LETTERS

Lesson number 1

I disagree with both, Ana Maria Bahiana (author of the book America from A to Z) and Mariano Magalhães whose letter appeared on the April 1996 issue. The basic problem many Brazilians have in trying to understand the United States is that we are a democracy. Every four years starting in 1789, we have had a presidential election. Furthermore, democracy is deeply rooted in the American mindset and character. The opposite is true in Latin America.

Most Latins don't seem to have the ability to comprehend that we had the industrial revolution and great inventors such as Henry Ford, Walter P. Chrysler, the Duponts, John Deere, George Washington Carver, etc. Finally, we never had the Counter Reformation and the religious fanatics that Spain and Portugal brought to Latin America.

Milton Peters
Northridge, California

Badly missed

News from Brazil should apologize to all Paulistas for the biased information provided in the article "The Other São Paulo". It's a shame for a Brazilian magazine to publish such bad and poor article without even revising the content provided by the publishing house Lonely Planet. I was especially upset with the section about Santos.

Since I am a Santista I'd like to say a few things that you absolutely missed. Santos is one of the top 20 international tourism destinations in the country. It's home for many worldwide events including sports, music, festivals, and environmental seminars. The beaches are clean (believe it or not), and also don't forget about the historical importance of the city in politics and avant-garde art production.

Juliano Siqueira
fsjcs3@aurora.alaska.edu

Under the skin

My wife Deborah recently subscribed to your publication and we have been delighted with it, as it offers a balanced, "warts and all" panorama of Brazil. We developed an interest in your country by stages, starting with Formula 1 auto racing (Nélson Piquet), then the music, and on to the politics and history. We have frequently been dismayed by the less than honorable role that the US has played in the latter area.

It was thus a distinct pleasure to find a source of current news, background and opinion. Our only frustration is to be found in the excerpts from some of our favorite authors, as we do not read Portuguese. Anyway, keep up the good work. We enclose a coupon and payment for a gift subscription for our good friend Dan, who shares our interest and will no doubt be as pleased as we are with your magazine. P.S. An article on the activities of Nelson Piquet since his retirement would please us greatly.

Howard Schmitt
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

In Germany, waiting

My husband and I miss a lot the latest news about Brazil brought by your magazine. I am Brazilian and my husband is German and while we were living in Monterey, California, we had a chance to subscribe. My husband does not speak Portuguese neither has he been in Brazil, but through News from Brazil he started to know about my country and my culture.

We are restarting our subscription and would like to see more ads about travel packages for trips around Brazil. We are planning to go there at the end of this year and are having a hard time finding out travel agencies here in Germany with a good deal to Brazil.

Luciana Barda
Düsseldorf, Germany

A must

I would like to renew my subscription to News from Brazil. Enclosed is a check for $3. News from Brazil is the most interesting and sophisticated journal of Brazilian news and culture published stateside. I consider it indispensable reading.

Samuel Cohn
Austin, Texas

Falling short

I have received two issues of your magazine and am very impressed. The Economy and Literature sections in particular are interesting although I also am hoping to see a little more current politics included.

Megan Savage
Aurora, Colorado

Couldn't resist

I loved your magazine so much here's a subscription order for a friend who lives in Miami, Florida. Thanks for such an excellent magazine!

Jeff Akers
Boulder, Colorado

Let it go

This is from one of your all-time fans. Please lose the gifs in you welcome screen (the ones that only say "Back Issues" and "Ads"). Despite the fact that they only say very little they take forever to load. Tell the guy who made such a pretty, muddled, unnecessarily complex WEB page for you to dump the gifs!

I find that I simply don't revisit WEB pages that take so long to load up. I could get a cup of coffee and a sandwich for all the time it takes. It might be different if they were really hip graphics. But they are simply signs with a little bit of an old magazine cover behind it -- and in black and white.

Gerry Scott-Moore
gsm@netcom.com

Tested and approved

After reviewing your publication I was very impressed with your coverage of local and international Brazilian events. Therefore I would be interested in subscribing to your publication. Enclosed find a check for a one year subscription.

J. Jorren Austin
Burtonsville, Maryland

Studying Brazil

I am from Mexico City and I am studying International Business. Since I am doing a special report about Brazil I would appreciate more information about the main heroes of Brazil and about ethnic groups, as well as the most significant events celebrated in your country.

Mabel Escobar Navarrete
al438501@campus.cem.itesm.mx

All things considered

Thanks for the beautiful coverage of the social, political and economic "climate" of Brazil. Here's my subscription renewal.

Manuel De Moussy
San Francisco, California

Send us your E-mail:
brazilnews@aol.com