body for any injuries. It was extremely, extremely lucky for me, to had no physical injury at all. Not even blood or wounds. But there were bruises, and a headache caused by the hair-pulling trick by one of the three "performers".
The old man appeared again, he look quiet confuse and scared. He is the only one there asked if I was ok. Another middle aged man rode by, offered to escort. "Yes" this time.
Out of 20+ people, only 2 oldmen cared. I was escorted home by those kind men. Mentally shocked for a week, I nested a hate to both the cowardice thugs and the people who did nothing to stop a fight in front of them. A call would help, people.
Epilogue: About a year later, I saw the pictures of them again, being caught by the police force. Karma, though a bit too late.
That's my story. I usually don't tell anyone about this, as I try to forget it and move on. But well, since I'm anonymous here, I feel like I would share this personal story to you.
To the anonymous poster:
Wow! Im sorry that that happened to you, it shows how we really need to be careful about what is happening around us all the time. Thank you for sharing with me and the readers, it is much appreciated.
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