Letters - September 95

The whole feijoada

I believe that any grown-up citizen should love his/her country with open eyes, as a whole, as a package -- warts and all. This is how I love America, my country of adoption: with all its warts. Even when the warts are called Gingrich, Buchanan, Robertson, Rush, Thomas, d'Amato. In a living, working democracy, recognition and identification of evils and shortcomings are the first steps toward their correction.

For this reason, each time Brazilians living among us are angered or "ashamed" because BRAZZIL - News from Brazil prints stories of corruption, abuses, discrimination against the weak, the poor, the aged, the infirmed, the minorities, I wonder where have they been living. In some of paradisiacal Californian cocoon, a land of milk and honey? Wake up, Mr. Lima, look around! (Letter "Reading and Hiding" on the July 95 issue.)

If you don't believe me, get The Nation and read it! Forsake that peculiarly Brazilian mode of mind-washing called "porque-me-ufanismo." It was pushed by the Vargas dictatorship and, more recently, by the military "redeeming" movement of 1964. Both tried to conquer and subdue the irrepressible freedom-loving Brazilians into shouting hosannas the whole time. Thanks God, both tyrannies failed miserably!

In spite of all the regimentation marketed by the right and the left, Brazil rejected most vehemently being transformed in a monolithic nation of sycophants (read puxa-sacos). In the long run, any move in that direction is fated to end up in disaster, or with egg on its face. If you don't believe it, just look at the former Soviet Union, at the former Yugoslavia.

William Bliss - Washington, DC

Caught on the Web

Extraordinary work! I am overwhelmed by the on line edition of this magazine. I have been living in Canada for the last four years and I publish a collection of news called O Folhetim, and I send it to a closed circle of colleagues in North America. I would love to contribute with something to your paper. Right now I am preparing a list of services and places where Brazilians can feel at home here in Montreal. I will send it to you as soon as it is ready. Congrats again! Great design!

Celso Sawaia - Quebec, Canada

Caught on the Web II

Just a short message to congratulate on the excellent magazine you produce. I've see you on line. I just wish we had something similar here in Europe. Anyway, I've put a link to you on our Web page.

Ricardo Calil - The Brazilian Society

Overcharge?

I ran across your June issue at a local newsstand and want to subscribe. My only query is the following: Why is the Canadian and Mexican cost 5 times more than the US cost? I understand that Canadian postage is more expensive, but certainly not by that factor.

Also, are there any Net groups connected to you guys that you could point me to? What is the Canadian profile and is there any hints you could give me to keep connected with Brazil in this distant boreal posting?

Jorginho Lang - Edmonton, Canada

Overworked and underloved

I've been going to Brazil for 10 years, and I live in New York, Long Island. I'm 37 years old, I work a lot and never really have time to date here. Is there a dating place in NY, or NY Long Island, that you can tell me about? Is there a dating magazine for men? Please help if you know...I love Brazil!

Gary Levitsky - Freeport, NY

Pinch me!

I love Brazil! I love your magazine! I can't believe is only $3 to subscribe. Enclosed is $3. I hope to receive a copy of BRAZZIL - News from Brazil very soon!

Ted H. Ragsdale - Boston, MA

Sorry, no back issues

I am enjoying your publication. You are providing an amazing amount of information about Brazil. My subscription began with year 7, No. 112. I am writing to inquire if the 1994 and the January, February and March 1995 issues are still available and what the cost would be to acquire them.

Frank J. Gagliardi - Plainville, CT

No coupon needed

I'm really happy to know that we can find some BRAZZIL - News from Brazil here in the US. Your magazine has been something really exciting to read. I would like to subscribe to the magazine, but I would like to get some additional subscriptions to some friends. How should I proceed? Should I make copies of the coupon in the magazine and mail them to you with the addresses for my friends or can I just send a list of names and addresses for my friends and a check for the total?

Erik Nilson Comparini - Pocatello, ID

Brazil does exist

Estou aqui há dois meses e tive o prazer de ler os três últimos números da revista BRAZZIL - News from Brazil. É de extrema importância que tenhamos uma publicação como esta, visto que todo o jornalismo feito nos EUA ignora a existência de vida abaixo do México. O que diríamos, então, de cultura e comportamento?

Gostaria de parabenizá-los pelo excelente artigo intitulado "A Gay Revolution", escrito por Carlos Ravello. Eu sou jornalista e escrevo para Nós Por Exemplo, o único jornal gay brasileiro. No Brasil, já há quatro anos, estamos tentando mudar a forma como o tema gay e lésbico é apresentado na grande imprensa.

Sergio Barcellos - San Francisco, CA

Food for longing

Please renew my subscription to BRAZZIL - News from Brazil. I am planning to return to Brazil for the first time this fall after having lived there in the early 70's. Your magazine has given me a great deal of valuable and interesting information about my second homeland. Keep up the good work.

Randell L. Wilkinson - Tustin, CA

Encore!

The first year was so good that I want to renew!

Ed LeGrand - Sacramento, CA

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