Brazzil I enjoy your magazine, you have opened up new experiences for me in music, art and Brazil. With the apparent election of a socialist imminent, leftist anti-USA
voices (South and North American) seem to dominate your articles and your readers' letters. I believe in democracy, Brazilians must decide their fate; that is your right. The
United States government will not and is not interfering with your elections. I heard very little outrage when European leaders all but did commercials for Al Gore in our last
elections. That was OK, that was not interference? It is a non-issue, we voted they didn't.
The Washington Times prints an editorial that someone does not agree with, so let's attack the paper, the author and the USA. Let's bash the USA. Is that the only
reason anyone is voting for Lula? Because, other than a visceral hatred for the USA, what else is there. Lula has been all over the board on those policy issues he has
addressed. Of course companies are concerned about investing in a socialist country, run by a leader whose followers hate the USA and has not put forth a coherent economic
policy. A leader that seems to adore Fidel Castro. Fidel the economic guru that has made Cuba such a success.
Brazilians should be worried as well. I don't care for the IMF. Of course, each new loan simply pays back the old one. If they didn't every country in South America
would look like Argentina today. But why bash the USA. Do you think Lula will not borrow money from the USA? He will, then he will bash the USA, to divert attention from the
problems that lead him to borrow the money.
I am not an economist anymore than your average Brazilian, so I take a simple view of this. Companies have a responsibility to their investors. Investors are
nervous about Brazil and Lula. How is that interference in your election? Investors and companies will divest from Brazil, but that is the price of electing a socialist when your
economy is so shaky. It is only good business practice to protect your investors. The evil, onerous USA will of course lend money in a pinch. But the USA is an evil hegemony?
Look, you borrow money, you pay back money. If you cannot pay it back, why should anyone lend it to you? If you borrow $100.00 with a promise to payback
$110.00, that is the price of taking the loan. Do you hate the one that lends you the money? It is the borrowers interest payments that allow the lender to continue lending money.
No wonder usury is so despised in Christianity, it is a vicious circle for the poor and poor countries, which is why I do not like the IMF and its rules.
It really is simple, you vote for whom you want, it is your country. Neither George Bush nor Colin Powell will be in the voting booth with you, so the USA cannot really
stop Lula from being elected. So, why is Lula's election good for Brazil? If he has nothing to offer, then by all means continue to bash the USA, it makes no difference to us.
But if that is all he has, it will make a difference to Brazilians.
Mr. Norman Madarasz, I read your article on the PT candidate Mr. Luiz Inácio da Silva, Lula ("Give Lula a Chance" -
www.brazzil.com/cvrsep02.htm). Are you
crazy, indicating that this man can bring down the Brazilian poverty syndrome? Listen, I am married to a Canadian. She was also very much socialist until she came to live in
America. Now she is as capitalist as they come.
Mr. Lula thinks that running a country of Brazil's magnitude is the same as running a union in the São Paulo ABC region. This man will be the disgrace of Brazil. He
is a pure communist, and will open the doors into Brazil to the likes of Saddam Hussein, Fidel Castro and others that are the plague of this planet.
You get out of the country. Your article is doing more damage to the country than all the poverty together. Believe me when I say that there are still a number of
great men in Brazil who care for the good of the country despite of the candidates. It happened in 1964 and will happen again. Brazil has too many small businesses to
become a communist country or socialist like France and your Canada.
We do not need socialism or communism. We are a group of intelligent and self-made people, got that? The only reason we owe to the IMF is because of dishonest
men and communists like Lula. See what happened to Jango Goulart, before you backup Lula, bozo.
Stop Communism! We hear your country may go under if this new candidate Luiz da Silva is elected. We hope and pray for freedom's sake and good will that the
Holy Spirit wins out in the coming presidential elections. See my Website at
http://community.webtv.net/sirknightrider/WORLDBEFREE
Dear Peter Castle, I was really glad to come across your article in
Brazzil magazine ("Speak Up, Brazil!" -
www.brazzil.com/p18sep02.htm) about the attacks of
Mr. Constantine Menges on presidential candidate Lula. I felt that was the greatest absurd written in our recent times. Not only it is false-alarmist, but it is irresponsible and
untrue. Those arguments either have no real basis or are twisted to the most (a pretty dictatorial practice).
Anyway, I am glad to see that other people are bringing attention to this fact so that this kind of position and attitude don't get credit anymore. I am even gladder to
hear the senses from another American, which shows things are not lost and that Mr. Menges's thoughts have opposition.
Dear Mr. Castle, I've just read your article in Brazzil.com -
www.brazzil.com/p18sep02.htm and I must say I couldn't agree more. Mr. Menges's article is not only
inaccurate, but also a great way to give its readers a few laughs, although knowing that many North-American readers have read it and may believe in Mr Menges's load of crap.
I'm still trying to translate your full article into Portuguese, so I can email it to my friends or maybe put it on my personal homepage, but I don't think I'll be successful.
So I'm thinking maybe you could ask your wife or one of your Brazilian friends to email you or directly to me a translated version of the article.
PS: Note from a friend of mine, who is a Workers' Party hater: "After reading Mr Menges's article, I'm seriously thinking about voting for Lula!"
Dr. Menges displayed a profound knowledge of what is happening today in Brazil in his illuminating article:
"Brazil's Nut - The upcoming election bodes well for
a Castro wannabe."
He knows exactly the disgrace that is happening to Brazil. After the complete failure of communism in all countries in which it was tried, communists all over the
world are reuniting to implementing it in Latin America, with the specific objective of opposing capitalism and the United States, the symbol of capitalism.
With that objective they are making an alliance: Cuba, Venezuela, narco-communists of the Colombian FARC and now Brazil (after the victory of Lula, a
radical communist). This was decided in the São Paulo Forum, among the following communist associations:
Argentina: Frente Democracia Avanzada
Argentina: Partido Comunista Argentino
Argentina: Partido Intransigente
Brasil: Partido dos Trabalhadores
Brasil: Partido Socialista Brasileiro
Brasil: Partido Comunista do Brasil
Brasil: Movimento Revolucionário 8 de Outubro
Brasil: Partido Popular Socialista
Colômbia: Alianza Democrática M19
Colômbia: ELN
Colômbia: FARC-EP
Colômbia: Partido Comunista Colombiano
Colômbia: Presentes por el Socialismo
Cuba: Partido Comunista
Chile: MIR
Chile: Partido Comunista de Chile
Equador: Movimiento Popular Democrático
Equador: Partido Socialista - Frente Amplio
El Salvador: FMLN
Guatemala: URNG
México: Partido de la Revolución Democrática
México: Partido del Trabajo
Nicarágua: FSLN
Porto Rico: Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño
Porto Rico: Nuevo Movimiento Independentista Puertorriqueño
Porto Rico: Frente Socialista
Panamá: Partido Revolucionário Democrático
Peru: Movimiento Revolucionario Tupac Amaru
Peru: Partido Comunista Peruano
República Dominicana: Alianza por la Democracia
República Dominicana: Fuerza de la Revolución
República Dominicana: Movimiento Izquierda Unida
República Dominicana: Partido de los Trabajadores Dominicanos
Uruguai: Frente Amplio
Uruguai: Partido Comunista
Uruguai: Partido Socialista de Uruguay
Uruguai: Movimiento de Participación Popular
Uruguai: Partido Obrero Revolucionario Trotskista-Posadista
Partido Comunista de Venezuela
Communism much like socialism, at the beginning of the
20th century, promised social justice, fraternity and progress. However, it is a broken promise, since it has
been tried in many countries and it didn't work. The result was that the
20th was the bloodiest century of all the history of mankind. Socialism only produced butchers like
Lenin, Stalin, Mussolini, Hitler, Mao Tse-tung, Pol Pot, Honecker, Ceaucescu, Hoxha.
Communists are responsible for almost two hundred million assassinations, maybe more than in all wars in history. It proved to be the most brutal and cruel regime
ever tried by mankind and at no time did it make good its promises. In the Soviet Union, where Stalin killed about sixty million compatriots, in time of peace, people lived
under bondage and poverty and hundreds of slave camps were implemented (the gulags).
Fidel Castro, Lula's mastermind, killed seventeen thousand Cubans and one third of the population escaped from the island. By the way, people are always trying
to escape from communist "paradises". I never heard of anyone fleeing from a capitalist "hell". We can conclude that communists are always moved by the worst
intentions. To establish a dictatorship and arrest or kill those who do not agree with them, as ALWAYS happened and as happens even today in Cuba and North Korea.
Castro made his revolution to free the island from the dictator Baptista. However Baptista had three penitentiaries. Fidel has eight hundred.
Cuba came to a standstill after the revolution, except for the killing of people. Formerly the "pearl of the Caribbean", Havana now it looks like a slum and the
people are starving.
Communists are always a failure, even in Brazil, where cities with communist mayors, like the ones of the PT (Lula's party) are involved in corruption,
inefficiency, assassination, heavy increases of taxes and the hiring of numberless members of the party, who tithe for the party.
Brazil is doomed if Lula earns the presidency. He will be a tremendous disaster, because communists despise economics and make only political decisions.
Besides, communism has the characteristics of awakening the worst instincts in their adherences. Intolerance, brutality, truculence, mendacity, have always happened
when communists achieve power.
It is obvious that Mr. Castles and his wife are authentic communists and parrot the communist ideology totally ignoring the dire experience of communism in the
20th-Century. Ignorance or fanaticism?
Really it will be established as an axis of evil in Latin America, as agreed in the "Foro de São Paulo", with the association of communist bandits (all of them are
bandits, since they do not behave according to our code of morals) with the drug producers and dealers of Colombia. With Lula in the presidency, his guerrilla troops, MST,
will establish connections with FARC.
There are no moderate communists, in the same way that there are no woman slightly pregnant. Lula is a full-fledged communist and will repeat all the
stupidities communist have committed in other countries. At least he will try.
However, it is possible to imagine that ultimately Lula will obey orders from Castro. Lula's mastermind is José Dirceu, suspected of being an agent of the Cuban
secret police, therefore obedient to Castro. Since José Dirceu has great influence over Lula, Castro will be the virtual president of Brazil.
This is the worst possible scenario. It is exactly what Dr. Menges said. Maybe worse.
Dear, Ms Leda Beck, I was getting quite annoyed by the mountains of misinformation (more like stupidity) in the latest issue of
Brazzil relating to the Brazilian financial crisis, "globalization", the elections and related matters. Then I read your article entitled "Election Dysfunction" -
www.brazzil.com/p20aug02.htm. I found it factual,
calm, objective, and well written.
Please keep writing for Brazzil. We need a counterweight to French-trained ideologues and to a certain economist who sees Brazil as a safe haven from economic
and political chaos in the US (and who wants Brazil to develop nuclear weapons).
I was very saddened after reading
Brazzil's article on black Brazilians. Actually, I just had my first visit to São Paulo last Monday. I am an African-American and I am a
flight attendant for Delta Airlines. First of all, I was worried that I would not see a lot of blacks, but a friend of mine told me I would and that there were more blacks in Brazil
than in America, which was shocking to me.
I really don't care anymore if people want to be associated as being black. It is very useless. I have come to love me and I am so thankful to God that he made me
black. I have learned to accept people as they are. While in Brazil, I felt out of place only because of the language barrier. A lot of the Brazilians thought I was a black Brazilian, but when I spoke they knew I was American. It is very unfortunate the situation of black Brazilians. They are
still facing things that went on in America a decade ago. However, in America we still deal with racial issues. I pray that other black Brazilians will read this email and maybe
more and more African-Americans will come to the aid of those blacks who do not mind identifying themselves as black.
I am willing to help in any way I can to give some support. One thing about blacks in America is that we will be heard and we will not just sit back and take it. Blacks
in America have made major political gains and we are one of the biggest spending groups in America. Although we do have economical power somewhat we are so far behind.
We spend our money on wasteful things instead of educating our children more on starting their own businesses and investing. We are getting better and we have
a very large middle class population in Atlanta, but we still need to do more. I just wish that blacks would finally accept who they are as God made us to be. We can no
longer allow anyone to tell us we are ugly or less than anyone.
God made us all and he made us different and he did not make a mistake with the black race. I do not know what this world would be like without the contribution of
the black race. Maybe the black Brazilians who are afraid of who they are need to get educated on some history just like the blacks in America had to get educated. God
bless all my white and black brothers and sisters in Brazil.
Your article on singer Wilson Simonal -
www.brazzil.com/p07jul00.htm - basically covers most of the story, however, there is a little more to it, and incidentally, I
have been able to piece the story from true and reliable sources. I personally knew Simonal, and he never struck me as a person that would want to harm anybody. It simply
was not in his mental makeup. He was first and foremost, an entertainer and an artist, the likes of which Brazil has rarely seen.
Simonal had charisma and above all, seemed to be happiest when singing. People in that state of mind don't generally think about beating the shit out of anyone
whether by their own personal hand, or through delegating that action to a third party. People like Simonal generally try to elevate the human spirit and again, do it by
entertaining others.
The story gets a little screwed up because what happened was that he asked his friends in the police to go and quietly pick up the bookkeeper. The reason for this
was that the bookkeeper's wife was pregnant, and Simonal did not want the woman to freak out and miscarry. After confronting the bookkeeper, the bookkeeper swore that
he would make good on all fiscal misdeeds.
It seems very improbable that Simonal would tell his pals to beat the shit out the bookkeeper. The police pals who quietly picked up the bookkeeper probably took
it upon themselves to just beat the shit out of the bookkeeper, after the meeting with Simonal. Unfortunately, when the bookkeeper turned around and sued for
kidnapping it set off a chain of events that nobody bothered to authenticate, and before the dust settled, Simonal was damaged in a way that is nothing short of criminal.
This is truly one sad story. The country lost, not to mention what this cost Simonal and his family. It would be really good for the record companies to make a box
set compilation, and try to disseminate the name of Simonal, so that a new generation can get it. Peace.
I loved your article on Lampião ("Crime and Charm" -
www.brazzil.com/p32sep02.htm. It brought memories from my grandmother when she used to tell me the stories
of Lampiões that really match what you have in this article. Thanks for bringing articles that are part of the past of Brazil.
Dear Dr. Amaral, I enjoyed reading your "Countdown to Armageddon" piece -
www.brazzil.com/p25sep02.htm - and support your call to change from a real to
euro—or a US dollar. (I'm in no position of any influence, however.) In your reasons to fear about the US, you correctly mention the pension time bomb, but fail to compare the
US to Europe, where the problem is far worse.
Similarly the welfare state and mentality. It is really not clear that the euro will be better, economically, than the USD, although Eastern expansion will
simultaneously reduce the EU's average income level and increase its growth. Have you commented or thought seriously about the Chile pension system? Isn't Brazil trying to
implement something similar? This economics taught finance professional in Slovakia thanks you for your article.
Mr. Amaral, enjoyed reading your "Countdown to Armageddon" article very much. Most interesting perspective.
I have a question about Ciro Gomes.
1) Do you think his alliances with Senhor Collor and ACM are a pack with the devils? Has he sold his soul to make President? What do you think the political price
will be for aligning with them?
2) If Ciro replaces Mr. Armínio Fraga as Central Bank president, do you think he will put Collor in charge? Collor proved very adept at moving currency
internationally last time, so why not this time as well, eh?
Great article, Mr. Amaral. I enjoyed it and found it very true. How this effects home prices in USA is a good question. I have read that Euro bonds are a good
investment, but how do you invest in them? Mutual funds?
Your article on black Brazilians was most fascinating. As an African American, I found it quite knowledgeable and interesting. Thank goodness for the creation of
the computer and internet—now lies cannot be easy developed or maintained.
I have a friend who confided in me about his sexual experience. He told me his first sexual partner was his mother, I was in shock. His mom is Brazilian, and my
question is: Is this part of the culture? Or is this behavior in any way accepted in the Brazilian culture? I want to support him, but this is all so new and strange to me.
His father was a salesman and traveled a lot, It started when he was around 13, and continued till he was about 17. He loves his mother very much, and yet was
sworn to secrecy as a young man. I think this has had a huge effect on how his relationships with women progress. To me it was child abuse, but he loved it, and doesn't think it
hurt him at all. If you have any information about this type of behavior, I would very much appreciate it.......
I enjoy every issue of Brazzil, as does my mother. She lived in Brazil, in Rio and in Belém do Pará, where I was born 50 years ago. Although we left when I was two
years old, I know that someday I will return. Meanwhile, please renew our subscriptions. What a deal!
I want to find out if I can get the video cassette on the soap opera Isaura. I likee the film so much that I want to have my own cassette. I watched this soap opera on
one of our channels in Ghana some years ago and I really want to watch it again. Please let me hear from you soon.
My fiancé and I are having a wedding in Naples Florida and would love to find a Brazilian Jazz Band to play our cocktail party. We were looking for a casual hip
style band you would find in South Beach. If you can help us we would greatly appreciate it. We are having our wedding next month so the sooner you respond the more
grateful we'll be.
Thank you for your site and all the information you have about Lumiar. I have visited the Lumiar site and there are several books I would like to buy but they don't
put prices up and their email link isn't working. Do you have an email address for them that you could share with me so I can write and ask about prices in US dollars?
We are a special interest magazine for journalism based in Germany. In our next issue we will publish an article about the work and murder of the Brazilian
reporter Tim Lopes.
The problem is: We can not get any photos here in Germany to illustrate that article. I know you covered the story: Do you know someone who shot photos for
example of the peace march after Tim Lopes died?
Could you give us a hint? Thank you very much for your help.
I represent a language school in Chicago and we are currently looking for people who speak Portuguese and who would be interested in teaching others to learn
the language. Would you happen to know of anyone who might be interested?
I am trying to learn Spanish and Portuguese. How can two different translations be so wrong (see below)? What is a poor student to do? It's bad enough to want everybody speaking English.
É um peixe, é um gesto, http://www.brazzil.com/p08sep01.htm ( Tom Jobim's "Águas de Março")
It's a fish, it's a gesture http://www.emory.edu/EDUCATION/mfp/waters.html
A truckload of bricks É a lenha, é o dia, http://www.brazzil.com/p08sep01.htm
It's the firewood, it's the day http://www.emory.edu/EDUCATION/mfp/waters.html
A mile, a must, Hi, my fiancé was born in Brazil. He is now in the USA but he needs a birth certificate from Brazil in order to get a new passport, or green card. He had everything,
but it was all stolen, all he has now is a Utah driver license, & Utah I.D. I love him, & CAN"T loose him, so if you could please help, I have tried everything, & every one says
he needs a birth certificate, and/or passport, so he can get a green card to stay in the US with me.
His name is Luiz Eduardo Miranda, I only know the English way to write it, please get back to me soon, my name is Brandy. my e-mail address is
brandylynn200284119@yahoo.com
Could you please send me reviews or articles you have available on Brazilian writer Milton Hatoum? The reason that I'm asking you this is due to the fact that I want
to use any material that talks about Mr. Hatoum in a post graduating course in literature, in which I intend to discuss his importance, as a writer, out of our country. I'll be
looking forward to hearing from you.
Bom dia!
My name is Diane Schutz, and I work for New York Times Television, for a TV show called "A Cook's Tour" — the premise of this documentary series is to follow
New York chef Anthony Bourdain on a culinary adventure around the world, where he is introduced to the cuisine and cultures of various countries. He is also author of
the bestselling books Kitchen Confidential and
A Cook's Tour.
We will be shooting in Brazil from October 17-30, and need to hire two "fixers": one for Rio and one for Salvador. The "fixer" will be used as a tour guide /
translator / driver, and will help us find local restaurants / cafés /
churrascarias / lanchonetes / bars to shoot for use in the TV show. The emphasis of the show will be where
"locals" eat—NO tourist spots, please!—this is very, very important!!! (This is the reason we don't want to hire a professional tour guide) We will need to obtain permission from
the above establishments to shoot there, and they must be willing to sign a legal release.
The following are some of the requirements for the "fixer":
* has a valid driver's license and is able to drive a mini-van (we will rent one)
* able to speak both Portuguese and English
* knows the area, and is very familiar with the local food and different food establishments
* must be mature, flexible and responsible—some of the shoots will involve early days and late nights
* must be outgoing!
* for Rio: must be available October 17-24
* for Salvador: must be available October 25-30
We will discuss salary to those interested in the positions—meals will be included. It's a big responsibility, but will also be lots of fun!
For more information on the show, check out the website below:
http://www.foodtv.com/foodtv/show/0,6525,TB,00.html
If interested, please e-mail Diane Schutz as soon as possible at
dischutz@aol.com. Please include a phone number where you can be reached.
Obrigada!
ALSO: one other angle we're looking for: local people who might be interested in cooking a typical home-cooked local meal for Tony (on-camera)—we'll
compensate for all food expenses. (They don't necessarily have to speak English.)
Thank you for the excellent reporting and due accolades to the greatest guitarist Baden Powell "Goodbye Song" -
www.brazzil.com/p08nov00.htm. We are awed
and overwhelmed by the prowess and complete mastery of the classical guitar by such a talented artist.Are there any available videos of him playing his guitar or doing any
of his concerts or stage appearances? If so, where may we purchase them?
Brazzil mentions a poll in Brazil that selects "Águas de Março" as the most popular song -
www.brazzil.com/p08sep01.htm. And the definitive rendition of "Águas
de Março" is in the album Elis and Tom. Can you tell me if any accurate translations in English of this song as sung on the
Elis and Tom album exist? The last stanza sung
by Elis and Tom have never been translated into English? What, exactly, are they talking about when Elis starts to laugh in that song?
I am a student at The NHTV Breda University of Professional
Education and I am writing to you with the following request.
In Breda I am studying International Tourism Management & Consultancy. This is a four year graduate course that trains students in research, marketing
and management skills. It also pays attention to the subject sustainable tourism/ecotourism.
Graduates from our institute are active in tourism planning and management processes of both governmental bodies and companies in the tourism industry, at
home as well as abroad.
During the second semester of the third year students have to attend a placement abroad for the period of six months. The idea is that students work full-time in
the organization, preferably in various departments. In addition, students are required to do an assignment.
I take the liberty to ask if you would be willing to help me get in contact with organizations that work with ecotourism in Bahia. I am very interested in doing my
placement in the subject area of sustainable tourism. I am a pretty idealistic person and I have always wanted to do something I believe in and in which I can give the full 100
percent. After I graduate I would like to work in this area. I would also love to do my placement in Brazil. My father is Brazilian, I have lived in Brazil as a child and I have always
wanted to go back for a while.
Speaking Portuguese will probably not be a too great obstacle. I have spoken this language until I was nine years old, so it will not be too difficult to pick it up again.
I am also very committed to sustainable tourism. I strongly believe that this type of tourism is necessary to preserve nature and develop tourism in a right manner.
I hope you can provide me with extra information about or addresses from organizations that operate in the field of sustainable tourism and the concerning projects.
I would like to thank you in advance for your trouble. If you need
any additional information, please contact me.
I'm looking for Vinicius de Moraes' record label contact. I am the World Music Director for AOLMusic, which features its stations across 3 Internet Radio players:
Netscape, AOL, and Spinner. I am attempting to track down a copy of Mr. Moraes' latest CD "Live in Buenos Aires" (on the Circular Moves label) but am having some difficulties
getting a contact for the label. Might you be able to help me?
Mr. Norman Madarasz, your article on Lula ("Give Lula a Chance" -
www.brazzil.com/cvrsep02.htm) is full of B.S. and nonsense. Do you know the difference
between a hole in the ground and your butt? It is zero, which is your IQ.
Você não tem o direito de se intrometer e dar palpites em assuntos brasileiros. Vá plantar batatas no Canadá. Fora com os estrangeiros que querem nos empurrar
para um alinhamento com Cuba. O Brasil deve ser pensado e decidido por brasileiros. Deixe-nos errar por conta própria, não precisamos de palpites de comunistas de
outros países, pois já temos os nossos comunistas locais. Go back to Canada!
Dear Brazzil, Estou desesperadamente com saudades, não durmo, não como, estou muito deprimida, meus sapatos têm buracos por todos os lados. Canso de ir ao mail box e,
nada. Foi amor à primeira vista. Aguardo ansiosa a chegada do tão esperado, meu amor,
Brazzil magazine.
Sou uma brasileira residente nos Estados Unidos já há 13 anos. Sei que irá haver eleição para presidente no Brasil e como sempre, sou obrigada a votar,
mesmo estando aqui nos Estados Unidos e não conhecendo os candidatos à presidência!
O consulado brasileiro de Los Angeles deveria informar os brasileiros daqui sobre o que está acontecendo no Brasil não somente sobre eleições mas
sobre declaração de impostos de renda e prazos para entrega, porque os brasileiros que estão aqui como eu, somente ficam sabendo destas informações através de
parentes, amigos ou se temos acesso à Internet e não através do consulado. E muitas vezes quando sabemos já passou a data. Meu desejo seria que o consulado brasileiro de
Los Angeles oferecesse mais ajuda aos brasileiros que vivem aqui.
Nasci nos EUA porém fui criado em Lisboa, Portugal. Regressei aos EUA e neste momento vivo em San Francisco, California, lugar onde residem muitos
brasileiros. Em 98 conheci uma moça brasileira que se tornou minha esposa. Através dela tenho conhecido muito a comunidade e a cultura brasileiras. E uma coisa eu notei em
relação à língua que dizem que falam. Dizem que é o português sim senhor, mas do Brasil, como se em Portugal se falasse uma lingua diferente.
Depois de muitos debates sem resolução resolvi investigar na Net quando deparo com este artigo ("Brazilian Spoken Here" - www.brazzil.com/p47sep98.htm)
que para mim é a coisa mais ridícula que alguma vez li. Brasileiro fala brasileiro? Não fala Português? Por favor!!! Tem muitos brasileiros que falam errado, não porque
falam diferente, mas simplesmente porque nao têm estudos. Mas isso acontece em qualquer país do mundo. Se algum português diz que o brasileiro fala errado é porque
é ignorante. As diferenças que a Sra Fabres menciona são mais que conhecidas e as razões para tais diferenças estão nas influências que cada país teve.
No Brasil vivem todo o tipo de raças que trouxeram um pouco de influência para não falar no povo original: o índio. Portugal descobriu o Brasil em 1500. Só lá
voltou 50 anos depois e o português só passou à lingua oficial exclusiva em 1720 quando o rei expulsou os jesuítas. Até então era o português e um dialecto índio que me
esqueço agora. Com a chegada do rei D. João VI as diferenças diminuíram, para voltarem a aumentar com a imigração para o Brasil e com os termos técnicos. Isto é a coisa mais
natural do mundo!
Agora dizerem que falam brasileiro e nao português é ridiculo. Até em Portugal, que é tao pequeno tem as suas diferenças, por exemplo um choupe em Lisboa é
uma imperial, no resto do país é um fino. Apanhar um táxi em Lisboa é apanhar uma tarifa no Porto. E agora? Em Lisboa fala-se português ou lisboeta ou português de
Lisboa? Sra Fabres, para a sra poder se comunicar em português em Portugal não precisa de aprender outra língua, porque já é a língua que a sra fala. O que vai necessitar
é de tempo para se acostumar com o sotaque. Somente isso. Questão de tempo e de ouvido. Foi o que aconteceu com a minha esposa.
Essa de italiano ser mais fácil é absurdo. Como a sra diz é preferível esquecer o vosso passado colonial no qual vocês foram parte do império português.
Culpam Portugal de ser o responsável pela situação do Brasil. Já me disseram que gostariam de ter sido colonizados por japoneses para poderem estar a competir com os
EUA pelo domínio mundial. Absolutamente ridículo. A minha própria esposa diz que gostaria que o Brasil tivesse sido colonizado pela França, Itália ou pela Alemanha, mas
depois arrepende-se porque assim nao falaria português que é uma língua linda, E que o povo brasileiro seria diferente. Vocês esquecem que foram os portugueses que
vos criaram, ao se relacionarem com os índios e levando os negros.
Foi horrível tudo o que aconteceu, mas nunca teria surgido essa raça maravilhosa brasileira. Aqui na América muita gente pensa que brasileiro fala
espanhol simplesmente porque não conhece Portugal. Mesmo vocês não conhecem. Só conhecem a capital e o Pedro Álvares Cabral. É difícil saber que a vossa terra mãe é dos
países mais pobres da União Européia, sem expressão internacional, mas infelizmente essa vocês vão ter que engolir. Não tentem convencer o mundo que falam uma língua
que não é o português para assim romperem o unico laço que une os dois povos, porque só os ignorantes é que vão acreditar.
Eu trabalho com hispânicos, e todos eles dizem que falam espanhol e todos eles sabem das diferenças de país para país e principalmente para a terra mãe,
Espanha. Não falam mexicano ou espanhol do México mas simplesmente espanhol. Americano não fala americano mas sim inglês e brasileiro fala português e somente. E
tenham orgulho nisso. Quanto aos nomes, minha senhora, deixe-me dizer que o Pelé é conhecido não por causa do nome mas pelo que fez. Ele até poderia ser chamado
de Aguinaldo que seria conhecido. Os meus cumprimentos.
P.S. Teve uma moça brasileira que conheci numa festa que fez a seguinte pergunta. Lá em Portugal passa novela brasileira? Eu respondi que sim e muitas. E
ela perguntou: e tem legendas para vocês entenderem? Eu não sabia se havia de rir ou chorar, pelo ridículo ou pela ignorância, mas lá me contive e respondi que não
é necessário legendas quando se fala a mesma língua. Sra Fabres, não sei se já foi a Portugal, mas se foi gostaria de saber se teve que comprar aqueles guias turísticos
com tradução.
Querida Remi,
Por ser Brasileira tenho maior orgulho de você. Com seu carisma e essência junto com o poder de luta perseverança e amor chegou ao seu sucesso. Parabéns.
Voce e' realmente linda como também "um espírito de luz."
Ps: Gostaria de manter contato com você mais vezes se fosse possível, pois adorei sua energia. Li a reportagem a seu respeito na revista
Brazzil - "Samba in the Kitchen" www.brazzil.com/p44sep02.htm - e realmente voce e' adoravel.
Um grande abraço e que Deus lhe encha de bênçãos.
Com carinho,
October 2002
Letters
And Bash the USA
James L. Stolarczyk
Deerfield, Illinois
Brazil's Ruin
Amaury Ferreira dos Santos
An American- Brazilian Citizen
Stop Lula
Gil
Via Internet
No Truth
Renato Lopes
Via Internet
Laughing Matter
João Paulo Flores
http://www.coiotuxo.blogspot.com
In Praise of Dr. Menges
Huascar Terra do Valle
Brazilian lawyer and writer
huascar.bhz@terra.com.br
Island of Intelligence
Richard Anderson
Via Internet
The Color Black
Via Internet
Atlanta, Georgia
trenag@peoplepc.com
Getting It Straight
Groover
Via Internet
Crime that Pays
Iva Costa
Via Internet
Euro Yes
T G
Via Internet
Devil and Details
João Miller
Rio de Janeiro
Investment Idea
Mike
Via Internet
Lies Exposed
Kevin A. White
Woodbridge, Virginia
Does Freud Explain?
Lisa Marie
Via Internet
Preparing the Return
Chris Stock
New Orleans, Louisiana
Searching for Slave Isaura
Cynthia Adjoa Addo
Accra, Ghana
you74us@yahoo.com
Wedding Band
Elizabeth
xxoo_elizabeth@yahoo.com
Ready to Buy
Tricia
tricia.kburg@earthlink.net
Try http://jbonline.terra.com.br/
Martin Niggeschmidt
MESSAGE - internationale Fachzeitschrift für Journalismus
Hamburg, Germany
Teachers Needed
Nicole Jelinek
Program Coordinator
Inlingua Chicago
progcoord@inlinguachi.com
Confused and perplexed
é uma prata brilhando
É a luz da manhã,
é o tijolo chegando
It's silver shining
It's the morning's light
It's the brick arriving
in the soft morning light,
The shot of a gun
in the dead of the night
é o fim da picada
É a garrafa de cana,
o estilhaço na estrada
It's the end of the trail
It's the bottle of liquor
Splinter in the road
A thrust, a bump,
It's a girl, it's a rhyme,
It's a cold, it's the mumps
Ray
Via Internet
No Documents
Brandy Lynn
Salt Lake City, Utah
Hatoum Research
Maria Cláudia de Góes
Teacher of English Language
São Paulo, Brazil
NYT Helper
Diane Schutz
New York, NY
dischutz@aol.com
Powell Power
Fred Troncoso
Montrose, Colorado
fecom@rocketweb.net
Try rec.music.brazilian
Dr. Paul Stuart
joy2k@mindspring.com
Does Bahia Want Me?
Carolina van Rheenen
carolinavrheenen@hotmail.com
Vinicius Search
Catherine M. Gollery
CatherineGollery@aol.com
San Francisco, California
Enough Communist
M. S. Willett
Brazil, Via Internet
Killer Passion
Maria Arreguy
San José, California
We Need Help
Crissy
Los Angeles, California
Ridiculous to the Nth Power
Daniel Madruga
San Francisco, California
DannyMadruga@aol.com
Food Is Beautiful
Rachel
Via Internet
