Brazzil

So what are you going to do about it?
I am pissed off just like you about this self annoyted pay rise. But I cant do anything except whings and complain.
You need my help happy to help out. But you are able to do something. And we need more people like you. Stop this rape of brasil por favor. These guys are just thieves and bandidos.

there is a big bunch of people in PB & PE that would jump on the band wagon if someone would pull the trigger on them .

why dont we take out adds in the news papers calling for a strike on the goverment just would have to place a few adds and then the Golbal and jurnal national would pick up on the report and we would see if ti ran and see if the congerss would act before the planed walk

if 8 million people can walk in the U.S.A in several citys than why not brasil

show the rest of the world the country is not just about foot ball

and get the indains in on the deal they are big loosers when it comes to the goverment screwing the people of brasil

I think they should be paid more.

Yes, it's am embarassment that the income disparity has increased, and that Brazil has one of the greatest income disparities between rich and poor among the nations of the world.

But the problem is not the wages paid to legislators and supreme court justices - it's the wages paid to the average person.

You can't have a world-class government on third-world wages. My God, somebody earning $11.4K in the U.S. or Europe would be living on the streets! I know Brazil has lower living expenses, but even so, $11.4 is not a decent middle-class income even in Brazil. Don't you think those that run the country deserve to join the middle-class? They should be able to concern themselves with the needs of the country, not their own needs. People do their best when they do not have to be concerned with the basic needs of life.

These wages only invite corruption. Does anyone honestly thing that any of these people get the greatest part of their income from their government salary?

Increase these wages 10-fold. Then, perhaps, you will attract the kind of talent that can bring the masses out of poverty. As it is, anybody who is in government service who is talented is in it for what the influence will get them. Certainly not the money from their salary. Why would anybody live in $11.4K when they could do better in business or simply by taking their education and moving to another country that will reward them for it?

You can't have a world-class government on third-world wages.

When BRazil HAS a world class government, then we can talk.

Sorry, but Brazil has been administrated by a bunch of baffoons for far too long. Every problem in the country is getting WORSE, and you feel that these fools deserve a world class salary for robbing brazil and keeing the country a third class s**thole?

You deserve the government you get.

but even so, $11.4 is not a decent middle-class income even in Brazil.

Now I know you are nuts.

with all due respect, but could you have made yourself sound anymore ignorant? Firstly, the salaries they receive can basically be completely bankrolled, these guys don't have any expenses, including expense money they're allowed to spend they have access to close to one million reais per year per congressmen!! Now, you tell me, in these positions that they have available to hire people, do you think they hire people they don't know? Even family members?? Nepotism is widely practiced in brazil, and you can bet, that these congressmen are putting brothers, sons, daughters, aunts, and uncles in positions and paying them salaries to benefit their own family.

For someone to state making 11K per month in the U.S. is barely surviving, lol, truly idiotic. My years in corporate america I made between 6K and 10K per month, and I lived a very comfortable middle, to upper middle class lifestyle.

To state paying them more would reduce their corruption is also a very ignorant statement, and shows that you're not familiar with the ideology by politicians here in brazil. They make, steal, earn, as much as they can while they can. If they receive a higher salary, they will continue to make LOTS of money through corruption as well, that will continue, and I know this for a fact.

Why would anybody live in $11.4K when they could do better in business or simply by taking their education and moving to another country that will reward them for it?

LOL...you talk like 11.4 K a month is peanuts, compare that with 850 reais per month, which is what the average salary is in brazil according to Brazil's PIB divided by population. People that make GOOD salaries in Brazil earn around 5-6K a month, naturally there are those that make more, but 5-6K a month is a very good salary in brazil. I know many people that make this type of salary and they have very comfortable lives.

This type of corruption can only be equalled to the corrupt countries in Africa, that have people starving to death while a handful of leaders that run the country rob it blind. Brazil does have nearly 25% of its population that make less than 2 DOLLARS a day!! Now you're going to pay a salary to over 500 congressmen the equivalent of $500 DOLLARS per day??? Not mentioning nothing about all the expense money they have access to!!

If this pay hike gets approved, congressmen in brazil will become the HIGHEST paid politicians on planet earth!!! That is f**king laughable!!

$ 11,400 per month in the U.S. will get you pretty far. Whoever thinks otherwise should really familiarize themselves with real world economic situations. In the U.S., a salary of this rate would safely ensconce one in the upper middle-class.

http://oglobo.globo.com/educac...146183.asp

This article will explain a lot about posters like A BRazilian, Jtara, et.al In a nutshell a new study finds that the quality of education in Brazil is still one of the worst in the world. After reading through some of "a Brazilian's" posts, it all makes sense now.

$11,000 a month in salary or wages in the U.S. is not just good it is beyond awesome. A good working man's wage - at least in the Midwest minus Chicago and perhaps Minneapolis - is roughly $1,000 a week (so about $4,000 a month before or after taxes). Actually $500 to $700 a week in earned wages is considered phenomenal pay in that same region for semi-skilled workers (or even skilled depending on the market demand for certain kind of labor). Most entry level work in that same region (again taking Chicago and Minneapolis out the picture perhaps) is roughly $200 after taxes in weekly wages - that's about $6.00 an hour.

Professional work is another matter and that generally starts off somewhere around $36,000 annually and upward with wet feet. Of course professions such as engineers will start off in higher salary bracket.

sorry...but the corruption practices are not included in these wages !

And as one member said, when all the perks are included, the amount equals to even more than 1 million Reais.

One article, I think in this site, arrived at Reais 116'000.- per month.....OR close to Reais 1,4 million annually ...when all perks are included !!!!
And again....this doesnt include yet....the money they get from their corruption daily practices.

Brazil is definitely governed by several criminal gangs and cartels and the PCC with Marcola as their leader is by far not the worst !

Simple....Brazil population will re-elect the same crooks.
They just did it again....8 weeks ago !

Guess who is smiling ! Those you re-elected. They got your confidence vote that afterall whatever they earn legally.....has your blessing, including what they earn in their corruption practices.

Dont you have what you deserve since you voted for them ?

"My God, somebody earning $11.4K in the U.S. or Europe would be living on the streets!"

Please disregard this person's future posts as he/she clearly demonstrates a lack of mental capacity. Do you honestly believe that Americans making over 11K a month are living on the streets? This person's post just goes to show that a little too much American television can be a dangerous thing. Even if we are talking about Reais, that is still a nice, tidy income in the US. I could live on half that soooo well.

In my experience in brazil, generally speaking, brazilians are a relaxed, laid back bunch, but, for whatever reason, I'm still trying to figure out why, when you put a brazilian in a car, or in these situations as at the airports, many become very agressive. I can fully understand their reasons for being upset about these delays, but to break computers? Break the counter? Physically attack an employee of a company? On one hand it's good that people aren't accepting this situation, I only wish they would be as indignant about their own vereadors, dep**adas, and senadors, stealing millions.

Bo, your posts are informative, and spot on. It is obvious you have spent a considerable amount of time in this country. I would only add that, I’m not surprised about the breaking point. It is not just driving, and dealing with delays at airports. Brazilians do have a fairly good nature about them, however when pushed they explode and become the most violent and aggressive being one could imagine. I’ve been caught off guard on a number of occasions while in friendly debate with friends, when the subject gets political, just how far they fly from reality, and how fast they are to fall back on the use of violence, when they’ve crossed over from docile being to enraged psychopath. This is with an informed group of people; just imagine the knuckle draggers from the hills?

Global action against Guantánamo
إقرأ باللغة العربية, lire en français, leer en español



16 December 2006 marks the start of a series of protests across the world with renewed calls on the US government to close Guantánamo.

In January 2002, the US authorities transferred the first "war on terror" detainees – hooded and shackled – to the US Naval Base in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.

Despite major international outcry and expert condemnation, hundreds of people of more than 30 nationalities continue to be held there: without charge, and with little hope of obtaining a fair trial. Though US authorities have repeatedly called the detainees "terrorists" and "killers", many have been released without charge.

US official investigators and detainees have reported torture and other ill-treatment, and the conditions of detention remain inhumane.

Justice for Guantánamo detainees! The detention camp approaches its 5th anniversary

In January 2002, the US authorities transferred the first "war on terror" detainees – hooded and shackled – to the US Naval Base in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Despite widespread international condemnation, hundreds of people of more than 30 nationalities remain there.

The US administration chose Guantánamo as the location for this detention facility in an attempt to keep the detainees out of the reach of the US courts.

The totality of the detention regime in Guantánamo – harsh, indefinite, isolating and punitive – amounts to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment in violation of international law.

The detainees and their families face severe psychological distress. In desperation, numerous detainees have embarked on hunger strikes, being kept alive through painful force feeding procedures. A number have attempted suicide. In June 2006, three detainees were found dead in their cells; they had apparently hanged themselves.

As more evidence surfaces that the abuse of Guantánamo detainees has been widespread, condemnation at home and abroad increases. Amnesty International was one of the first voices to call for the camp to be closed, and many other organizations, institutions and individuals have since expressed their outrage at the detention centre.

On 29 June 2006, the US Supreme Court ruled that the military commissions established by President Bush to try "war on terror" detainees were unlawful.

Instead of using the ruling as a springboard for change, the US government responded with new legislation – the Military Commissions Act 2006 - further restricting judicial review of detentions and providing for the trial by military commission of foreign nationals held by the US anywhere in the world as "enemy combatants".

This act undermines basic principles of justice and opens the door to more human rights violations and impunity in the name of counter-terror.

Guantánamo is a symbol of this injustice. The US government must close it.

Detainees must either be released will full protections or charged and tried in full and fair proceedings.

Dear Donna Hrinak - US Ambassador Federative Republic of Brazil

It is nearly five years since the first detainees were transferred to the detention camp at the US Naval Base in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. More than 400 detainees remain held there indefinitely, causing serious distress to them and their families, and serious damage to the rep**ation of your country.

I believe that lasting security and real justice for the victims of terrorism cannot be achieved without respect for the human rights of all detainees and fair trials for anyone suspected of involvement in terrorism. I do not believe that the Military Commissions Act, signed into law by President Bush on 17 October 2006 can bring this about. Instead it threatens to entrench into legislation policies that have been widely condemned.

Five years on, the Guantánamo detention camp has become an icon of injustice committed in the “war on terror”, undermining security and respect for the rule of law. It must be closed down.

The closure of this detention facility must not lead to the transfer of human rights violations elsewhere. All those in US custody, wherever they are held, must have their human rights fully respected. Secret and indefinite detention must end. Those who are not to be charged with criminal offences and brought to a full and fair trial should be released. The case of each detainee to be released must be individually assessed to ensure that he is not transferred to a country where he will face further human rights violations.

I recall President Bush’s repeated assertions that the USA remains committed to the “non-negotiable demands of human dignity”, including the rule of law. I urge you to relay my concern to the US administration and to do all in your influence to make respect for human rights and the rule of law a reality for all those in US custody and their families.

Thank you!

Dear Lula and Costinha

It’s been decades since your prisons have been over crowded, over-run by drug lords, corrupted by guards and officials and generally left in complete disarray. Brazilian prisons have been basically called a re-invention of hell. Violence is rampant, and every month there is a rebellion where at the very least 2 or three are killed. Of course the greatest massacre was Carandiru where over 110 people were summarily executed by police and yet, to this date, no one has been charged.

Given all this we offer you the solution which is GUANTANAMO. Here, prisoners are treated better than by their nations from which they came. Everything is clean, there is no violence, and most requests are considered and delivered. Granted, there are some problems with Guantánamo, but I ask you to ask your prisoners to choose between the two. Life in a Brazilian prison? Or a few years in Guantánamo. Let’s not forget that the prisoners of Guantánamo receive three square meals a day (which is more than we can say about 30% of your country’s population), and are NOT forced to face violent thugs and corrupt officials. We offer you Guantánamo as an example of a decent prison system, because we know that in BRazil you just don’t have a clue...

Bo, your posts are informative, and spot on. It is obvious you have spent a considerable amount of time in this country. I would only add that, I’m not surprised about the breaking point. It is not just driving, and dealing with delays at airports. Brazilians do have a fairly good nature about them, however when pushed they explode and become the most violent and aggressive being one could imagine. I’ve been caught off guard on a number of occasions while in friendly debate with friends, when the subject gets political, just how far they fly from reality, and how fast they are to fall back on the use of violence, when they’ve crossed over from docile being to enraged psychopath. This is with an informed group of people; just imagine the knuckle draggers from the hills?

I also have doubts. I wonder why so many people in America become maniacs. Many years ago, it was considered normal in the yank setting, people go crazy in the middle of the street. A local health authority would be called and the lunatic would be managed, put on a straightjacket and headed to a psychiatric shelter. Common too was being attacked in the subway, like a lady was pushed under a subway train while the train was on its way at the 5th avenue station. Of course, when they would not kill personalities like John Lennon and R. Kennedy “apparently” for no good reason. These times are in the past now. Nowadays, instead of going mad like a nonsense lunatic, they are more defensive and what they do is carry a gun and start shooting everyone they possibly can kill. They carry bombs, like in Oklahoma city, they kill colleagues in schools, they kill at market parking spots. I would like to understand this feature of mental illness so revealing in the American society. Also, wonder why so many cases of sexual molesting kids, minor family members etc. take place in America.

Brasileiros, falemos somente o português e deixemos esses gringos se virarem com tradutores pela rede mundial, se assim quiserem. Assim podemos conversar livremente e comentar as asnices aqui escritas por eles. Esse site não pode ser sério ao permitir coisas como bem exemplificados nesses comentários. Isso não é apenas ofensivo de uma forma inocente, mas sim proposital. O intuito desse site é denegrir a imagem do Brasil e de seu povo, portanto gastar tempo e saliva argumentando é inútil.

Escrevamos somente o português para que outros brasileiros não se iludam ao visitar o site, e deixemo-los na escuridão de sua própria ignorância.

Dear Lula, king of the crooks and emperor of the corrupted Brazilians politicians,
How can a real democracy absolve legally corrupted politicians, recognized as corrupt by Brazilians investigators, by a secret vote from other lawmakers just as corrupted as those they absolved.
So disgusting that most investigators .......resigned !!!!

Mr President, you have given clear instructions to find out what happened in the files bought by your cronies against Serra and
Alckmin.
Since you have given these instructions, not a word of where investigations stand ! Files and charges have been closed ?

Mr Lula, you intervened personally, together with all your diplomats, concerning the tragedy of Jean Charles Menezes during the London bombings. Mr Blair and his government personally have sent you their apologizes, but still they were not enough !
What about the hundreds of killings made by your own police, annually, to innocents Brazilians ? What about the killings of
your deaths squads, happening daily ? During the SP chaos, the governnor, Lembe, acknowledged publicly that innocents were killed. Some Brazilians investigators even found out that some deaths are proven to have been made by a shoot-to-kill strategy !!!! More innocents have been killed after the chaos, as revenge from your police forces.

Mr Lula, stupid question, is 1 Brazilian death if abroad more important than the thousands innocents killed yearly in Brazil ?????
Your own stats demonstrate that 50 % of youths deaths in Brazil, aged 15-24, is due to violent deaths !!!!!

Be proud Mr Lula of the total impunity given to your police forces for their killings of innocent citizens.
Be proud Mr Lula of your policies that you are so proud of, resulting in the 50 % youths deaths through violent crimes !!!!!!

Be proud Mr Lula of the Brazilian Tropical Mess that you are partially but not totally responsible.

Be proud Mr Lula on your various world comparative rankings. You are mostly ranked at the bottom on thoise rankings !

And with such a terribly bad performances and rankings, to whom do you want to give lessons in the world ?
Is your intention to include these failures in your futures exports ????????

Be proud to export US$ 50 billions annually in agriculture alone, when tens of millions of your citizens are under nourrished and millions live in hunger !
Be proud of your Bolsa Familia program, using less than 2 % of your budget for the 45 millions poorest citizens.
Be proud that in Brazil these 45 millions citizens can, as you proclaimed, have decent 3 meals a day, due to your generosity.

Mr Lula, you recognized yourself that you did not have a good education. And on that point you are dead right because your Bolsa Familia program in fact give 0,50 Reais per day to these 45 millions needy.

Sorry Mr Lula, but with 0,50 Reais per day, no one in Brazil can effectively have 3 decent meals per day......contrary to what you said !!!!!

There are some rumors, that in 2007, you will reduce the number of citizens that will ne entitled to this program.
Quite normal.......after you won their votes !!!!!

In fact Mr Lula, the PCC chief, Marcola, is an angel when compared to you and your politicians. The PCC is the only Brazilian gang that deserves a high respect !

You just demonstrated how idiot you are and your total lack of education and klnowledge by saying that in Europe or the USA those earning 11,4 K US$ would be living on the street !!!!!!!

But afterall, to your defense, you represent the majority average Brazilian.

Doubtful that you travelled abroad farther than your virtual trips using the Internet...from your Internet Shop in your small city !

it wasn't me that made those idiotic remarks, I refuted them and stated how ignorant they were.

Also, wonder why so many cases of sexual molesting kids, minor family members etc. take place in America.

Guess you missed the latest story about the brazilian that raped and murdered 40 children??? Please don't try and compare crime and murder that takes place in the U.S. to brazil, because if you're a brazilian, or trying to "defend" their position, you will be embarrassed by facts and figures.

The Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Project counted 803 active hate groups in the United States in 2005. Only organizations and their chapters known to be active during 2005 are included.
Click a state on the map below to find out more about hate groups in the area.

http://www.splcenter.org/intel...-maps-hate

I was talking about mental illness not crime. See this text above

Nearly 8 Years Later, Guilty Plea in Subway Killing

A schizophrenic man pleaded guilty to manslaughter yesterday, admitting for the first time that he knew what he was doing when he pushed a promising young writer to her death in front of a subway train almost eight years ago.
The man, Andrew Goldstein, acknowledged that he knew it was wrong to shove the woman, Kendra Webdale, 32, into the path of an N train at the 23rd Street station in January 1999.
The death of Ms. Webdale, a journalist and photographer who had moved to the city from Buffalo, unnerved New Yorkers who had come to think of their city as the safest it had been in years. The public outcry over her death led to a state law, known as Kendra’s Law, that gives families the right to demand court-ordered outpatient psychiatric treatment for their relatives.
Until his plea yesterday in State Supreme Court in Manhattan, Mr. Goldstein had claimed that he had pushed Ms. Webdale during a psychotic episode and therefore was not responsible for his actions.
“She was leaning against a pole with her back to me near the edge of the platform by the tracks,” Mr. Goldstein said in a written statement submitted yesterday to Justice Carol Berkman. “I looked to see if the train was coming down the tracks. I saw that the subway train was coming into the station. When the train was almost in front of us, I placed my hands on the back of her shoulders and pushed her. My actions caused her to fall onto the tracks.”

also sexual molestation. There are both in this case

Fifth-Grade Teacher is Charged With Sexually Molesting 2 Brothers. 10 and 8
DOBBS FERRY, N.Y.- A popular fifth-grade teacher was arrested this weekend on charges of sexually molesting two brothers, one of whom was his student, after a New Year’s ve Party at the boys’ home, law enforcement officials said today.
Word of Mr. Nowicki’s arrest stunned this tightly knit riverfront community of 10,000, Mr. Nowicki had quickly won friends and admirers for his easygoing manner and dedication to his students, some of whom described him as “the best teacher ever”.
Once in Dobbs Ferry, Mr. Nowicki quickly blended into the flow of life, many students said. And, according to Ms. Pirro, the Westchester County District Attorney, he was so well liked by the 10-year-old student in the case that he was invite to the family’s house for a New Year’s Eve celebration. He had never bee to the house before.
About two dozen adults attended the party, said Detective Joe Ellman of the Dobbs Fery Police Department. MS Pirro said Mr. Nowicki became so inebriated that the parents allowed him to stay for the night on a sofa. He was the only one who stayed over.
A few hours later, the parents were awakened by the 10-year-old, who said that he had been sexually abused by Mr. Nowicki and that the teacher was then in the bedroom, sexually abusing his 8-year-old brother, MS. Pirro said. The parents found Mr. Nowicki with the boy,s he said.
Fifth-grade teacher in Dobbs Ferry, NY, Steven Nowicki, pleads not guilty to charges that he sexually abused two boys after their parents invited him to stay the night after New Year's Eve party; one of boys was student of Nowicki's.

Guess you missed the latest story about the brazilian that raped and murdered 40 children???

Have a link on the story??

I just read the news at yahoo that a brazilian girl was murdered in NJ. Another one. I came to know that at the end South Park is a good learning program for those who have little contact with American life.

I hate to bring this up again, but why do anti-Americans feel the compulsion to always talk about the States? This article mentions Brazil and Portugal; not North America. It´s not enough that half the programs on Brazilian TV show scenes from the same L.A. freeways on which I learned to drive, while TV shows in the states rarely if ever mention Brazil. Now we get a chance to discuss Brazil and Portugal, and these gringophobes go back to batendo the same tecla. Stop, you´re driving me sane! By the way, the first freeway in the world was the one between City Center and Pasadena....Brazzil knows where that is.....

Brazil murder rate similar to war zone, data shows

Mon Sep 25, 2006 6:20pm ET146

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BRASILIA, Brazil (Reuters) - More than 150 Brazilians were murdered each day last year on average, putting Brazil on a par with some war zones in terms of its homicide rate, the Justice Ministry said on Monday.

Some 55,000 Brazilians died of homicide in 2005 -- a few thousand more civilians than in THREE YEARS of war in Iraq, according to leading estimates.

Brazil, a continent-sized nation of 185 million people starkly divided into rich and poor, has had notoriously high crime rates for years. Millions of poor live in urban slums and unpoliced rural areas where guns are easy to come by.

Though the murder rate is high, Marcelo Durante, coordinator of the Justice Ministry's report, said homicides have fallen slowly in recent years thanks in part to an initiative to collect guns from the streets.

Citizens have voluntarily turned in thousands of weapons in places like Rio de Janeiro, the famous beachside city whose urban slums have some of the highest crime rates in Brazil.

A referendum in 2005 to ban gun sales failed, in part because some voters had lost faith in police.

"It was the states that collected the most guns that saw crime rates fall most," said Durante, "but we have to remember it's not just about guns."

Other kinds of violent crime in Brazil are far more common than statistics show, Durante said, adding that urban surveys suggest only a QUARTER of all robberies and 15 PERCENT of all rapes are reported nationwide.

"At least with homicide, we can be a little more confident most of the crimes are getting reported," he said.

Murders also declined in Brazil's largest city of Sao Paulo in recent years, Durante said. Earlier this year, however, a gang known as First Command of the Capital launched a series of attacks on police, banks and buses in which about 200 police, gangsters and innocent civilians were killed.

http://www.shoutwire.com/views...o_War_Zone

Brasília, DF - Na última década as mortes por armas de fogo registradas no Brasil superaram o número de vítimas de 23 conflitos armados no mundo, perdendo apenas para as Guerras Civis de Angola e da Guatemala. Nesse período morreram no Brasil 325.551 pessoas, em média 32.555 mortes por ano. Os dados fazem parte do estudo “Mortes Matadas por armas de fogo no Brasil 1979 – 2003”, que foi lançado hoje, segunda-feira (27/06), às 11h, pelo Representante da UNESCO no Brasil, Jorge Werthein, e pelo Presidente do Senado Federal, Renan Calheiros, no Senado, em Brasília (DF).


“O lançamento tem como objetivo sensibilizar a sociedade brasileira para a importância do desarmamento da população e da aprovação do referendo sobre o fim da livre comercialização de armas e munições no País”, afirma Jorge Werthein.


O estudo, coordenado pelo sociólogo Julio Jacobo Waiselfisz, pesquisador da UNESCO e Chefe do escritório da Organização em Pernambuco, revela que, entre 1979 e 2003, as armas de fogo mataram 550 mil pessoas no País, ou seja, 35 mil vítimas por ano ou 100 pessoas por dia. A pesquisa confirma que os jovens, entre 15 e 24 anos, são as principais vítimas das mortes por armas de fogo: do total de vítimas, 206 mil eram jovens nessa faixa etária. Só no ano de 2003, 41,6% dos casos registrados foram de jovens.


A pesquisa foi feita com base em dados do Sistema de Informações de Mortalidade, no caso Brasil, o DATASUS do Ministério da Saúde, e, no caso internacional, da Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS), detalhando a causa de mortes por uso de armas de fogo em acidentes, homicídios, suicídios e indeterminada. Os dados foram analisados ano a ano conforme o número de mortes por armas de fogo no Brasil. O autor compara a morte por armas de fogo com outras causas de mortalidade como acidente de trânsito, enfermidades etc. Além disso, as mortes por armas de fogo no País foram comparadas com o número de vítimas de 26 conflitos bélicos ocorridos em 25 países do mundo, em períodos distintos. Chama a atenção o fato de o Brasil, mesmo sem ter conflitos religiosos, de fronteiras ou luta política armada, registrar mais vítimas das armas de fogo do que nações atingidas por conflitos bélicos declarados.


Com o lançamento do livro, a UNESCO e o Senado Federal pretendem fortalecer o movimento já iniciado com a Campanha do Desarmamento, de forma a contribuir com a promoção de uma cultura de paz no Brasil. Os números mostram que é importante reduzir o número de armas em circulação no País e também a venda de armamentos para se reduzir a violência.


Alguns dos principais resultados do livro:

• Entre 1979 e 2003, acima de 550 mil pessoas morreram no Brasil vítimas de disparos de algum tipo de arma de fogo, num ritmo crescente e constante ao longo do tempo. Nesses 24 anos, as vítimas de armas de fogo cresceram 461,8%, enquanto a população do país cresceu apenas 51,8%. O crescimento foi puxado pelos homicídios com armas de fogo, que registraram um crescimento de 542,7% no referido período. Os suicídios com armas de fogo subiram 75% e as mortes por acidentes com armas caíram 16,1%.

• Das 550 mil mortes, 205.722, ou seja, 44,1%, foram jovens na faixa de 15 a 24 anos. Considerando que os jovens representam 20% da população total, conclui-se que, proporcionalmente, morrem mais de o dobro de jovens vítimas de armas de fogo do que nas outras faixas etárias.

• Entre os jovens, o crescimento do uso letal de armas de fogo foi ainda mais violento do que na população total, chegando a 640,3%. Os homicídios também são os maiores responsáveis por este crescimento, ao aumentarem 742,9% no período, enquanto o número de suicídios cresceu 61% e os acidentes envolvendo armas de fogo caíram 16,7%.

• Também aumentou a participação da população jovem entre as vítimas das armas de fogo. Em 1979, houve 2.208 mortes juvenis por armas de fogo, representando 31,6% do total de vítimas pr armas de fogo. Em 2003, os 16.345 jovens que morreram por balas de armas de fogo representaram 41,6% do total de vítimas.

Brasil registra 11% dos homicídios no mundo

O representante do Programa das Nações Unidas para o Desenvolvimento (Pnud), Carlos Lopes disse que, apesar de o Brasil representar apenas 2,8% da população mundial, o país registra 11% dos homicídios em todo o planeta. "E os números continuam a aumentar" declarou durante a abertura do Seminário Internacional de Armas, no Hotel Intercontinental, em São Conrado, na zona sul do Rio.

O representante da ONU informou que, no Brasil, 40 mil pessoas são mortas anualmente com o uso de armas de fogo. "Este número é superior ao das vítimas da guerra do Iraque. Portanto, num país que está em paz é difícil conceber que haja tantas mortes resultantes da utilização indevida das armas", afirmou.

Ainda segundo Carlos Lopes, os números da ONU revelam que o setor privado gasta mais de R$ 70 bilhões por ano com a chamada indústria do medo, o que faz com que muitos investimentos deixem de ser feitos na área social para sem aplicados na segurança.

they can't show overall figures, because they're embarassing. Brazil is once again a world leader, naturally in things that are NOT desirable!! So they pick and choose little stories, situations, and try and paint that as a general theme. Ignorance and the "não foi eu" mentality dominate!!

Congratulations Carolota!!!

Brazil death squads denounced

Police at a demonstration in Belem
Off duty police officers are blamed for many killings
A United Nations envoy investigating extra-judicial killings by Brazilian police has given a damning account of her findings so far.

The envoy, Asma Jahangir, said that the state of human rights in Brazil could not be compared with other countries.

"In Congo there's a war," she said. "Brazil is a democracy. But what I see here is a wretched, sad situation where there is NO JUSTICE."

Mrs Jahangir was speaking to reporters in Rio de Janeiro after visiting two shanty-towns, known as favelas, where she heard testimonies from about 20 mothers and other relatives of people said to have died at the hands of the police.

She arrived in Brazil on 16 September for a three-week investigation into summary executions and other killings allegedly carried out by police.

Impunity

Human rights groups in Brazil say many killings are carried out by death squads made up of police officers and vigilantes.

Unofficial figures compiled by these groups indicate that in 1999, almost 14,000 people were killed by police or death squads.


The police cannot fight crime by committing crime
UN envoy Asma Jahangir

Some of these deaths happened in gun battles between police and criminals, but many of those killed were suspects, innocent bystanders, witnesses or petty crooks.

Human rights campaigners say that even when there is an inquiry into such deaths, very few suspected killers are ever brought to trial.

Changes

On Sunday, Mrs Jahangir spent four hours in the favelas of Borel and Jacarezinho.

She said that the government of President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva had made efforts to end police impunity and reduce violence, but that profound changes were needed.

She said: "The police cannot fight crime by committing crime."

During her investigation, Mrs Jahangir has visited five Brazilian states and the capital, Brasilia.

She returns to the UN in Geneva on Wednesday to write her report, which is expected to take three to six months.

So once she´s gone, Brazil will no longer suffer from Asma?

What can you expect from a government that forces everyone to vote. That’s right, it’s against the law NOT to vote in Brazil. The thieves in office count on the poor and uneducated vote to keep them in office... That is why they put numbers on all their adds and in the voting booths.. The people can't read the names of the thieves running for office but they can understand numbers.. They promise these people the world and what do they wind up with, garbage dumps to live in..

Você sabia que números podem ser manipulados para mostrar o que bem entendem? O que esse monte de números prova, seu idiota? Esse site de propaganda anti-brasileira me dá nojo, principalmente por esse bando de asnos que infelizmente não tem nada melhor para fazer da vida além de ficar procurando no Google notícias ruins para "provar" o que quer que eles queiram provar.

Os Estados Unidos é o país com o maior sistema carcerário do mundo, logo podemos concluir que sua população é formada por bandidos, estupradores e traficantes?

Gringos de merda.

Você sabia que números podem ser manipulados para mostrar o que bem entendem?

What do you mean o great statistician? You mean that 11% of the world’s homicides might actually mean something else? 11% of the world´s rice production, maybe? Typical dodge and weave ad hominen attack. Your ignorance radiates.

O que esse monte de números prova, seu idiota?

Simple, Brazil is one of the most violent countries in the world. It’s not difficult to draw that conclusion, trutinho. The numbers say it loudly and simply. You have some serious information to counter the data given to you? I didn´t think so.

Esse site de propaganda anti-brasileira me dá nojo

So, do us a favor and PISS OFF.

principalmente por esse bando de asnos que infelizmente não tem nada melhor para fazer da vida além de ficar procurando no Google notícias ruins para "provar" o que quer que eles queiram provar.

No one needs to spend too much time on Google. Just go to Terra.com.br, Globo-online, or any other Brazilian website, on any given day, and you’ll find enough material to stop your heart. Sadly, s**t heads like you seem to think everything is just SWELL in Brazil, and it operates and functions just like any other country in the world. You’re the problem in your own country: blind, intentionally uninformed and willfully-ignorant.

Os Estados Unidos é o país com o maior sistema carcerário do mundo

GOOD! So their police, courts and judicial system works. I’d rather have these vermin in prison, than ruling the streets like in Rio and Sao Paulo (or any other city in the union).

..logo podemos concluir que sua população é formada por bandidos, estupradores e traficantes?

If everyone is locked up how the hell do you draw that conclusion? shheeesh, you´re thick.

You know, you really are one of the dumbest people I have had the misfortune of reading on this site. If I were you I wouldn’t be too worried about a few gringos posting facts about Brazil and the country's inability to leave the 19th century. You’re in serious need of psychiatric aid so you should be spending your time seeking out a decent head doctor.

Gringos de merda.

Ya, that was witty…..

What can you expect from a government that forces everyone to vote. That’s right, it’s against the law NOT to vote in Brazil. The thieves in office count on the poor and uneducated vote to keep them in office... That is why they put numbers on all their adds and in the voting booths.. The people can't read the names of the thieves running for office but they can understand numbers.. They promise these people the world and what do they wind up with, garbage dumps to live in..

Most Brazilians are literate, many perhaps are functionally illiterate but the same can be said of the United States (27% of the adult population of my own city [USA] is "functionally illiterate"). But even functionally illiterate people can read names, they just suffer from an inability to comprehend sentences along with numbers. Math is itself a language and requires one to be literate within its own subject. My point is, your own post resonates with a certain level of functional illiteracy and proves the gringo, educated in his or her own native school, is not to be assumed the "sharpest knife in the drawer."

What do you mean o great statistician? You mean that 11% of the world’s homicides might actually mean something else? 11% of the world´s rice production, maybe? Typical dodge and weave ad hominen attack. Your ignorance radiates.

Animal, números não dizem nada a respeito de si mesmos, ele precisam ser interpretados. O número 5 não carrega nenhum juízo de bem ou de mal, mas as pessoas os dão. Ex: uma determinada localidade tem uma taxa de mortalidade infantil de 10%. Isso é terrível?

Existem duas opções:

- Um gringo idiota usa isso como "prova" de que algum lugar é uma porcaria, apenas para massagear o seu próprio ego e aproveitar a fazer uma propagandinha;
- Uma pessoa sensata diz que a mortalidade diminuiu de 40 para 10% graças a iniciativas do governo no combate a pobreza, e tende a diminuir mais;

Isso é demais para a sua cabecinha? Viu, o mesmo número, um gringo idiota e uma pessoa sensata.

No one needs to spend too much time on Google. Just go to Terra.com.br... blind, intentionally uninformed and willfully-ignorant.

Veja so quem fala, um gringo que é mantido cego, surdo e burro por uma midia que pinta os Estados Unidos como um lugar perfeito. Escondendo os milhões de miseráveis e todos os "indesejados" da vista da população, promovendo a idéia de que todos um dia serão astros famosos, bonitos ou ricos.

Depois de um Katrina qualquer aí vemos a miséria deles, só assim mesmo, quando é jogado na cara e eles não tem como negar.

A mídia brasileira é muito mais crítica do que qualquer coisa nos Estados Unidos. Aprenda sobre as misérias do seu próprio país antes de vir falar dos outros.

GOOD! So their police, courts and judicial system works. I’d rather have these vermin in prison, than ruling the streets like in Rio and Sao Paulo (or any other city in the union).

Como chegaste a essa conclusão? Os Estados Unidos são o maior consumidor de drogas do mundo, logo a sua polícia não faz um bom trabalho.

If everyone is locked up how the hell do you draw that conclusion? shheeesh, you´re thick.

Pela quantidade de traficantes de drogas, ladrões e estupradores a solta nos Estados Unidos como você chegou a conclusão de que "todos estão presos"? Falso senso de segurança.

Simple, Brazil is one of the most violent countries in the world. It’s not difficult to draw that conclusion, trutinho. The numbers say it loudly and simply. You have some serious information to counter the data given to you? I didn´t think so.

If the numbers do not lie then it is justified to place the United States in the category of "one of the most violent countries in the world." I placed up a U.S. news article on the forum boards already, which stated that had it not been for improvements in U.S. medical care in trauma cases over the last 40 years or so then the U.S. would have an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 murders annually. In other words attempted homicide has a "sky high" rate in the U.S. and it is due to advanced medical technology and care that the U.S. homicides are reduced to the degree they are. Because of this some have argued that homicide numbers within the U.S. are no longer adequate means to gauge violence within the nation.

I placed up a U.S. news article on the forum boards already, which stated that had it not been for improvements in U.S. medical care in trauma cases over the last 40 years or so then the U.S. would have an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 murders annually.

Edit that to say: an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 more murders annually.

So in your mind, a discussion about Brazilian lawmakers attempting to nearly double their salaries is somehow linked to the number of murders in a foreign country, in this case the USA? What does that tell us about your mind?

Isso diz que identificamos esse site como sendo um site propagandista anti-brasileiro, criado por americanos para promover uma agenda anti-brasileira e conseguir não apenas sabotar quaisquer tentativas de melhora mas garantir que ninguém mais o faça.

A quantidade de gringos imbecis que vêm aqui para mostrar as "verdades" que eles encontraram no Google mostra que vocês não batem bem da cabeça. Talvez se despendessem esse esforço para o seu próprio país talvez conseguissem melhorar alguma coisa dos muitos problemas que ele tem.

Animal, números não dizem nada a respeito de si mesmos, ele precisam ser interpretados. O número 5 não carrega nenhum juízo de bem ou de mal, mas as pessoas os dão. Ex: uma determinada localidade tem uma taxa de mortalidade infantil de 10%. Isso é terrível?

5 means 5, 11% is 11%. You want to say that 11% of the world’s homicides in not bad, that is your business. I don’t think one needs to apply a “good or bad” value to 11% of the world’s homicides; we can all properly draw our own conclusions as you have. I just placed the numbers in front you of. You think it is fine, and we all think you are a retarded under-evolved delusional fool from a backwater s**t hole. It is obvious our judgment scales are different.

Veja so quem fala, um gringo que é mantido cego, surdo e burro por uma midia que pinta os Estados Unidos como um lugar perfeito.

Actually, given your depth and breadth on any subject matter, we can comfortably assume you to be media-illiterate, too. Reread what I wrote about Brazilian websites, vira lata, and you’ll see the weakness (nothing new though) of your remarks.

Depois de um Katrina qualquer aí vemos a miséria deles, só assim mesmo, quando é jogado na cara e eles não tem como negar.

What the hell does this have to do with anything? I´M CANADIAN. So, why do you repeatedly attack posts and gringos with info from the US? IF you want to hark and complain about S.Harper, Canada’s HUGE (cough cough) murder rate, and how we Canadians are trying to take over the world go ahead, but stop being an illiterate monkey spewing out mentally preprogrammed anti American leftist idiot hysteria.

You are truly the worst of this country.

Sadly, you are statistically in the majority!

If the numbers do not lie then it is justified to place the United States in the category of "one of the most violent countries in the world." I placed up a U.S. news article on the forum boards already, which stated that had it not been for improvements in U.S. medical care in trauma cases over the last 40 years or so then the U.S. would have an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 murders annually. In other words attempted homicide has a "sky high" rate in the U.S. and it is due to advanced medical technology and care that the U.S. homicides are reduced to the degree they are. Because of this some have argued that homicide numbers within the U.S. are no longer adequate means to gauge violence within the nation.

This can EASILY apply to Brazil too. You do know that Rio medics are now among some of the best in the world in treating gunshot wounds? Violent crimes in Brazil are skyrocketing, too. But, again, it is a straw man argument, with no weight what so ever. I could just as easily say, in my country CANADA (ohhh, Caannnnaaaadddaaaa!), if the population where 2 billion, we could have one of the highest murder rates too. As useless argument. Can we not deal in reality for a change?

The fact is, Brazil is one of the most dangerous countries in the world and every single stat you bring up only solidifies this truism.

Mal consegui ler esse monte de lixo de mais um nazista espalhando ódio por esse site. Com uma taxa de 5 palavrões por linha escrita demonstraste bem que fui certeiro nas minhas colocações. Essas estatísticas não são nada mais que números maquiados para satisfazer gringos de pau pequeno e que tem uma necessidade de se auto afirmar por alguma razão que desconhecemos.

E sim, a mídia brasileira é extremamente crítica. Ela vai muito além de qualquer outro país no que concerne em mostrar a realidade. Esses gringos imbecis vivem num mundo de contos de fadas, onde são protegidos das verdades que poderiam fazer suas ilusões em mil pedacinhos.

Quanto ao Canadá, bom, viva sua vida racialmente segregada num desses guetos que vocês adoram! Depois vá brincar um pouco eugenia com o seu parentes da KKK. Racista de merda.

Enquanto isso, brasileiros, trabalhemos!

People I know and care about, last week: Thursday, kid who works for me has a gun put to his head and his bike stolen. Same day, three kids we know attending nearby school when armed gunmen take the place over and steal computers and other articles. Friday, teen we know sees guy shot to death in front of fruit stand, five shots. Kid who lost his bike on Thursday sees a guy in front of him removing a pistol from his pocket, but recognizes the guy, guy talks to him, puts gun back in pocket, kids walks on, looks back to see perp holding up a lady and taking her purse. Only the murder and the school incident are reported to police. And our area of Brazil is not known for its crime......

E a culpa, é de quem? Será que tem jeito?

There was a day when info could be supressed. Foreign languages could be prohibited. The media could be controlled. But the internet changed all that. Anyone with a serious problem re: the USA should stop using the WWW because it belongs to the states.

I always listen to the Portuguese radio station in Hanford, CA when driving through there. In my home town, Long Beach, you can listen to Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, and others. Foreign language radio is not prohibited in the USA.

Freedom of information. Finally comes to the rest of the world via the net. Up to user to sort it all out. Happy New Year. Ou, Próximo ano novo, doutora......

É por essas e por outras que não votei nesse débil mental do Cristovam Buarque. O cara compactua com sites propagandistas como esse, onde os mantenedores não tem sequer o interesse em moderar o fórum. Depois esses intelectos inferiores que vem aqui copiar e colar "estatísticas" do Google e se esbaldar em suas próprias fezes! Com o consentimento do site e para a alegria de determinados grupos interessados na nossa destruição.

Brasileiros, mantenham-se firmes contra esses imbecis que ficar à espreita esperando a primeira notícia ruim para exibir sua bocarra hedionda e com ela tentar contaminar os corações dos aqui presentes. Eles não tem poder.

Esse país é único, e temos aqui a maior riqueza de todas as nações, ou seja, UM povo. Gringos de merda, não passam de seres incompletos, uns apenas uma bocarra, outros uma grande orelha, outros só estômago e barriga. Nem parecem humanos, parecem mais paródias.

Os Estados Unidos é o país com o maior sistema carcerário do mundo, logo podemos concluir que sua população é formada por bandidos, estupradores e traficantes?

No, you can conclude that we actually CATCH criminals and PUT THEM IN JAIL!!

And these "noticias" that have been posted, ARE NOT from this site, THEIR FROM THE UNITED NATIONS!!!

But naturally, the next word out of your mouth will be that the united nations is predjudiced about brazil!!

I never posted anything until our idiot friend Carolota started to post "stories", incidents, situations, and tried to equivalate them to the whole of the U.S.

DON'T THROW STONES WHEN YOU LIVE IN A GLASS HOUSE!!

Brazil is at the TOP OF THE LIST with things like, lowest minimum wage on the planet, murder rates, corruption, impunity, quality of education, prostitution!!!

And that is the REALITY in brazil!

Brazil is at the TOP OF THE LIST with things like, lowest minimum wage on the planet, murder rates, corruption, impunity, quality of education, prostitution!!!

Você é retardado?Quer dizer então que o Brasil o "menor salário mínimo do mundo"????????????????????????????????????????????? Tu é loco!? Quer dizer que o Iraque em guerra, e o Afeganistão e mais um monte de países de merda por aí tem os salários maiores que do Brasil?

Seu bosta. "Prostituição"? Que problema de prostituição existe que não tem em outros lugares do mundo. Principalmente na Europa onde traficantes de humanos levam mulheres de todas partes pobres do mundo para serem escravizadas sexualmente. Que vergonha!!! Em pleno seculo XXI!!!

Qualidade da educação? E essa merda de ensino dos Estados Unidos onde os alunos sequer sabem onde o Iraque fica e são ensinados coisas como superioridade branca?

Inpunidade? Esse bando de traficantes de seres humanos, levando e trazendo gente pela fronteira dos Estados Unidos!?!?!?!? Eles fazem o que querem, poderiam muito bem colocar uma bomba atômica na sua garagem e você nem ia saber!!!!

Corrupção???? Você já perguntou QUEM FAZ UMA GRANA PESADA ENQUANTO JOVENS MORREM NO IRAQUE!?!?!? Você sabia da conexões entre a família Bush e os Bin Laden???? O Brasil é amador perto da filha-da-p**agem mundial que é aquela porra de Estados Unidos.

Gente incompleta. Falta-lhe orgãos para que sejas considerado humano, seu lixo. Agora vai para o gueto e não enche o saco.

No, you can conclude that we actually CATCH criminals and PUT THEM IN JAIL!!

Pela quantidade de traficantes de seres humanos entrando e saindo dos Estados Unidos QUANDO QUEREM E COMO QUEREM, mais a quantidade de drogados e traficantes de drogas, eu diria que QUE A POLÍCIA FAZ UM PÉSSIMO TRABALHO.

Ah, e volta e meia eles espancam algum negro.

A mídia brasileira é muito mais crítica do que qualquer coisa nos Estados Unidos. Aprenda sobre as misérias do seu próprio país antes de vir falar dos outros.

HAHAHAHAHA!!! What a f**king IDIOT!!! Bobão, how many journalists have had to go into hiding in the last 10 years in brazil??? Do the research!!! Just 6 months ago a brazilian journalist left the country from reporting on corruption and her life, as well as that of her family's, have been threatened!! The restriction of "press freedoms" in brazil is well documented, and any idiot that tries to claim that the press is more "free" in brazil to report than in the U.S. is a blind fool!!!

Inter American Press Association

quote:

BRAZIL

This is the grimmest report on press freedom in Brazil in 20 years. The worst case of censorship since the country was under military dictatorship occurred in recent months. Since the Midyear Meeting two detestable murders of members of the press were committed by organized crime, one of them extremely cruel with the journalist being tortured and then burned. If that were not enough, since the March meeting the courts have issued a series of misguided rulings that culminated this week, on the night of October 23, when a law enforcement officer, accompanied by the attorney for the party opposing Brasilia newspaper Correio Braziliense, practically broke into the paper’s newsroom under a court order authorizing them to “enter the newspaper’s offices.” The officer and attorney for the opposing party then proceeded page by page to censor reports to be published the next day on irregular sales of government land in Brasilia by Governor Joaquim Roríz.

Correio Braziliense was preparing to publish a series of conversations taken from tape recordings that showed the governor and his friends, the Passos brothers, had been involved. Correio Braziliense has tried several times to publish reports on the recorded conversations, but the governor has always created obstacles.

Brazil’s National Association of Journalists (ANJ) reported that censorship has not been so strict as under the official censors in the Correio Braziliense newsroom since the 1964-1985 dictatorship.

Standing steadfastly by the Brazilian press, the IAPA has joined it in repudiating this act, and warns of the need to take a firm stand and fight against all actions that threaten the freedom of the press.

The Brazilian press is mourning two murders in recent months.

The first was committed in June by drug traffickers as a reprisal for the work of Tim Lopes, investigative journalist for Red Globo de Televisão in Rio de Janeiro.

Lopes was murdered, after being captured, tortured, dismembered and burned. He was buried in a secret cemetery in a region dominated by fear, violence and the power of the drug traffic.

On June 2, the reporter used a small hidden camera to try to obtain information about a funk dance party, which residents said was sponsored by drug traffickers as a place for the sexual exploitation of children and consumption of illegal drugs. The journalist disappeared, and police confirmed his death a month later when a DNA exam showed that a rib fragment found in a secret cemetery was his.

On September 19, three months and 17 days after the murder, the civil police arrested the main suspect, the drug trafficker Elias Pereira da Silva, known as Elias Maluco (crazy), a nickname given to him by his confederates because of the cruelty and violence he used when killing his victims. Elias was the last of the nine suspects to be arrested. Six others are in custody, one died in a clash with police and the other apparently committed suicide.

On September 30, organized crime claimed another victim. Domingos Sávio Brandão de Lima Júnior, 40, a lawyer and businessman who was owner, publisher and editor of Folha do Estado, Radio Cidade and SB Construções e Planejamento in Cuiabá, capital of Mato Grosso state.

Brandão was shot six times in broad daylight in the center of the city. According to the police, who analyzed the action of the criminals and examined the ballistic evidence, it was clearly an underworld execution. The crime was committed by two people who approached the victim on a motorcycle and shot at him, then fled. Sávio Brandão died instantly.

On October 4, former military police corporal Hércules Araújo Agostinho, former military police soldier Célio de Souza and law student Éverson Davi Robalo were arrested, and they are being held at the Pascoal Ramos Regional Penitentiary in Cuiabá. They all have criminal records. The main defendant is Araújo Agostinho, who was recognized by two witnesses who are under police protection.]

The investigation is leading to the hypothesis that the businessman was killed because of reports in Folha do Estado about organized crime in Mato Grosso, involving the slot machine business.

On April 12, Silvio Martinello, editor of A Gazeta of Rio Branco in Acre state, reported that the editor in chief, Jaime Moreira had been threatened after the publication of two reports about irregularities in a loan application to the Inter-American Development Bank by the state government.

On June 7, Aluysio Abreu Barbosa, managing editor of Folha da Manhã in Campos in Rio de Janeiro state, and son of the newspaper’s owner, said he had been persecuted and threatened. His reports led to an investigation and the arrest of a FEDERAL POLICEMAN, allegedly involved in the plan.

On July 23, Sâmar Razzak, a reporter for Jornal do Estado of Curitiba, Paraná state, received telephone threats after publishing an article about a gang that sold false diplomas.

On August 14, journalist Fernanda de Luca, filmmaker Alexandre Guimarães and their assistant Wellington da Silva of the program “CIDADE ALERTA” on TV Record, were threatened and some of their equipment was destroyed by a resident suspected of killing a 5-year-old girl, Taniá Alves de Mendonça.

The following attacks were reported:

On May 23, photographer Jefferson Botega of the newspaper Pioneiro of Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, was physically and verbally attacked by four members of the Movement of Unemployed Workers (MTD) while he was covering a land invasion by a group families connected to the organization.

On August 1, journalist Marcelo Fraga of TV Jangadeiro was attacked by Luciano Luque, press coordinator of the Ceará state legislature while covering a session.

On August 30, Saulo Borges and Joana Queiroz of the newspaper A Crítica of Manaus in Amazonas state were threatened after they began to investigate and publish reports about murders by a death squad.

The following legal cases were brought against newspapers and journalists:

One June 13, journalists Marcelo Rech, managing editor of Zero Hora, and José Barrionuevo, commentator on Rádio Gaúcha, both of RBS, were sentenced to five months and 10 days in prison. The sentence was changed to the payment of five monthly minimum wages to a public or private charity. Judge Isabel de Borba Lucas, of the 9th criminal court of Porto Alegre, capital of Rio Grande do Sul state, sentenced the journalists for criticizing Governor Olívio Dutra. Rech was convicted because of an editorial published in Zero Hora April 25, 2000 with the headline “The Right to Loot” that criticized the governor for saying that he respected demonstrations like the one that destroyed the clock commemorating the 500th anniversary of the discovery of Brazil.

Barrionuevo was convicted for a radio commentary that also criticized the governor for his position on the disturbances and his participation in a seminar on the strategy of looting in the countryside. According to the report in Zero Hora, dozens of demonstrators destroyed the clock commemorating the 500th anniversary in Porto Alegre on April 22, 200 with sticks, stones and Molotov c**ktails. In addition to stoning the clock, they attacked a fire truck.

The judge found that the editorial and the commentary exceeded the right to criticism and offended the governor by accusing him of negligence in dealing with the disturbance. In her ruling, the judge said, “no one wants a return to censorship,” BUT “respect must prevail” in a democracy. According to the verdict, handed down on June 6, the editorial improperly accused the governor, “going beyond the criticism that every politician is subject to.”

The RBS appealed to the Rio Grande do Sul court and argued in defense of the journalists that there is not a single line or word, either in Rech’s statement or Barrionuevo’s commentary that distorts the truth or exceeds the limit of the constitutionally guaranteed right to criticize the acts and statements of the state governor concerning topics of public interest.

On July 1, Demetrius Gomes Cavalcanti, judge of the 4th Civil Division of Brasília, granted an injunction prohibiting journalists of TV Record from commenting with “pejorative terms” about former senator Luiz Estevão when they reported on the diversion of funds from the Regional Labor Court of São Paulo. If it did not abide by the decision, the station would have to pay a fine of 50,000 reals. Journalist Boris Casoy reportedly offended Luiz Estevão when he reported about the diversion of funds from the labor court. “Will Judge Lalau [thief] and his gang go free?” the journalist asked. The court recalled that Luiz Estevão is still waiting for the decision on the facts that were attributed to him by the Public Ministry. For this reason “a journalist with the rep**ation and respect of Mr. Boris Casoy” cannot change allegations into irrefutable evidence even if they are consistent.”

On June 18, the 1st Civil Court of Brasília also prohibited Marcone Fomiga of the magazine Brasília em Dia from making offensive commentaries about the former senator. If he does not comply, he must pay a 20,000 real fine for every incident.

I love watching "a Brazilian" twist away in the wind in a storm of self generated stupidity. The site is frequented by Canadians, the Swiss, Americans, Germans and many other nationalities. The articles posted on this site are usually Brazilian articles translated into English. And all this is a US conspiracy to keep the hard working nation of Brazil down. You have to laugh. We are ALL wrong, and only a Brazilian is correct. Oh, but wait, there is more. When you have a rational Brazilian Ex pat chime in with his take, he too is seen by "a Brazilian" as a traitor, brainwashed by the imperialist Gringo corporate machine.

A Brazilian, I think you’re a paid monkey by the PT party to spend hours on the internet and do what your party does best. Spin the truth into oblivion, and blame everyone else for the problems you create. Have a nice life.

Quanto ao Canadá, bom, viva sua vida racialmente segregada num desses guetos que vocês adoram! Depois vá brincar um pouco eugenia com o seu parentes da KKK. Racista de merda.

Canadians unite, this is a site dedicated to denigrate the great Canadian image abroad by anti Canadian Brazilians. Let’s only speak Canadian on this board and let the Brazilians use translators, eh! This site was created with the sole purpose of sabotaging Canada.

See how stupid you sound "a Brazilan"?

eu diria que QUE A POLÍCIA FAZ UM PÉSSIMO TRABALHO.

Maybe you should send the 100 or so Military police arrested last week in Rio to the US, to teach them boys up there how law enforcement is suppose to work?

Isso diz que identificamos esse site como sendo um site propagandista anti-brasileiro, criado por americanos para promover uma agenda anti-brasileira e conseguir não apenas sabotar quaisquer tentativas de melhora mas garantir que ninguém mais o faça.

LOL...what an idiot, I have to 100% agree with GRUNT, it's people like "A brazilian' that will ENSURE this country NEVER gets better, only worse!! They can't stand criticism, and deserved criticism!!

Brazilian, it's not sites like "Brazzil" that are f**king brazil, it's the PRESS, because they're actually reporting FACTUAL occurences that happen in Brazil!!

So maybe you can team up with Lula and completely censure the WORLD!! So we don't find out about your hideous murder rate, slavery, prostiution, corruption, 25% of your population living on 2 dollars per day or less, and brazil's discrepancy between the rich and the poor!!

Let's all ban CNN, BBC, Globo, and every other media outlet that simply reports FACTUAL STATISTICS!!!

A BRAZILIAN, I'm quite sure that what I will say next will never enter your mind as being the truth, but, I konw for a fact, it's brazilians like YOU that are f**kING brazil!!!

HAHAHAHAHA!!! What a f**king IDIOT!!! Bobão, how many journalists have had to go into hiding in the last 10 years in brazil??? Do the research!!! ...

Que idiota!! Não há restrição para liberdade de imprensa aqui, o que há são casos isolados de crimes cometidos contra jornalistas a mando de poderosos, o que não é diferente de nenhum outro lugar.

Seu mongolóide do inferno, em primeiro lugar ignorou o que eu disse sobre os Estados Unidos e em segundo lugar começou a procurar no Google links para "provar" o seu ódio. Eu não tenho tanto tempo livre assim, até porque eu não sou um perdedor de merda como você.

Você é gringo ou é brasileiro? Se é brasileiro volta lá para a sua privada, a generosa privada que a gringolândia te deu para limpar. Se é gringo então tá explicado a total falta de noção.

which stated that had it not been for improvements in U.S. medical care in trauma cases over the last 40 years or so then the U.S. would have an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 murders annually. In other words attempted homicide has a "sky high" rate in the U.S. and it is due to advanced medical technology and care that the U.S. homicides are reduced to the degree they are. Because of this some have argued that homicide numbers within the U.S. are no longer adequate means to gauge violence within the nation.

Nice try e-harmony...what a fool!! Yeah, let's try and equivalate the violence in brazil with the U.S.!! Nearly TWICE the population but 25% of people murdered each year!! Yeah, medical technology, they don't have that here in brazil.....f**king moron!

Brazil is a VIOLENT nation, and, AGAINST ITS OWN PEOPLE!!

THREE TIMES MORE PEOPLE MURDERED IN 2005 IN BRAZIL than in THREE YEARS OF WAR IN IRAQ!!

Justify that s**thead!

The site is frequented by Canadians, the Swiss, Americans, Germans and many other nationalities. The articles posted on this site are usually Brazilian articles translated into English. And all this is a US conspiracy to keep the hard working nation of Brazil down.

Eu sei que isso é muito difícil de entender para o seu pequeno cérebro, mas é bem simples, o site se chama Brazzil, todo o tipo de informação negativa é colocada aqui para o único propósito de destruir o Brasil e os brasileiros. Existe uma coisa chamada desinformação, essa tática consiste em usar "verdades falseadas" ou "meias verdades" (só a parte da história que interessa) a título de retórica para se alcançar determinado objetivo.

Por exemplo, na segunda guerra mundial os Nazistas retratavam as pessoas de origem eslavas sempre como pobres, feios e ignorantes em tudo que se referia a eles. Isso era uma das muitas táticas para promover a idéia de que os Arianos alemães eram superiores. Mas eram aquelas fotos de fato de pessoas de origem eslava? SIM. Eles estavam mentindo ao mostrar a miséria alheia? NÃO. Apenas estavam mostrando o que interessava aos seus propósitos.

Está claro?

Se fosse um site sério haveria moderadores mantendo o nível das conversas, banindo usuários desrepeitosos e estimulando o diálogo.

Maybe you should send the 100 or so Military police arrested last week in Rio to the US, to teach them boys up there how law enforcement is suppose to work?

Então você acha que uma coisa justifica a eterna festa das drogas nos Estados Unidos, e a fronteira que é mais furada que uma peneira?

Nearly TWICE the population but 25% of people murdered each year!! Yeah, medical technology, they don't have that here in brazil.....f**king moron!

300 milhões não é nem perto do "quase o dobro" de 200 milhões. Ruim de matemática, hein?

300 milhões não é nem perto do "quase o dobro" de 200 milhões. Ruim de matemática, hein?

Well Einstein, brazil is said to have 185 million, the U.S. legitimately has 300 million, a milestone that was just recently reached, and naturally, we don't count illegals into that population, so you can safely say 312 million to 185 million, I would say that "nearly" twice as many people is not far off base.

ue idiota!! Não há restrição para liberdade de imprensa aqui, o que há são casos isolados de crimes cometidos contra jornalistas a mando de poderosos, o que não é diferente de nenhum outro lugar.

It's not any different anywhere else??? LMAO!! Bobão, go to the "international free press" sites, see the countries that they report about, Brazil, once again, is at amongst the top of an "undesirable" list!!

Você é retardado?Quer dizer então que o Brasil o "menor salário mínimo do mundo"?????????????????????????????????????????????

First of all, I didnt say brazil had the WORST, I said it was among the world LEADERS in these undesirable characteristics!! AND IT IS!!

Brazil is in the TOP FIVE on planet earth in lowest minimum wage!

Qualidade da educação?

A study JUST COMPLETED by the BRAZILIAN FEDERAL GOV'T. ranks brazil third worstworldwide in quality of education, only behind Tunisia and another country in Africa!

Seu bosta. "Prostituição"?

LOL...brazil is SECOND in the world in number of prostitutes, only behind Thailand...but brazil will get to #1 soon, I have confidence!

A brazilian, I've been living here in brazil for close to a decade, and once again, your type is the sole reason that this country will never make significant strides to better itself anytime soon!!

Unfortunately for you, you have to reside in this "mundo de merda" we call brazil, I have an option, I can always go home!

Esse país é único, e temos aqui a maior riqueza de todas as nações, ou seja, UM povo.

And while that statement is debatable, as long as brazil remains ignorant, the rest of the world is safe!!


Keep up the good work "A brazilian"!

Então você acha que uma coisa justifica a eterna festa das drogas nos Estados Unidos, e a fronteira que é mais furada que uma peneira?

And Brazil is the SECOND leading consumer of COCAINE behind the United States. But I 100% agree with you buddy, we need to start to act against these criminals, and the only way to stop it is where it's being sent from, Columbia, Peru, and Brazil!! Poisoning a country's people is an act of war, in my opinion!

about when god created brazil?? He was asked, "look at all the wonderful natural resources you gave to this land, why didn't you do that for everyone??" God replied, "Wait until you see the people I'm going to put there!"

Well Einstein, brazil is said to have 185 million, the U.S. legitimately has 300 million, a milestone that was just recently reached, and naturally, we don't count illegals into that population, so you can safely say 312 million to 185 million, I would say that "nearly" twice as many people is not far off base.

"is said", quer dizer que não é verdade, é apenas "is said"? Ah, e os imigrantes mexicanos que enviam dinheiro para suas famílias no México e depois voltam não são contados?

It's not any different anywhere else??? LMAO!! Bobão, go to the "international free press" sites, see the countries that they report about, Brazil, once again, is at amongst the top of an "undesirable" list!!

O mesmo site que rebaixou os Estados Unidos no ranking mundial. Seu merda, você já nem sabe o que quer provar, é apenas mais um perdedor colando "estatísticas" maquiadas.

you win!! Brazil is a safe country, with little to no murder or crime.

What I haven't been able to figure out is, why are ALL the houses in brazil surrounded by 15 foot high walls with nails or glass coming out of the top and iron gates over the doors and windows??

negative propaganda again?? Oh those nasty americans!

Brazil is at the TOP OF THE LIST with things like,...

First of all, I didnt say brazil had the WORST, I said it was among the world LEADERS in these undesirable characteristics!!

Convenientemente mudou de idéia. E você não colocou nenhuma estatística aqui, seu idiota, apenas disse "é isso, é aquilo", e saiu andando, vai para o Google procurar essas estatísticas e volta aqui quando tiver algo confiável.

A propósito, só na cabeça desses gringos pervertidos que vem para o Brasil realizar suas fantasias com travestis é que "prostituição" é um problema em si. Isso é problema quando está associado a disseminação de doenças, e graças a Deus o Brasil possui um povo sexualmente sadio que luta contra a AIDS dando os meios contraceptivos e educando a sua população!!

Só um idiota da terra do "sexo só depois do casamento", e de onde cada menininha aos 13 anos já viu mais rola nessa vida do que já vimos de cachorro quente, para usar o sexo como coisa "má".

Vai dar a bunda para traveco e some daqui, homem mal-resolvido.

A brazilian, I've been living here in brazil for close to a decade, and once again, your type is the sole reason that this country will never make significant strides to better itself anytime soon!!

Pelo que já vi e vivi sei que é exatamente o oposto, somente quando tivermos pessoas que trabalham por um futuro melhor ao invés de ficar abaixando a cabeça para gringos de merda como você, é que chegaremos a algum lugar.

Essa gente suja, que polui a internet com essa imundície propagandista, é o que há de pior entre os humanos. Vocês não constroem nada, apenas trabalham para destruir e desestimular a todos. Não são criadores, não fazem parte da elite dessa terra.

Não é de uma baixeza inumana diminuir o país dos outros para parecer melhor para si próprio? É que realmente eu não tenho tempo e nem paciência para procurar no Google "estatísticas" de coisas ruins dos Estados Unidos, e tampouco tenho o interesse pois isso realmente não é do meu feitio.

A propósito, de todos os supostos problemas citados você não citou nenhum dos Estados Unidos, por quê? Tem medo do quê?

Brasileiros, tomem esses indivíduos como o mais perfeito exemplo de idiotas que aqui freqüentam e trabalham incessantemente pela destruição do Brasil.

Enquanto isso, trabalhemos! Vamos construir uma nação como nenhuma outra, com UM SÓ povo. Deixemos que esses racistas espumem de ódio, que esses seres destrutivos arrastem suas unhas contra o concreto em sinal de desespero até que restem apenas tocos, que seus corpos de contorçam e contraiam ao ingerir o próprio veneno, que as nossas conquistas os humilhem.

Bo e o resto da trupe, obrigado por mostrar a todos que aqui vem o de pior que esse site produz. Assim outros brasileiros estarão cientes do que isso se trata.

But I 100% agree with you buddy, we need to start to act against these criminals, and the only way to stop it is where it's being sent from, Columbia, Peru, and Brazil!! Poisoning a country's people is an act of war, in my opinion!

1- Brazil is not a big producer or it;
2- American money finances drug dealers, because they have such a profitable business in the US;
3- The american police is incompetent and can't prevent them from getting in their own territory. What if instead of drugs biological weapons, nuclear devices, or anything of the like were smuggled into the US?

If you have to blame someone then blame your irresponsible youth and irresponsible government.

you win!! Brazil is a safe country, with little to no murder or crime.

Eu jamais disse isso, mas você parece implicar que os Estados Unidos são um país com pouco crime ou assassinatos. Já viste o tamanho do sistema penitenciário? Isso sem contar nos vários que não são presos e traficam drogas (disso vocês gostam que sabemos!), seres humanos, etc.

Ah sim, e mantém as pessoas em guetos, com bairros apenas para brancos, para negros, para hispânicos, etc. Fica mais fácil a polícia identificar os "bandidos" quando não há miscigenação né? Que maravilhosa sociedade hein... eh, acho que não.

Você quer saber como é os Estados Unidos? Veja o seriado "Oz".

Tudo bem segrego e bem violento, esse é o "american way".

Convenientemente mudou de idéia. E você não colocou nenhuma estatística aqui, seu idiota, apenas disse "é isso, é aquilo", e saiu andando, vai para o Google procurar essas estatísticas e volta aqui quando tiver algo confiável.

No bobão, I don't have to run to google to find any statistics, I did my research in years past, and continue to see the stats, for ALL nations, and as I've stated, Brazil is amongst the world leaders in nearly all things undesirable!

But I don't have to tell you that, you already know, as does any informed human being. You're just one of the numerous brazilians who cannot except reality and has the "não foi eu" mentality.

Você quer saber como é os Estados Unidos? Veja o seriado "Oz".

LOL...what an idiot!!!

A única mentalidade demonstrada por mim é a da construção, a sua é a da destruição. Incapaz de construir qualquer coisa, apenas trata de impedir que outros o façam.

Brasileiros, tomem esses indivíduos como o mais perfeito exemplo de idiotas que aqui freqüentam e trabalham incessantemente pela destruição do Brasil.

I don't know how many times I've told you this, and I'm sure that the vast majority agree, but unfortunately for you brother, Brazil and brazilians don't need ANYONE's help to destroy brazil!! You brazilians are doing a "bang-up" job all by yourselves!!

55,000 murders in 2005 in brazil.....several thousand LESS than the people killed in the U.S./Iraq WAR in THREE years!!

Go to the United Nations web page and statistics, look at the reports given on brazil by the United Nations!!

quote:

A United Nations envoy investigating extra-judicial killings by Brazilian police has given a damning account of her findings so far.

The envoy, Asma Jahangir(not american), said that the state of human rights in Brazil could NOT be compared with other countries.

"In Congo there's a war," she said. "Brazil is a democracy. But what I see here is a wretched, sad situation where there is NO JUSTICE."


Now, let's hear your rant on how the United Nations is just a tool of the United States!! And if that is going to be your argument,. then why didnt the U.S. get the U.N.'s permission to go to war with Iraq?? But I'm sure we'll be hearing some type of rhetoric how the U.N. is somehow predjudiced against brazil....maybe they want the amazon too, or the hundreds of thousands of whores all to themselves!

Nossa, que mudança de tópico rápida! Mas vou apenas fazer um simples comentário. Essa estatística não prova absolutamente nada, pois:

- Nada é dito sobre as evidências, sobre como, nem onde e nem quando foram colhidas;
- Nada é dito sobre auditoria e comprovação de tais informações;
- Nada é dito sobre o escopo do estudo;
- Nada é dito sobre o contexto e o objetivo inicial do estudo;

Apenas um ser repleto de ódio sem ter o que fazer da vida vai ficar pescando essas porcarias no Google para pô-las aqui.

Vamos usar a mesma lógica para os Estados Unidos:

- Só de ver a quantidade de pobres na Lousiana podemos concluir que os Estados Unidos é repleto de pobreza;

Não é uma pérola do pensamento humano digna do Bo? Agora quer um exemplo de organizações internacionais inventando notícias negativas a respeito do Brasil?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/portuguese/reporterbbc/story/2006/10/061011_transparenciacriticaaw.shtml

quote:

Pelo relatório, divulgado no início de outubro, o Brasil ficou em 23º lugar na lista do chamado Índice de Países Corruptores. Quanto mais no topo da lista, menos propensão as empresas do país teriam de pagar subornos.
...
'Irresponsável'

As críticas da ONG ao estudo da Transparência Internacional não terminam por aí.

"Não apenas a amostra é desequilibrada, como ainda não se dão informações sobre os países de origem dos respondentes para cada um dos 30 países focalizados", diz o documento da Transparência Brasil.

Com isso, argumenta a ONG, não se saberia, por exemplo, se as respostas relativas ao Brasil vieram majoritariamente de pessoas dos países que mantêm relações comerciais relativamente altas com o Brasil ou não.

Com tantos "estudos" assim, ninguém precisa de uma propaganda oficial.

This can EASILY apply to Brazil too. You do know that Rio medics are now among some of the best in the world in treating gunshot wounds? Violent crimes in Brazil are skyrocketing, too. But, again, it is a straw man argument, with no weight what so ever. I could just as easily say, in my country CANADA (ohhh, Caannnnaaaadddaaaa!), if the population where 2 billion, we could have one of the highest murder rates too. As useless argument. Can we not deal in reality for a change?

The fact is, Brazil is one of the most dangerous countries in the world and every single stat you bring up only solidifies this truism.

The only two truisms are the implied racial connotation in your reference to A brazilian as an "illiterate monkey" and the fact that the U.S. homicide rate, in relation to advancements in her medical trauma care, is likely no longer an accurate means by which to gauge the level of violence within the U.S.

As for trauma care in Rio and the poor and marginalized within Rio society having access to that medical trauma care... I can not speak on because that is outside the scope of my knowledge. I do know Rio is suppose to be one of Brazil's two most dangerous cities (at least in terms of "first tier cities" [cities with a population of a million or more]) and Rio's 2005 murder rate was below that of Gary, Indiana in the USA. And while Rio de Janeiro has a high murder rate, it is not all that enormously greater than the murder rates in U.S. cities like Detroit, Baltimore, and even D.C. where the White House resides. This begs greater question into the causations of Brazilian annual homicide numbers. It may very well be that Brazil is far more violent then the USA, but even if that would be true it does not negate the problematic level of violence within the USA. It would be like a gambling addict who is $5,000 in debt talking trash about another gambling addict who is $25,000 in debt just because he owes more.

As for Canada, she is a nation that fortunately does not have many of the social ills the United States or Brazil does (at least in terms of level). Canada is a bigger welfare-state than either the U.S. or Brazil she also has stricter gun laws. Gun violence contributes to much of the U.S. and Brazilian homicides. I have no beef with Canada as a nation, but she is very small nation in terms of population in comparison to the U.S. or Brazil. I'm not sure off hand but I think Canada has something like 30 million people? If so you could roughly fit all of Canada into Sao Paulo.

Nice try e-harmony...what a fool!! Yeah, let's try and equivalate the violence in brazil with the U.S.!! Nearly TWICE the population but 25% of people murdered each year!! Yeah, medical technology, they don't have that here in brazil.....f**king moron!

Brazil is a VIOLENT nation, and, AGAINST ITS OWN PEOPLE!!

THREE TIMES MORE PEOPLE MURDERED IN 2005 IN BRAZIL than in THREE YEARS OF WAR IN IRAQ!!

Justify that s**thead!

I think your ranting and ravings justify my points.

Question about Iraq and Brazil: Are you totaling all the casualties and homicides within Iraq and then comparing its homicide rate to Brazil's?

More questions since you like to compare Brazilian annual homicide numbers to U.S. declared war zones in Southwest Asia: How many U.S. military personnel died in the "First Gulf War"? How many people were murdered in Detroit in that same year? What was the total number of U.S. homicides during the year of the "First Gulf War"? Now which took a greater amount of casualties, life in the USA, or dispatch into its declared war zone?

I don1t feel like joining this discussion because it is so clear some posters are not fair and honest about their reasoning. They say we are the worst kind of Brazilians. We do not deny Brazil’s problems, instead we would like to even debate issues with gringos (I don’t want to debate with gringos anymore) but Americans and other nationalities are not honest, they do what they accuse us of doing! They simply cannot tell the truths about the decays of America and their lands. So it is so mature bash Brazil with such a broad mentality that is exasperating!I am just writing to a brazilian and E harmony. E harmony I had a friend that used to be so annoyed with the “ignorant” Americans and he is an American! Geez I used to get surprised and even shocked and I even felt angry because he called ppl ignorant! I wonder why these Americans deny the fact that their country is violent? Why they want to hide the truth about America? This is something I don’t understand. What a brazilian said makes sense, they do not want to construct things, denying is just another way of not constructing things. And no the best medical services are not available to the MAJORITY of people in Brazil, the situation in health is sometimes bad but cutting edge technology is not available to the poor neither to the middle class in most times. Thank you for being patient.

numbers don't lie! It's safer living in IRAQ over the last 3 years than in Brazil!!

written by Carlota Joaquina, 2006-12-26 21:54:38

I don1t feel like joining this discussion because it is so clear some posters are not fair and honest about their reasoning. They say we are the worst kind of Brazilians. We do not deny Brazil’s problems, instead we would like to even debate issues with gringos (I don’t want to debate with gringos anymore) but Americans and other nationalities are not honest, they do what they accuse us of doing! They simply cannot tell the truths about the decays of America and their lands. So it is so mature bash Brazil with such a broad mentality that is exasperating!I am just writing to a brazilian and E harmony. E harmony I had a friend that used to be so annoyed with the “ignorant” Americans and he is an American! Geez I used to get surprised and even shocked and I even felt angry because he called ppl ignorant! I wonder why these Americans deny the fact that their country is violent? Why they want to hide the truth about America? This is something I don’t understand. What a brazilian said makes sense, they do not want to construct things, denying is just another way of not constructing things. And no the best medical services are not available to the MAJORITY of people in Brazil, the situation in health is sometimes bad but cutting edge technology is not available to the poor neither to the middle class in most times. Thank you for being patient.

Hi, Carlota.

There are some very nice Americans (USA) which you can find in every race, age, and background - especially in certain very, very, small towns. Unfortunately you'll encounter less "nice people" in the bigger metropolitans within the U.S., in fact you'll likely be overwhelmed by the sheer number of "pricks." But perhaps that is less a U.S. thing than a universal thing to be found in most large metropolitans everywhere in the world.

It is true however that there is wide spread culture of arrogance and hyper-nationalism to be found in the U.S. amongst her people. Another big problem perhaps, is the greater degree of racism you'll find in numbers of U.S. citizens and even many Canadians than you will amongst the Brazilians. I'm not sure how true it is but I've been told that in Latin America there has been a long tradition of depicting dictators as gorillas. Whether that is true in general of Latin America or not, one thing I do know, is that in the United States and a number of other Anglo-Saxon culturally influenced societies, terms and or images of "monkeys" and "gorillas" 99% of the time carry derogatory racial inferences. It's a demeaning way the British would draw the Irish as a "race" they considered non-white. To this day in the United States white racists like to refer to black people (which to them means anyone with "one drop of black blood") as monkeys.

Make no mistake about it, what many gringos snub their nose at Brazil about is its degree of racial mixing (especially with black African ancestry). Whether some of their complaints about Brazil are legitimate or not, chances are part of their hatred or animosity will be partly shaped by racial antagonisms. Racial antagonisms are deeply seated in U.S. culture - although it has slowly been improving. Anyways, many people in the U.S. like to see the world in a binary perspective of good and bad, which means either one comes from a "good" country or they come from a "bad" country, for them it is that simple.

written by bo, 2006-12-26 22:50:12

numbers don't lie! It's safer living in IRAQ over the last 3 years than in Brazil!!

I'm sure one could claim the same about the U.S. 2,000 something U.S. military personnel have died in Iraq thus far I think. While I'm not exactly sure what U.S. annual homicide numbers are I'm pretty sure they're more than 2,000 a year (I think around 16,000 a year perhaps).

I'm sure one could claim the same about the U.S. 2,000 something U.S. military personnel have died in Iraq thus far I think. While I'm not exactly sure what U.S. annual homicide numbers are I'm pretty sure they're more than 2,000 a year (I think around 16,000 a year perhaps).

Well, 55,000 brazilians were MURDERED in 2005, in this peaceful, tranquil, paradise called BRA-ZIL-ZIL-ZIL!!

We do not deny Brazil’s problems, instead we would like to even debate issues with gringos (I don’t want to debate with gringos anymore) but Americans and other nationalities are not honest, they do what they accuse us of doing! They simply cannot tell the truths about the decays of America and their lands.

If that isn't the pot calling the kettle black!!! On the contrary my dear, I have yet to see one american, or anyone else from ANOTHER country try and dispute facts, statistics, about their own country with the exception of brazilians!! Brazilians are FAMOUS for NOT accepting responsibility, for DEFLECTING blame at any and all costs and if that means blaming someone, or some entity, completely innocent, then it's fair game, as long as YOU don't have to accept responsibility for an error made!

In the U.S.the culture and education is different than in brazil. For whatever reason brazilians are raised, and the ideology in brazilian companies, is to NOT accept blame but to deflect it It's as if accepting responsibility for an error is taboo!. In the U.S. children are taught to accept responsibility for the mistakes they make, say they're sorry, and then do whatever they can to make the wrong they committed right, if possible. This is NOT the attitudes you see, generally speaking, in Brazil.

Noticing the difference in respect to accepting responsibility for problems is EASY to observe. Ever have a problem with a company in the U.S.? Ever have a problem with a company in Brazil? In brazil when one receives an incorrect bill for whatever, let's say a phone bill, you call and complain, normally, if possible, they'll blame the long distance company, or vice-versa if the problem exists with the long distance company, they'll blame the local telephone company. You then normally have to file a complaint with Anatel, the organization that "regulates" the communication companies, and then you'll spend months, normally 2-4, resolving the problem. At the end of the situation you've normally spent more money in telephone calls and lost time then it's worth.

In the U.S. when the same situation occurs the company puts you on hold, are able to verify at that moment if a mistake occurred, when/if they verify they give you credit for the mistake AT THAT MOMENT, and even at times will give you an EXTRA credit, I received one of $100, because they want to MAKE-UP for the error, and keep your business! In brazil the ideology is completely different, companies here couldn't care less about respecting the client nor keeping their business, if a client is going to complain,justifiable or not, they'd rather just see him go somewhere else.

And Carlota, this discussion was about the thieving brazilian politicians upping their salaries to the HIGHEST PAID POLITICIANS on planet earth!! While their GDP per capita is 1/8 that of the U.S., while 25% of their own population makes less than $2/day!! And the responses were about THIS ISSUE, which anyone would have to admit is appalling. Then YOU start to post little "factoids", or a "story" about incidents in the U.S., which are completely off topic, as those situations are a general rule there.But this is always the tactic for many brazilians, they just can't stand it that someone that is not a brazilian could speak badly about this wonderful paradise called brazil. So if that's what you want to do, sling mud, brazil has a whole lot of mud that can be slung at it. And grow thicker skin, we americans are used to it, we're blamed for every single thing wrong in the world today, whether deserved or not, by a large number of countries and peoples around the world!

Você não tem caráter. Como passar horas pescando informações no Google é "assumir responsabilidade" por alguma coisa? E como fazer generalizações amplas sobre isso ou aquilo, onde logicamente é impossível de serem corretas, é "dizer a verdade"? Só se for na terra do tio Sam.

É impossível você conhecer cada criança, de cada cidade e de cada região dos Estados Unidos para afirmar o como elas são educadas, e é nem preciso mencionar o fato que você sabe absolutamente ZERO sobre o Brasil e a educação brasileira.

A única reação de gringos como você quando confrontados com o reino de terror promovido pelos Estados Unidos no mundo é o espernear "Anti-americanismo! Anti-americanismo!" . Quem é que recusando assumir responsabilidades aqui? É um fato comprovado históricamente que os Estados tem apoiado ditadores criminosos, como o próprio Saddam Hussein, principalmente na América Latina, quando lhes convém. Vocês são muito trouxas ao acreditar nessa raça de políticos americanos que usam o próprio povo eu suas trapaças por lucro. Eles armaram o Taleban, e depois o Taleban fudeu com vocês.

Eu poderia, se tivesse tempo e paciência, ficar o dia inteiro colando links para artigos falando sobre problemas nos Estados Unidos para que você "assumisse a responsabilidade", mas o que isso provaria?



Você se encontra numa cruzada pela destruição do Brasil, como é comum nesse site. O seu interesse é simplesmente o de crucificar todo brasileiro por qualquer coisa.

É impossível você conhecer cada criança, de cada cidade e de cada região dos Estados Unidos para afirmar o como elas são educadas, e é nem preciso mencionar o fato que você sabe absolutamente ZERO sobre o Brasil e a educação brasileira.

You're correct, it is NOT possible to know each child, nor his attitudes, but it is CERTAINLY possible to speak generally, as I have, if you notice Einstein, I said, and let me quote:

This is NOT the attitudes you see, GENERALLY SPEAKING, in Brazil.

It is certainly easily identifiable to perceive differences, general differences, in attitudes. And generally speaking, Brazilians DO NOT have respect for others, nor for the law, nor for the very place in which they live!

All one has to do to verify this is spend time here. You'll see people throwing trash out of their car windows, on a consistant basis, you see people that drive like maniacs, endangering everyone in their path, not paying attention to ONE driving law, only to slow down to the maximum velocity allowed when encountering a "radar" that is permanently placed and warning signs posted that you're about to embark upon one. People either have to live in a house surrounded by 15 foot high walls with electrical fences surrounding them and iron bars over their windows and doors to protect them from the thieves, because the police can't be counted upon, and many times work hand in hand with the criminals. Or, live in an apartment building with people above you, below you, and on the side of you, because of SECURITY!

The problem with your type is that you want to take the actions of a government, and try and equate their characteristics to the people of that nation, which if one does that concerning the american gov't. all americans would be warmongers, which they are not, and if one did that about the brazilian gov't. all brazilians would be thieves, which all are not.

Try talking about the "people" of the nation. At least in america when people get fed-up with the government, their representatives, they can complain, loudly, in the press, on tv. The press is FREE to report whatever they like, as long as it has factual basis, without having to worry about leaving the country because they're being threatened by those in power, as what happens in brazil on a consistant basis.

You're so juiced up to "protect" your country?? Go do something, get your ass off the internet and go to brasilia, demonstrate about the thieves that rob your peoples tax money. Demand those responsible for mensalão be held accountable, instead of being declared "innocent" in secret votes by their fellow thieves. Complain to your fellow brothers when you see them disrespect others and the very place in which you live, which is a general theme throughout this country!

O seu exemplo da imprensa reclamando do governo nos Estados Unidos apenas mostra que você não conhece nada do Brasil. No ano e 2005 e 2006 ocorreram vários escândalos envolvendo figuras do governo, e, todo brasileiro é testemunha, isso foi noticiado até a exaustão. Todo santo dia havia notícias sobre isso. Isso é prova mais que suficiente do que a imprensa faz.

E sim, alguns setores foram criticados pela cobertura dos fatos, até porque o que eles queriam era derrubar o presidente, que apesar de tudo é bem querido pela população carente, que se identifica com ele. Nada além de críticas ao trabalho feito, que foi alguns casos foi de uma qualidade péssima e totalmente sensacionalista.

O governo é xingado e avacalhado pela imprensa de todas as formas possíveis e de forma quase diária. Programas de TV fazem piadas com figuras públicas, inclusive o presidente da república. Isso mostra que todo mundo é muito livre aqui.

Você vive num conto de fadas, onde acredita que todo americano é santo, é o único lugar do mundo onde a imprensa é livre (não é a mais livre nem de longe) e tudo é perfeito. Pois saiba que não é. Nos Estados Unidos parece que carros são a parte principal da vida, já experimentou dar uma caminhada por alguma cidade, fora dos lugares para turistas? Você veria que não é tão limpo assim. Eu sei, porque eu já vi muita sujeira.

Você não está assumindo a responsabilidade ao negar os fato de que os Estados Unidos apóiam ditadores. E sim, Bush teve o apoio da maioria da população para iniciar a guerra do Iraque, então não venha com esse "não fui eu". Apenas estou usando a mesma lógica que você.

For those that don't speak portuguese, I just gave above many examples that happen every day proving that the press IS VERY FREE here, and that Bo doesn't know anything about Brasil. He repeats these lies because his business is not building anything, but just destroying it.

Oh, boo-hoo E Harmony. Please, get off the freaking cross because we need the wood. I’m sick and tired of two-bit leftist bleeding heart extremists throwing out the race card, or the Nazi card wherever and whenever they feel or see fit (usually when they have nothing else to argue). What do you usually find in a BANANA REPUBLIC? Answer: monkeys. If YOU see a racial connotation in there and not a geopolitical one then it is because it is something that YOU need to deal with, not me. I don’t even know, nor care what freaking colour “a Brazilian” is, I just find his stupidity primitive.

You’re just like those thin skinned passengers on the American airlines jet last year that wanted to sue the flight attendant because the flight attendant said “iny mini miney mo catch a tiger by the toe” to patrons. Apparently, that is offensive to certain races in America, too. Well, golly-geesh. Sorry there mate – I’m not tip-toeing on egg shells anymore to acquiesce to a bunch of political opportunists that dangle the race card out like fish bait waiting for a bite. If you want to continue a discussion about race, then count me out. Hommy don’t play that!

What I do care about is where I currently live: Brazil. And this is a site about Brazil so if you wish to address your concerns regarding the US take it to a site that is about “understanding the US”. Because folks like me (non-US foreigners in Brazil) can’t stand:

1.Brazilians that take any criticism about their country and turn it into an anti-American diatribe (I’ve never understood this);

and 2: Americans that think the whole world revolves around their little slice of the planet.

You seem to fall into the second category. (oops, does “category” imply connotations I should be aware of? Just checking)

You are correct about one thing only and that is Canada has a population of a little more 30,000,000; roughly about the same as Sao Paulo state. So how about doing a comparison between Sao Paulo’s murder rates with ALL of Canada?

1.73 per 100,000 versus 50.7 per 100,000 – which stat goes with which region do you reckon?

Sadly, since YOU “e harmony” can’t read Portuguese, you won’t be able to understand any of "A Brazilian’s" enlightened ramblings. That’s a shame. “A Brazilian” is one seriously synaptic malfunctioning knuckle-dragger (was that offensive?) And you see him for his true xenophobic colours (oops, s**t, offensive? Or just colloquial?) when he rants and raves in Portuguese.

Now I honestly don’t know why I’m wasting time with you, you obviously know nothing about Brazil, you have probably never been here, I doubt you can utter a single coherent phrase in Portuguese, and you seem hell bent on swaying every subject into a debate about the US (which doesn’t interest other nationalities participating on this site) or worse, a race debate.

Spend a decade in Brazil like Bo and myself and innumerable other “gringos” (wow I find that phrase ‘gringo” offensive! The pejorative connotation is glaring) and then you can pine in with your two shekels (oops, that can be misconstrued as anti-Semitic? I dunno).

You just can’t compare Brazil’s violence with other nations unless they are Russia, Jamaica, and Columbia. You’d actually learn lots from Bo if you’d get off your high-horse, he seems to have his facts straight and has been here, from what I gather, a very long time. “A Brazilian” is simply retarded.

For those that don't speak portuguese, I just gave above many examples that happen every day proving that the press IS VERY FREE here, and that Bo doesn't know anything about Brasil. He repeats these lies because his business is not building anything, but just destroying it.

hmm, Larry Rother may disagree with you, and for sure, if he were alive, Tim Lopes would challenge your assumption. Brazil has freedom of the press only until it pisses someone off (on paper - pra inglese ver). You keep believing that Brazil is a first world country with little violence, little corruption and little stupidty there banana boy, as long as you think everything is just peachy, everything will remain as it is. Your choice, trutinho.

For those that don't speak portuguese, I just gave above many examples that happen every day proving that the press IS VERY FREE here

Do you really want me to post all the s**t, threats, murders, beatings, that journalists have received in brazil over the last few years?

Do you want the reports from international NGO's that report on censorship in brazil? Upholded by corrupt judges?? Just say the word buddy, I'll post the articles, reports, results, with the links. I know brazil all too well my friend, but, lol, according to you, I guess I'm hallucinating this reality that I see, breath, and live.

Sao Paulo has just passed 40 million inhabitants last year.

Thanks for that. When one is surrounding by inmates in the asylum sometimes he starts to question his own sanity!! LOL. I've done that here while in brazil, started questioning my own ethics and morals, thank god I take semi-frequent trips back to north america to get a grip on things, and realize that much of the reality in brazil is not normal, per sey, in regards to developed nations.

hmm, Larry Rother may disagree with you, and for sure, if he were alive, Tim Lopes would challenge your assumption. Brazil has freedom of the press only until it pisses someone off (on paper - pra inglese ver). You keep believing that Brazil is a first world country with little violence, little corruption and little stupidty there banana boy, as long as you think everything is just peachy, everything will remain as it is. Your choice, trutinho.

Larry Rother was one special case because he was sensationalistic and most of the population took offense in his articles describing incorrect things about Brazil.

Tim Lopes was murdered by common thieves when making an article about drug trafficking. There's no repression of press in that, if he is in the middle of a territory controlled by drug dealers he knows the risks.

And the press is very free in here. You didn't mention the sensationalistic coverage of the government scandals of 2005 and 2006, that caused some ministers to leave. Why? That was criticized by the low quality of the material, as it would be done in any other country.

Some parts of the media even suggested the involvement of Fidel Castro with absolutely no evidence but some "drunk man confesisons". Is this serious? But they are free to do it anyway.

Again you are just another idiot repeating lies about Brazil for this propaganda site. You are doing the Goebbels tactic, repeating a lie a thousand times until it becomes truth.

Bo Knows...... Brazil!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bo_Knows

You didn't mention the sensationalistic coverage of the government scandals of 2005 and 2006, that caused some ministers to leave. Why? That was criticized by the low quality of the material, as it would be done in any other country.

Sensationalistic?? They were stealing hundreds of millions of dollars you idgit. Tell me this, IF the press didn't get involved do you think anyone would've RETIRED?? You notice I didn't say FIRED, nor TRIED, nor CONVICTED!!

Brazil is a country of IMPUNITY if you're a politician. Brazilian politicians have IMUNITY from prosecution for many crimes?? What kind of f**king banana republic is that?? It's a license to STEAL, and THEY DO, EVERYDAY, YOUR tax money, oh, sorry, sure you don't pay taxes because you don't have a job, or if you do it's "off the books", well, they're stealing MY tax money!!!

Tell me this idgit, what exactly do you think the mindset is of a journalist when he finds proof of corruption of a politician in brazil.....think he doesn't think twice about going to his boss and letting him know what he found? Think his boss, editor, doesn't think twice about publishing stories of corruption and corrupt politicians, judges, etc, in brazil??

And Larry Rother?? Because most people took offense to what he said?? He only restated what has been said in the brazilian press, and by other brazilians, politicians and colleagues of the drunkard, illiterate Lululula. So if brazilians "dont like" something that someone prints, even though its factual, you just deport his ass?? f**k the constitution, f**k the law....yep, that's about right!

Nada disso muda o fato de que a imprensa é livre. Qual é a relação de causa e efeito entre alguns políticos serem corruptos e usarem de suas posições para obter privilégios e a imprensa ser livre?

Sim, o escândalos de 2005 e 2006 foram usados numa tentativa de diminuir a aceitação do presidente Lula. Algumas revistas e jornais que são notóriamente tendenciosos contra tudo o que é PT tentaram de todas as formas derrubar o presidente com isso.

Eu acho o Lula um f***********a, e ele com certeza sabia de tudo. Mas isso não me impede de perceber que determinados grupos foram com muita sede ao pote, eles poderiam ter acabado com a reeleição dele se fossem menos sensacionalistas. O povo naturalmente apoiou o presidente que estava sendo atacado de todos os lados.

O problema do sensacionalismo é que mesmo a mais pura verdade acaba parecendo mentira, parece que o jornalista está tentando de convencer de algo ao invés de relatar os fatos.

E os hábitos de bebida do presidente jamais foram notícia geral. Podem ter sido aqui e ali em algum tablóide. No Brasil não existe essa cultura de querer saber da vida privada de políticos e figuras públicas. E sim, a maioria das pessoas apoiaram a atitude tresloucada do presidente.

Well, 55,000 brazilians were MURDERED in 2005, in this peaceful, tranquil, paradise called BRA-ZIL-ZIL-ZIL!!

So what, likely that many or close to were shot, stabbed, beaten or required some other form of emergency care do to assault within the USA in 2005.

Anyways...the United States isn't Canada, neither is Brazil and in the United States we love Cowboys, Al Capone, and Bonnie and Clyde. If you're afraid of walking down the streets of Rio then kindly take your a** back to Toronto.

If that isn't the pot calling the kettle black!!! On the contrary my dear, I have yet to see one american, or anyone else from ANOTHER country try and dispute facts, statistics, about their own country with the exception of brazilians!! Brazilians are FAMOUS for NOT accepting responsibility, for DEFLECTING blame at any and all costs and if that means blaming someone, or some entity, completely innocent, then it's fair game, as long as YOU don't have to accept responsibility for an error made!

In the U.S.the culture and education is different than in brazil. For whatever reason brazilians are raised, and the ideology in brazilian companies, is tIn o NOT accept blame but to deflect it It's as if accepting responsibility for an error is taboo!. In the U.S. children are taught to accept responsibility for the mistakes they make, say they're sorry, and then do whatever they can to make the wrong they committed right, if possible. This is NOT the attitudes you see, generally speaking, in Brazil.

Noticing the difference in respect to accepting responsibility for problems is EASY to observe...

And Carlota, this discussion was about the thieving brazilian politicians upping their salaries to the HIGHEST PAID POLITICIANS on planet earth!! While their GDP per capita is 1/8 that of the U.S., while 25% of their own population makes less than $2/day!! And the responses were about THIS ISSUE, which anyone would have to admit is appalling. Then YOU start to post little "factoids", or a "story" about incidents in the U.S., which are completely off topic, as those situations are a general rule there.But this is always the tactic for many brazilians, they just can't stand it that someone that is not a brazilian could speak badly about this wonderful paradise called brazil. So if that's what you want to do, sling mud, brazil has a whole lot of mud that can be slung at it. And grow thicker skin, we americans are used to it, we're blamed for every single thing wrong in the world today, whether deserved or not, by a large number of countries and peoples around the world!

Bo, regarding your comments I underlined, their pure comedy aside, I notice you say "we americans are used to it," my question however in relation to your rant about honesty and the implications that Americans (USA) are raised with a greater level of honesty than Brazilians (U.S. Public school systems no less [rolls eyes]), Aren't you the one that was adamant we recognize you as a Canadian?

You know most Canadians do not view U.S. culture and corporations in the same regard as you presented the two. Actually, right or wrong most Canadians view U.S. culture and U.S. corporations to be culturally centered upon selfishness, lies, and theft. It should also be noted Canada for the most part is far more "left of politics" than the U.S., so given all this it is interesting how you are trying to sell the U.S. story and the Brazilian story on here.

Me thinks you're an American (USA) and I would not be surprised if you post under more than one identity on here.

Oh, boo-hoo E Harmony. Please, get off the freaking cross because we need the wood. I’m sick and tired of two-bit leftist bleeding heart extremists throwing out the race card, or the Nazi card wherever and whenever they feel or see fit (usually when they have nothing else to argue). What do you usually find in a BANANA REPUBLIC? Answer: monkeys. If YOU see a racial connotation in there and not a geopolitical one then it is because it is something that YOU need to deal with, not me. I don’t even know, nor care what freaking colour “a Brazilian” is, I just find his stupidity primitive.

You’re just like those thin skinned passengers on the American airlines jet last year that wanted to sue the flight attendant because the flight attendant said “iny mini miney mo catch a tiger by the toe” to patrons. Apparently, that is offensive to certain races in America, too. Well, golly-geesh. Sorry there mate – I’m not tip-toeing on egg shells anymore to acquiesce to a bunch of political opportunists that dangle the race card out like fish bait waiting for a bite. If you want to continue a discussion about race, then count me out. Hommy don’t play that!

Hello bo, oh I'm sorry "grunt," opps! wait you're probably reall bo right? Eh either way.

Your little rant on the etiquettes and epithets of the word monkey has been enlightening I'll be sure to log that away in my bullsh-t catalog. The boo-hoo is your response and failure to accept responsibility for derogatory racial comments hurled on here. Instead you attempt to mislead the reasons for the disparaging - racially intended - remarks and act as though you (and or your comrade) have been mistreated. If you did not make the comment, nor share the same sentiments, then why feel the need to come to your buddy bo's rescue and offer a lie on his behalf for the intents of his "monkey" label?

Let it be known A brazilian can converse in both English and Portuguese - and he does so well. Hence, coming from a culture of the U.S., any disparaging comment calling him an "illiterate monkey" carries a clear racial intent and is not a result of some reader engaged in debate with him cognitional belief that A brazilian can not read in a singular language.

As for me, no I do not read or speak Portuguese, not of yet at least. But I am not in the great land of Brazil yet either.

So what, likely that many or close to were shot, stabbed, beaten or required some other form of emergency care do to assault within the USA in 2005.

No, there were 14,000 people murdered in the U.S last year. With a population 60% LARGER than brazil, and a murder rate of 25% of brazil!!

Try again e-trutinha!

Bo, regarding your comments I underlined, their pure comedy aside, I notice you say "we americans are used to it," my question however in relation to your rant about honesty and the implications that Americans (USA) are raised with a greater level of honesty than Brazilians (U.S. Public school systems no less [rolls eyes]), Aren't you the one that was adamant we recognize you as a Canadian?

Firstly my ignorant one, I didn't imply honesty, I implied "ACCEPTANCE" and the admitting of mistakes. Secondly my illiterate one, the one that is canadian is Grunt!

As for me, no I do not read or speak Portuguese, not of yet at least. But I am not in the great land of Brazil yet either.

Do you think that BEING in brazil you will somehow magically speak portuguese?? Ignorant fool! I speak both fluent english and portuguese, have lived here for close to a decade, I speak from experience, of my own, and others that I know.

Of course you're not here!! You'll know when you arrive!! Be careful not to get caught-up on a plane load of english arriving in Rio, because odds are you'll be strip-robbed on your way to your hotel...this is called, Bem-Vindo Aõ Brasil!!

Gosto do tom de sinismo que o Jabor usa em seus comentários.
Estudos dizem que as pessoas com mais bom senso são as mais humoradas, que usam um pouco mais o sarcasmo, e isto o Jabor tem de sobra.

I was wondering if g r u n t wasn’t the canadian chap before e harmony ask. It’s fun, though, some “being” foreign to the usa they are still American nationalists “roxos” (e.g. defending strongly their position in Portuguese roxo is the purple color. Also the adjective is placed after the noun). How could that be? Lol! It’s being a time now that I hear some people from America with this excuse: I am a human being! I make mistakes… I’m not perfect! Children, adults… I just hope they don’t get in their 80s with the same excuse. It’s going to be boring!

E harmony, just don’t wear or have on you anything too noticeable that you’ll be fine! Being a plain guy has it’s benefits.

* the words in Portuguese it's for another forum. Mistake

No, there were 14,000 people murdered in the U.S last year. With a population 60% LARGER than brazil, and a murder rate of 25% of brazil!!

Try again e-trutinha!

bo,

It is quite evident you lack good reading comprehension. There is a difference between murder and attempted murder, far more than 14,000 people in the U.S. were treated for gun shot wounds an et cetera in the United States last year.

Do you think that BEING in brazil you will somehow magically speak portuguese?? Ignorant fool! I speak both fluent english and portuguese, have lived here for close to a decade, I speak from experience, of my own, and others that I know.

I think I made clear I'm not in Brazil and hence it is neither prudent nor urgent that at this present moment that I know how to speak or read Portuguese. I find it quite ironic and telling that you call me a fool when you lament your existence in a country you moved to and hate. I could care less why you are there or find yourself trapped in Brazil, if you have created yourself a family in Brazil well then you are the "ignorant fool" that made your own bed. Or is that simple logic to hard for you to understand gringo?

Of course you're not here!! You'll know when you arrive!! Be careful not to get caught-up on a plane load of english arriving in Rio, because odds are you'll be strip-robbed on your way to your hotel...this is called, Bem-Vindo Aõ Brasil!!

It's called being "GD'd" in my neck of the woods. And if I get robbed I get robbed, if I get shot I get shot, chalk it up to the game of life. Anyways... why are you so concerned about being robbed or the violence in Brazil? I thought you white American gringos were John Wayne, Superman, Rocky Balboa?

why do they say that? isn't it too a generaliztion I'm not perfect?

In the U.S. when the same situation occurs the company puts you on hold, are able to verify at that moment if a mistake occurred, when/if they verify they give you credit for the mistake AT THAT MOMENT, and even at times will give you an EXTRA credit, I received one of $100, because they want to MAKE-UP for the error, and keep your business! In brazil the ideology is completely different, companies here couldn't care less about respecting the client nor keeping their business, if a client is going to complain,justifiable or not, they'd rather just see him go somewhere else.

I've seen people complain to banks, as Bradesco for example, banks are the enterprise that receive the major number of sues here. They have their legal department and I've seen and know that many people win the cases against Bradesco. Also people I know when with problems with phone companies and they got what they wanted. I also won when I complained to stores, my friends as well, etc. I think the civil rights in Brazil are late comparing to US but exists, are enforced if puched abd consumers are stronger and stronger. Why such a pessimistic lookout?

E harmony, just don’t wear or have on you anything too noticeable that you’ll be fine! Being a plain guy has it’s benefits.

Thanks for the advice, Carlota.But I'm not overly concerned, I came up eating, I came up as a kid with other kids trying to rob me numerous times, and eventually I began to have sex. So as far I'm concerned any where I go in the world people are pretty much going to eat, f***, and rob the same. Human nature doesn't differ that much.

Peace.

P.S. Brazilian women are worth risking one's life for any ways. (at least I hope so)

Hello bo, oh I'm sorry "grunt," opps! wait you're probably reall bo right? Eh either way.

Nice try. Sorry to break this to you, but there is no single-poster with multiple-personality disorder, just a few gringos with years of experience in Brazil giving their opinions.

Your little rant on the etiquettes and epithets of the word monkey has been enlightening I'll be sure to log that away in my bullsh-t catalog.

Be my guest. As I’ve said, I don’t know and lately I don’t care what offends the thin-skinned among us. Tossing out accusations such as you did is always a last ditch attempt to cover up a weak argument. After reading your ill-informed, romanticized fantasies of a country you’ve never been to, I knew it was only a matter of time before you used “racist”, “Nazi” or “Hitler” to make up for lost ground in debate. Never underestimate the predictable path and stumbles of the wandering blind.

Let it be known A brazilian can converse in both English and Portuguese - and he does so well.

Again, you can’t read Portuguese, so how do you know he “converses” WELL in Portuguese? Because the letters are arranged differently than in English?

Do you even KNOW what he writes in Portuguese? No of course not. We’ve already established that. But to let you know, his bloviating in porkncheese is at times much more caustic and virulent that what he sputters out in English. Without doubt your child-like senses would be offended. But again, we need not worry about that because you know diddly-squat about the Portuguese language.

You know most Canadians do not view U.S. culture and corporations in the same regard as you presented the two. Actually, right or wrong most Canadians view U.S. culture and U.S. corporations to be culturally centered upon selfishness, lies, and theft.

Let me guess, like Brazil, you’ve never been to Canada either but can speak on behalf of “MOST” Canadians? Here’s where I will agree with “A Brazilian” and highlight the sad reality that there are in fact ignorant Yobs in the US that think they know everything because they saw it on TV, or heard it in a rap song. Luckily for me, I’ve come across a decent cross section of Americans in my travels, and know that not all are as bird-brained enough to put themselves out on the stupidly limb and chatter away on subjects they know nothing about. Watch out for the fall there E, it's a doosey! Eh!

It should also be noted Canada for the most part is far more "left of politics" than the U.S., so given all this it is interesting how you are trying to sell the U.S. story and the Brazilian story on here.

Tell that to the folks out in Calgary, and compare their politics with folks in Boston… How do you think Quebec would factor in? Again, you’ve never been there and I’d wager that you’ve never even left the US. Do you have a passport?

Anyways...the United States isn't Canada, neither is Brazil and in the United States we love Cowboys, Al Capone, and Bonnie and Clyde. If you're afraid of walking down the streets of Rio then kindly take your a** back to Toronto.

Again, your post radiates naïveté. No one mentioned where they live, and in Brazil there are far more interesting places to live than Rio. I leave Rio to the AAs and their bling, the 50 year old fat sex tourists from Germany, and those creepy characters looking for trannys. Which camp do you fit into E? As for taking my "ass back to Toronto", I´m a west coast boy thank you very much, and please save your "demands" for someone who actually cares with what you have to say.

On a funny note here we have A Yank who knows nothing about AT ALL about Brazil (never been, can´t speak, read or understand the language) telling a Canadian (speaks portuguese, married, paying taxes) IN Brazil to go Home ...what priceless stereotypical arrogance!

On a final note, no one said they were afraid of walking streets anywhere – cautious, sure. All that was mentioned was that: 1. Brazil is a dangerous country, and has a serious problem with violent crimes and murders 2. You can’t really compare the dangers in Brazil with the US (and you’ve finally admitted that above), and especially not other countries such as Canada. And finally, and most regrettfully, it is impossible to have any meaningful conversation about Brazil without a Brazilian nationalist hijacking the conversation over to US politics, or some ILL INFOMRED BAFFOON who knows NOTHING about Brazil doing the same.

E, you are the one hell-bent on chimming in on a subject you know ABSOLUTELY nothing about. That just strikes me as odd. I hope you do go and spend more than a few weeks hustling hookers in Rio, and give living here a good go – say, 2-4 years. At that point, I might find your opinions somewhat useful, or at the very least, marginally informed.

In Montana we were always thankful for Canadian tourists spending their money. The Canadian women wore men´s wristwatches. Their portion of Glacier Park is called Waterford, I think. I feel safe in Canada because they have a phobia about guns. The Canadians send us lots of natural gas at Sumas, for which we are thankful. Maple Leaf forever.

What we are not happy about is East Indians from Canada buying new trucks (usually Freightliners because they are cheap) by making only one down payment, driving them down the I-5 like maniacs, trashing everything they come in contact with and then letting them get repossessed and starting over.

It is quite evident you lack good reading comprehension. There is a difference between murder and attempted murder, far more than 14,000 people in the U.S. were treated for gun shot wounds an et cetera in the United States last year.

And e-harmony, it's quite evident that you are ignorant in trying to compare the violence in a country that has 60% LESS people, yet more than FOUR times the number of murders.

Now, I understand what YOU'RE saying about ATTEMPTED murder perfectly, now exactly what do you think the statistics are in BRAZIL for ATTEMPTED murder?? If the ACTUAL murder rate is 4 times higher, naturally the ATTEMPTED murder rate is much higher as well. And you're ridiculous excuse of the "level of medical treatment" just doesn't hold water!! Stop pulling ideas out of your bunda, and show me REAL numbers, statistics, facts.

I've seen people complain to banks, as Bradesco for example, banks are the enterprise that receive the major number of sues here. They have their legal department and I've seen and know that many people win the cases against Bradesco. Also people I know when with problems with phone companies and they got what they wanted. I also won when I complained to stores, my friends as well, etc. I think the civil rights in Brazil are late comparing to US but exists, are enforced if puched abd consumers are stronger and stronger. Why such a pessimistic lookout?

But that's exactly the point Carlota!! One normally has to SUE a company in brazil to get compensated, or a right made wrong, or at least the THREAT of a lawsuit. And believe me, I have already sued TWO different businesses in Brazil and in the midst of my THIRD lawsuit. I WON each lawsuit, the first against Banco do Brasil and the second against a "cable internet provider", but guess what, it takes an AVERAGE of 1.5-2.5 YEARS to come to a conclusion, and this is IF the other party does NOT APPEAL the decision in the initial hearing/trail.

In my current "processo" it is against Caixa Economica. Now listen to this, I have had a "pessoa juridica" with them, or business account, for 3 years. Within these 3 years there has been MORE than 2.5 million DOLLARS enter it, my partners and myself are making a foreign investment in brazil. Our monthly bills are expensive. Approximately 5 months ago I went to Caixa Economica, approximately 100,000 reais had just been sent from my partners and was our current balance at Caixa, I walk in the bank with numerous bills from the previous month that needed to be paid. There was one credit card bill, the total value was 27,000 reais, I wrote in BIG BOLD NUMBERS, 10.000,00 REAIS, that was the amount to be paid for this bill. I gave these bills to the manager and specifically showed him the crdit card bill and explained that a total of 10.000,00 reais was to be paid, and showed him where I wrote it on the front of the bill, all the other bills were to be paid in full, most were utility bills, etc. The next day the manager calls me, "Senhor, nos temos uma probleminha"(we have a little problem), "what happened?" I asked, "Well, I gave your bills to one of the girls here, (most are 19-22 year old girls that haven't even graduated college, their doing an internship) and she paid your credit card bill in full!"

So, they paid 17.000 reais MORE than I authorized. I went to the bank to talk to the manager, explained how my partners had just sent money and my business account here in brazil would not be receiving more for another 30-45 days or so and we had numerous other bills that needed to be paid. At the end of the day, we ended up bouncing two checks, which I had to take money from my personal account to cover, which is not the correct thing to do concerning accountability nor with receipta federal. I asked Caixa to give me a line of credit, which, if you can believe this, in THREE YEARS of having a business account with them, and millions of dollars, approximately 6 million reais, had entered this account, they had NEVER given our account ONE CENTAVO of credit. They said this was because we do not have "faturamento", which naturally we do not as of yet since we are still in the investment stage.So I asked them to give me a 17.000,00 reais line of credit, was even willing to pay INTEREST or JURORS, for them to make up for their error.

Do you know what the response of the manager was??? "Senhor, voce so vie resolver esse problema na justiça!!" In other words, "we f**ked you, we know we did and are admitting it, but you're f**ked, we are NOT going to do one damn thing to make up for our mistake, and if you want us to do something in the form of a resolution, SUE US!!"

And that's exactly what I'm doing. But do you think I enjoy this? Do you think I have the TIME for this nonsense? It's ridiculous and ludicrous. It is an business mentality that is absurd and certainly doesn't "stimulate" further business.

Since this situation, if you can believe this, the manager called me one day about one month after the situation occurred, and told me I had to deposit 300 reais because of CPMF, the tax that the federal gov't. charges you whenever ANY amount of money leaves your checking account. I laughed, told him he had to be kidding, that because of their error I had bounced two checks, the first time ever in our business account, and they had caused other problems for my personal account because I had to get money from there to pay "company bills", which once again, is NOT the correct way to do things in regards to accountability (receipta federal). I told them that I would NOT be making that deposit, 45 days later they CLOSED our business account that we had had with them for 3 years and MILLIONS of reais had been deposited!!!!

I tell the above story as an example, and it is an accurate one concerning the IDEOLOGY of businesses in brazil. This same type of mentality can be found with the power companies, phone companies, water companies, just about any organization that exists in this country. Most here realize what a painful process the "justice system" is here in brazil, how lengthy and even at times, according to whom you're suing, can be anything BUT justice.

Most here realize what a painful process the "justice system" is here in brazil, how lengthy and even at times, according to whom you're suing, can be anything BUT justice.

And the businesses here USE this fact against the consumer!!! Their ideology is like this, "You want a resolution?? Sue us! We'll see you in a couple years, and if we appeal, we can drag this thing out a decade!!"

Again, you can’t read Portuguese, so how do you know he “converses” WELL in Portuguese? Because the letters are arranged differently than in English?

The quality of the portuguese I write is way above the average, due to the many readings I do. Eventually a grammar or a spelling error might occur, but nothing that will destroy the meaning of the sentence.

I tell the above story as an example, and it is an accurate one concerning the IDEOLOGY of businesses in brazil. This same type of mentality can be found with the power companies, phone companies, water companies, just about any organization that exists in this country. Most here realize what a painful process the "justice system" is here in brazil, how lengthy and even at times, according to whom you're suing, can be anything BUT justice.

I don't really care what your problem was or even if it's true or you are just making it up, but that's obviously a stupid over-generalization. How is it possible to take conclusion of the entire country only because of ONE case?

And the businesses here USE this fact against the consumer!!! Their ideology is like this, "You want a resolution?? Sue us! We'll see you in a couple years, and if we appeal, we can drag this thing out a decade!!"

Funny you take such conclusion about the entire country based in one bad experience told by you. But, what about the people getting rich in the United States by suing companies and other people over stupid stuff? Lots of cases appear on TV where people and lawyers make millions for things like "the floor was little wet, the person fell and was given 100 million in damages".

The United States is the country where people use the law to make money, and you are talking about Brazil? I don't think the lawyers would do any different there than they do here, after all it's all about money.

I don't really care what your problem was or even if it's true or you are just making it up, but that's obviously a stupid over-generalization. How is it possible to take conclusion of the entire country only because of ONE case?

Once again, it's NOT only one case, so far I actually have sued THREE businesses(including caixa) here in Brazil over the last 4 years. Now these are the ones that I actually sued! How many other situations do you think have occurred over the last 10 years with business entities, untility companies, local, state, federal agencies???

I can tell you MANY. At least every other month I have to battle with one company or another about an incorrect bill, a product not working how its supposed to, and basically getting the same type of responses.....tough luck!

And A brazilian, believe me when I say, I couldn't care less what you believe or not, I have no reason nor basis to LIE on this anonymous message board. I actually have a FINANCIAL interest as well as a PERSONAL interest in seeing the situation in brazil get BETTER, not worse! And by me being TRUTHFUL it CANNOT help my business objectives, only hinder!

But I'm not going to pain Brazil as some wonderful, tropical paradise where everyone is so calm, relaxed, with beautiful women with big asses running around half naked everywhere.

I have a virtue that is to the extreme, that many at times consider one of my "faults", and that is I'm brutally honest. And if that means that our investments here won't succeed because of honesty, then so be it. But I'm no used car salesman, I tell it like it is.

How many other situations do you think have occurred over the last 10 years with business entities, untility companies, local, state, federal agencies???

I have no idea, but neither do you. You are just making the same you have done in this forum since the first message, spreading hate about Brazil with the intent of destroying it.

I have a virtue that is to the extreme, that many at times consider one of my "faults", and that is I'm brutally honest.

You are just a lunatic painting the United States as a shiny example for everything and just telling flawed statistics (you don't have any source for them) as a form of "prove" your hate.

One I thing I noticed about americans, at least the ones that come to this forum, is their naive belief in whatever statistics. So any discussion ends in a Google-fest of link to statistics here and there, and they seem to blindly believe in them. Numbers can be not only made up, but organized in a way to prove anything you want, the most efficient lie is a half-truth because a plain lie is easier to detect.

I have no idea, but neither do you.

I don't have any idea of the number of problems that I've encountered in the last 10 years??? LOL. Well, you're right, I don't know an EXACT number of problems that I HAVE HAD, but I can give a CONSERVATIVE estimate, at least 50 and possibly up to 100! Now that is any type of problem, big or small, serious and the not so serious.

You are just a lunatic painting the United States as a shiny example for everything and just telling flawed statistics (you don't have any source for them) as a form of "prove" your hate.

Show me where I painted the U.S. as a shining example for things?? You blow a lot of smoke!! What do you want to hear? That George Bush is an idiot...I think he is, always have. That the war in Iraq is/was not justified? I don't think it is, nor was. That corruption exists in the U.S., of course it does, and american gov't. corruption exists in the forum of lobbiests, special interest groups, PACS, and the military industrial complex. I'm not a blind, flag waving idiot that can't except criticism where it's due!!! As YOU, and other brazilians or brazil-lovers so often cannot! I own up to the faults, as well as the virtues of my country, because I know that admitting our mistakes, our errors, is the first step in resolving them. Not acting as if they don't exist, or playing the "blame game" and pointing my finger at this group or that, this country or that. An individual, as well as a nation, needs to take responsibility, that's called being an adult.

One I thing I noticed about americans, at least the ones that come to this forum, is their naive belief in whatever statistics. So any discussion ends in a Google-fest of link to statistics here and there, and they seem to blindly believe in them. Numbers can be not only made up, but organized in a way to prove anything you want, the most efficient lie is a half-truth because a plain lie is easier to detect.

Buddy, MANY of the statistics that I have posted here have come from studies and research done by the BRAZLIAN FEDERAL GOV'T.!!! Now, my question is this, do you think the federal govt of a country wants to paint a BLEAKER picture of the actual reality?? Of course not, and idgit, even yourself, would have to admit that. Other stats have been taken, or studies, research, or reports taken by the UNITED NATIONS, and in response to SOCIAL issues they are a rep**able source!

Everyone knows about the corruption within the brazlian police, death squads and all, everyone knows about the corruption of brazilian politicians. A brazlian federal audit last year found that corruption and accounting irregularities existed in 77% of ALL braziliain municipalities!! The study was published on this very site!! Do the research, you'll find it.

But it doesn't matter what organization provides what statistics to people like you, you'll ALWAYS have an excuse. Buddy, I said it before and I'll say it again, it's brazilians like YOU that are screwing this country and ensuring that NOTHING will change for the better anytime soon. I know that's hard for you to believe, but think about that when you're laying in bed!

As for taking my "ass back to Toronto", I´m a west coast boy thank you very much, and please save your "demands" for someone who actually cares with what you have to say.

I'm not a blind, flag waving idiot that can't except criticism where it's due!!! As YOU, and other brazilians or brazil-lovers so often cannot! I own up to the faults, as well as the virtues of my country, because I know that admitting our mistakes, our errors, is the first step in resolving them. Not acting as if they don't exist, or playing the "blame game" and pointing my finger at this group or that, this country or that. An individual, as well as a nation, needs to take responsibility, that's called being an adult.

Grunt and Bo are such fun men. The funniest part is that this discussion wouldn’t even exist if you and all your Brazil-haters friends wouldn’t be dishonest, biased and bigoted and didn’t keep pointing your finger against Brazil and Brazilians every day, seven days a week, blaming them for all the problems you have. You people have lost your sense of ridiculous. Another thing is, why can’t you contribute with solutions to the problems you cannot stop addictively criticize? Also why don’t you fade away? It is so simple, you hate Brazil, then bye bye tchau!  Stephen Kanitz (American), writes at the weekly most read Brazilian magazine Veja and he compares Brazil to USA a lot providing with his accuracy to the Brazilian reader. Construct, construct, not destroy.

But it doesn't matter what organization provides what statistics to people like you, you'll ALWAYS have an excuse. Buddy, I said it before and I'll say it again, it's brazilians like YOU that are screwing this country and ensuring that NOTHING will change for the better anytime soon. I know that's hard for you to believe, but think about that when you're laying in bed!

Why Brazilians like us are screwing Brazil and prevent the country for changing? What do we do that screws Brazil? I am not petista, is that a reaon? Maybe we are the few Brazilians You have encountered your whole life that defends Brazil, no matter its problems?


And E, congratulations, that's exactly how things are in most part of places.

* ridiculousness reason

It happens that these hate-mongers would expect us to humiliate ourselves and low our heads. They have been brainwashed since an early age that they are superior to anyone else, either racially or patriotically speaking, and they have the right to offend anyone and point anyone's supposed "failures" as they see it.

This site has the objective of perpetuating such mentality either in them, by showing "the truth", i.e., bad news carefully selected to prove everyone else sucks, or by creating an inferiority complex in the weak-minded brazilians that read it.

Being here and there, and knowing some people I have only reached the conclusion that the world is full of idiots, like some foreigners in this forum, and there's no reason for Brazil not to be a better place if we put our minds and hearts in this direction.

I suggest brazilians respond to any of these attacks, keep your heads high and talk aggressively if need be, but always let them show their destructive intentions first. You may notice whatever they write is full cursing and hate, that's what we need to make them show here for everyone to understand what this site is all about.

I leave Rio to the AAs and their bling, the 50 year old fat sex tourists from Germany, and those creepy characters looking for trannys. Which camp do you fit into E? As for taking my "ass back to Toronto", I´m a west coast boy thank you very much, and please save your "demands" for someone who actually cares with what you have to say.

Well hey, grunt, saddle back up and hit the road back to Vancouver or where ever the hell you are from.

And I've been to Toronto many years ago when I was a child and no I have not been to most regions of Canada but it's pretty god*** certain your experience with the U.S. is selective also.

On a funny note here we have A Yank who knows nothing about AT ALL about Brazil (never been, can´t speak, read or understand the language) telling a Canadian (speaks portuguese, married, paying taxes) IN Brazil to go Home ...what priceless stereotypical arrogance! smilies/grin.gif smilies/cheesy.gif

Yeah, and don't let the door hit you on your a** on your way out.

The funniest part is that this discussion wouldn’t even exist if you and all your Brazil-haters friends wouldn’t be dishonest, biased and bigoted and didn’t keep pointing your finger against Brazil and Brazilians every day, seven days a week, blaming them for all the problems you have.

Don't talk s**t, show EXAMPLES, dishonest?? So far from what I've seen from Grunt, and from myself, has been our own PERSONAL EXPERIENCES!!! As far as the statistics that have been shown, and can be shown, regarding corruption, crime, murder, etc....show us your statistics to the CONTRARY!!! Yeah, I thought so.

I don't have to state this, it's plain for ANYONE to see, thank god this discussion is all in PRINT for anyone to read, you can see the ones that try and deflect blame and deny responsibility, they're the ones that start spouting off about the U.S. or post a "story", a "situation", and try to generalize that as the U.S. as a whole, and the kicker is WHEN THE DISCUSSION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE UNITED STATES!!!!

If you want to bash america, there are THOUSANDS of bashing sites, do a search, you'll find them.

The situation is this, until one admits that a problem exists, a solution is IMPOSSIBLE!!! And that is the problem of some of the clowns on this board!

why do I continue to get this message why trying to post?

Why Brazilians like us are screwing Brazil and prevent the country for changing? What do we do that screws Brazil? I am not petista, is that a reaon? Maybe we are the few Brazilians You have encountered your whole life that defends Brazil, no matter its problems?

No, you are NOT defending Brazil, to the contrary! People like you are ENSURING this place will never change for the better. You are defending the PROBLEMS in brazil, in which many of them are amongst the worst on planet earth. It enters my mind that people like you have other objectives, such as keeping brazil exactly how it is. Is that what you want? You want organized crime to continue to control the major cities and metropolitan areas in this country? You want the politicians to become the highest paid on planet earth while approximately 40 million brasilians make less than $2/day? You want people to have to continue living in houses that are built like prisons, with 15 foot high walls and iron bars over the doors and windows and electric fences?

If that's what you want, the educated people in this country don't want you here! I have children that live in Brazil, and I want them to have a better future than today's reality!

Well hey, grunt, saddle back up and hit the road back to Vancouver or where ever the hell you are from.

Thanks for the advice sunshine. My reciprocal consultation to you would be: don’t forget to relocate the trailer during hurricane season.

And I've been to Toronto many years ago when I was a child and no I have not been to most regions of Canada but it's pretty god*** certain your experience with the U.S. is selective also.

Well, that just makes you a freaking expert than. Toronto, once, as a child: so how many honorary Doctorates did you receive for that magnificent accomplishment in travel? I hope you didn´t get a nose bleed so far up north.

And I wouldn’t wager if I were you, I’m not only far more well traveled internationally than most (certainly more than you), but I’d bet the farm I’ve seen more of your own country than you, too. However, I’m not about to enter into a silly sophomoric school yard pissing contest with you E, I’m here to help you out with your Portuguese and your understanding of Brazil. Here’s an article for you to start translating. When you’re done please feel free to continue on about how Brazil is no more or no less violent than Gary Indiana.

http://noticias.terra.com.br/brasil/interna/0,,OI1322776-EI316,00.html

Remember, after these seven the total REPORTED number of people burned to death over the last 2 weeks in Brazil is now 11, including a 5 year old child. This number does not include ATTEMPTS at burning someone to death (since E likes using ATTEMPTS as an indicator) which is another reported 5 (but they were homeless so no one really cared).

Grunt and Bo are such fun men. The funniest part is that this discussion wouldn’t even exist if you and all your Brazil-haters friends wouldn’t be dishonest, biased and bigoted and didn’t keep pointing your finger against Brazil and Brazilians every day.

Woo there simplesimon. Since when does stating a fact amount to “hate”? Why is it that the thin skinned, liberal, hug a thug, all races are equal except whitey, whinners think that bringing up a statistical reality is tantamount to hate? I don’t hate Brazil? I actually quite like the country. I save my rage for the simpletons that hold the country back. I save my rage for the idiots that turn a blind eye to the glaringly obvious. In short, I don´t hate Brazil, I dislike YOU and your ilk of monosynaptic nationalistic thugs.

I see beauty and potential everywhere in Brazil, however what strikes a nerve with me is the plethora of ill-informed, mentally challenged and ideologically retarded chest-pounding troglodytes that refuse to except that the country faces a multitude of serious problems. Like BO said: "until one admits that there is a problem, a solution is impossible".

Speaking of admitting there is a problem, everyone seems to be quite quiet on this whole Rio thing...

Como diz a excelentissima Ellen Gracie uma semana passada em Rio? “isso pode acontecer em qualquer lugar do mundo.” Qwa qwa qwa

SURE IT CAN..

No, you haven't shown any statistics, you just vomitted "Brazil is at the top of this, this and this" and never showed any statistic at all. And even if you did, it's pretty much easy to find biased studies like the one link I posted earlier. You keep trying to repeat words like "reality", "experiences", "statistics" to lend yourself some credibility but the intelligent reader will see your real intentions. As I said ealier, the most effective lie is a half-truth.

Your will is not to help anyone or anything, it's just to demoralize, humiliate and make yourself feel better about your own shortcomings.

If you have plenty of spare time why don't you get a hobby instead of coming here? I can tell you why, because this site is meant for propaganda against Brazil.

Remember, after these seven the total REPORTED number of people burned to death over the last 2 weeks in Brazil is now 11, including a 5 year old child. This number does not include ATTEMPTS at burning someone to death (since E likes using ATTEMPTS as an indicator) which is another reported 5 (but they were homeless so no one really cared).

You f**king moron, what logic is that? So if a woman is raped in Canada I can point the link and say "do you know how many women were raped in the last 5 minutes in Canada?".

This is the problem with this, these morons will do a Google-fest of links of anything bad that happen and make it look like "everyday life in Brazil". THIS IS NOT EVERYDAY LIFE IN BRAZIL, THIS WAS AN ISOLATED ACT PERPETRATED BY THE ORGANIZED CRIME IN RIO, AND ORGANIZED CRIME IS PRESENT ANYWHERE, NOT JUST BRAZIL

You know nothing absolutely zero about this country, you are just another propagandist pretending to know "how things work", making false claims.

Don't come with this talk about "liking Brazil". What does this kind of atitude, of lying, does for helping anybody? YOU HAVE JUT TOLD A BIG LIE and still have the guts of accuse others of "not admitting problems"???? WTF!!

Go on, continue picking bad news here and there and link it here. I will continue showing the reality for anybody intelligent enough to understand.

Brasileiros, reajam ao ver imbecis como esse fazer pouco de vocês. Esse país tem muitos problemas sim, assim como qualquer outro lugar, mas a intenção dessa gente não é ajudar nada, é apenas nos destruir.

I can tell you why, because this site is meant for propaganda against Brazil.

Buddy, if you're so concerned about "negative propaganda" about Brazil, you'd be much better off concentrating on the actual major news stations, such as Globo, CNN, BBC, etc. As they are reporting on FACTUAL incidents that are occurring within this country.

And once again, about the statistics I provided, do you want the links? The study about the 55,000 murdered in brazil was done by the Ministerio de Justiça in Brazil and the report on police killings and death squads were done by the United Nations....I believe I provided links for both of those, but just say the word.

Guess those people being torched to death in buses in Rio at the present moment is an anti-brasilian propaganda campaign being conducted by the CIA with it's intentions to eventually take over the amazon....eh Erkel?

As they are reporting on FACTUAL incidents that are occurring within this country.

Oh really, so if I focus on some american newspaper I will see the FACTUAL incidents occurring there, like people being killed, raped, etc? WHAT IN THE HELL WOULD THAT PROVE? That you have companies producing newspapers.

Tell me, so the US, Canada and the rest of the world is a place free of murder, rape, serial killers, perverts, etc? The only place you find such things will be in newspapers talking about Brazil? I didn't think so. Yes, you are a moron.

The study about the 55,000 murdered in brazil was done by the Ministerio de Justiça in Brazil and the report on police killings and death squads were done by the United Nations....

is this your evidence? Evidence of what again? What are you trying to prove?

Guess those people being torched to death in buses ..

It will be propaganda if you say that every week people is torched to death. THIS IS A f**kING LIE, THIS WAS AN ISOLATED CASE YOU PIECE OF s**t.

This is the problem with this, these morons will do a Google-fest of links of anything bad that happen and make it look like "everyday life in Brazil". THIS IS NOT EVERYDAY LIFE IN BRAZIL, THIS WAS AN ISOLATED ACT PERPETRATED BY THE ORGANIZED CRIME IN RIO, AND ORGANIZED CRIME IS PRESENT ANYWHERE, NOT JUST BRAZIL

See, this is your problem, and other people like you! It is NOT normal nor typical in most ALL countries for organized crime to control them, shutting down major metropolitan areas, setting buses ablaze, and gunfights in the street killing women in children!!

This happens in countries that ARE AT WAR!!! As was stated by a representative of the United Nations and also the comparison made about the murder rate in brazil being equal to or even HIGHER than countries that are at WAR!!

You see, your type tries to diminish these disgraces, stating, "oh, these things happen everywhere". Really? With the frequency of Brazil? 150 Brazilians, or people in brazil murdered EVERY day!!

Sorry to rain on your parade, obviously you've never left this country, so you think the brazilian reality is the reality on the rest of the planet!

Is it normal for ORGANIZED CRIM to be able to basically "shut down" a city? That's what happens, whenever Marcola feels like it! He can shut down Sao Paulo, Rio, or any city in this country...and he's in prison!!

A Brazilian, you are truly a lost idiot.

It is NOT normal nor typical in most ALL countries for organized crime to control them, shutting down major metropolitan areas, setting buses ablaze, and gunfights in the street killing women in children!!

It's not typical in Brazil too. If you think otherwise is because you know nothing about it and will believe the ENTIRE COUNTRY is like that favela in the "city of God" movie.

ou see, your type tries to diminish these disgraces, stating, "oh, these things happen everywhere". Really? With the frequency of Brazil? 150 Brazilians, or people in brazil murdered EVERY day!!

Bo and his statisticitis. As usual no links. As usual no sense of what it proves, except the satisfaction in attacking Brasil.

Is it normal for ORGANIZED CRIM to be able to basically "shut down" a city? That's what happens, whenever Marcola feels like it! He can shut down Sao Paulo, Rio, or any city in this country...and he's in prison!!

This one I need to make a comment about, BECAUSE I WAS THERE WHEN IT HAPPENED. So I know about it more than you and any of your hate-colleages would ever know.

This happened because of the mass hysteria produced by the media that publicized it as hell, plus the inept governor remarks and the police "non-action", most people believed they were at risk. BUT NOTHING HAPPENED AT ALL, most people I know were home earlier just for not being on the streets at night, but not me.

The only thing that happened were some vandals destroying buses. Nothing different that any other country, vandals would like to destroy something just to "pass the message".

A few weeks later they tried to repeat the same strategy, to give the media threats for them to publicize and affect the everyday life of the citizen. Guess what, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN, why? LOGISTICALLY THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH NUMBERS AND AREN'T PRESENT THAT MUCH IN THE STATE, THEY ARE LOCATED MOST IN PRISONS AND A FEW AREAS WITH HIGH RATES OF CRIME.

Don't come to spread misinformation about Brazil. Organized crime is present anywhere, and if they don't destroy anything in the US or Canada, it's because they have a very profitable business with drugs, human trafficking and killings and don't want to piss anyone off. Busineswise, that makes sense, if they are doing illegal things in the US the last thing they would want is to draw attention.

You f**king moron, what logic is that? So if a woman is raped in Canada I can point the link and say "do you know how many women were raped in the last 5 minutes in Canada?".

Go ahead, but the article is about burning people alive on buses not rape (not to diminish the gravity of rape). Please, find me a link (just one) from Canada or the US where this has happened. And remember, burning witches at the stake in the 18th century does count.

This is the problem with this, these morons will do a Google-fest of links of anything bad that happen and make it look like "everyday life in Brazil". THIS IS NOT EVERYDAY LIFE IN BRAZIL, THIS WAS AN ISOLATED ACT PERPETRATED BY THE ORGANIZED CRIME IN RIO, AND ORGANIZED CRIME IS PRESENT ANYWHERE, NOT JUST BRAZIL

I wish this where the case. But burning people alive does seem to be the newest Brazilian thug craze. A five year old and his family a week ago in Sao Paulo, 7 on a bus yesterday in rio. 4 homeless people in Rio a week ago, and one homeless person (caught on tape) in BH just 4 days ago (and these were not GANG related). No one needs to do a google search. If you watch globo news, or log on to any major Brazilian news source, it is there right in front of you on a daily basis.

When I say Bagança Sao Paulo, what immediately comes to your mind after last weeks news?

And speaking of gangs, I don’t recall anywhere in North America or Europe for that matter where gangs can shut down entire cities (MAJOR CITIES) or shopping districts in major tourist areas. Nope. Sorry. Only in Brazil.

And to your chagrin “A Brazilian”, posting this stuff is just in response to your idiotic childlike tantrums, where you huff and puff and claim that Brazil is just like any other nation on earth in regards to crime. HOGWASH. I don’t feel a need to bash brazil (Brazil doesn´t need anyone’s help in looking backwards) I do however feel it important to WARN potential travelers. See there is the difference. You seem to think we hate Brazil, and enjoy denigrating the country’s rep**ation (one that isn’t very strong to begin with); however the truth of the matter is that we’re beacons of truth for foreigners (Hmmm, I think we need some batman music here or something). I’m not going to say stay away, but it would be negligent of me to sit back and read your ramblings about how Brazil is just as safe as any other nation on earth, and no chime in.

yea, business as usual, in brazil dickhead! Sorry, this kind of s**t just isnt normal in ALL countries that ARE NOT AT WAR! It wasn't long ago in Sao Paulo, over 200 dead?? Now its happening in Rio, how's news years eve in Rio de Janeiro? A shame for you that many foreign tourists who did decide to make the trip will get a good glimpse of the violence that exists in Rio.

There are over 14,000 military police that are "protecting" Rio over the New Year, 14,000!!!! Tell me this isn't a war? And these people don't have the numbers?? Well, they're attacking police stations for gods sakes! How were the streets of Copacabana last night.....looked like Baghdad!!

Take a look at this people and tell me if you think this is normal!

http://video.globo.com/Videos/Player/Noticias/0,,GIM610697-7823-MADRUGADA DE APREENSAO MAS SEM NOVOS ATAQUES NO RIO,00.html


Buses burned, people burned alive, children shot in the head, and miltary in the streets!! Yep, that's normal, in Baghdad!!

Bo and his statisticitis. As usual no links. As usual no sense of what it proves, except the satisfaction in attacking Brasil.

http://www.brazzilmag.com/content/view/7285/53/

About 45,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed since the invasion of their country by the United States in March 2003. In 2005 alone over 55,000 Brazilians were murdered in a non-declared civil war that has been ravaging Brazil for years.

According to just-released data by Brazil's Justice Ministry more than 150 Brazilians suffered violent death each day last year. The government, however, called reporters to tell that crime has been dropping in Brazil in recent years mainly due to disarmament campaigns.

For Marcelo Durante, the Justice Ministry's report coordinator, the biggest reduction in criminality occurred in states where more people participated in the government program to buy back firearms.

Durante also revealed that many violent crimes are underreported in Brazil. He mentioned for example that it's believed that 75% of robberies and 85% of rapes are never reported to the police.

Many Brazilian seem to think that reporting those crimes would be just a waste of time since the authorities wouldn't do anything anyway.

The government study listed crimes that occurred in cities with more than a 100,000 inhabitants in 2004 and 2005. The numbers come straight from the states Security Secretariats.

The state of Rio de Janeiro despite a 4% decrease in the number of violent deaths kept its title as murder champion followed by Pernambuco state in the Brazilian northeast.

Camaragibe, a city in Recife's (capital of Pernambuco) metropolitan area, was the municipality with the highest number of violent deaths. There were 180.9 murders for each 100 thousand residents during the period studied.

Duque de Caxias, in Rio de Janeiro, came in second with 120.7 deaths per 100,000. And it was a big surprise to see Curitiba, capital of the southern state of Paraná, appearing in third, with a rate of 119.9 deaths.

For comparison's sake, New Orleans, the US most violent city had a murder rate of 53.1 deaths per 100,000 before the Katrina hurricane. In Washington DC the rate is 45 per 100,000, in Detroit, 41.8 and in Iraq 27.5 violent deaths per 100,000 people.

All over Brazil, the number of deaths by violent crime grew 1% from 2004 to 2005, raising from 54,696 homicides to 55.312. This despite the reduction of murders in 11 states including Rio Grande do Sul, which saw an expressive decline of 35%.

you're own ministerio de justiça is putting out fake statistics!

If you watch globo news, or log on to any major Brazilian news source, it is there right in front of you on a daily basis.

Their business is to report things, the worse the better for them. Does the media only reports sunshine forecasts there? I remember seeing things on the media as the government asking for TVs in the US not to show the floating bodies of the Katrina victims. Then these idiots come to criticize "freedom of press" in Brazil, if it were in Brazil they would show even the half-decomposed bodies!!!!

You just repeated your usual Brazil hate speech, but nothing changes the fact THAT YOU TOLD A BIG LIE, this is not a every day life in Brazil.

BTW, if I turn on a canadian news service or an american one, WON'T I SEE NEWS ABOUT THOSE PLACES, INCLUDING BAD NEWS? What kind of loser would do such thing of selecting every single bad news to prove the United States or Canada sucks? I will you whay kind, your kind.

nd speaking of gangs, I don’t recall anywhere in North America or Europe for that matter where gangs can shut down entire cities (MAJOR CITIES) or shopping districts in major tourist areas. Nope. Sorry. Only in Brazil.

Oh really? But they can put illegal immigrants and drugs anywhere they want! Wow! Nothing change the fact THAT ORGANIZED CRIME IS ANYWHERE. If the illegal business owners in Canada or the US prefer to adopt a low profile and keep doing their business without drawing attention from the population, IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT THEY ARE THERE.

Conclusion:

- You told a big lie about the "torching buses", making it look like it's an day like any other in Brazil. You know that and then you started your silly comparisons with "show me, show me that", not denying anything of what I have said but only trying to make it look worse than anywhere else;

- You also didn't deny the existence of organized crime in any country, you, once again, just tried to make look like "much worse" than Canada on the grounds that "they can't shutdown a metropolitan area", which doesn't prove anything (if they can't nor if they don't want to);

Oh, shut up. Aren't you ashamed of manipulating information like that into promoting your own hate agenda? Ask yourself, what are you trying to prove? You are just selecting isolated cases here and there and publicizing them as "very common thing", obviously you never set foot in Brazil.

There are over 14,000 military police that are "protecting" Rio over the New Year, 14,000!!!! Tell me this isn't a war?

Rio isn't Brazil. WHEN WILL THESE f**kING GRINGOTARDS REALIZE THAT. Rio is a famous for its violence throughout Brazil, and no brazilian will deny that. BUT WHAT THE HELL DOES IT HAVE TO BE USED TO TALK ABOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

Do yourself a favor, BUY A f**kING MAP!!! CHECK HOW SMALL IS RIO IN COMPARISON WITH EVERYTHING ELSE.

Take a look at this people and tell me if you think this is normal!

...

Buses burned, people burned alive, children shot in the head, and miltary in the streets!! Yep, that's normal, in Baghdad!!

Are you actually reading what I write in here or you just keep repeating the same thing over and over again? THIS WAS AN ACTION OF THE ORGANIZED CRIME. PERIOD. THIS IS NOT EVERYDAY LIFE IN BRAZIL. PERIOD. CAN YOU UNDERSTAND THESE BOLD LETTERS. QUESTION MARK.

The original claim of the canadian Nazi was that this was a common example of what happens in Brazil, and THIS IS NOT TRUE. This is nowhere near common.

DUMB f**k.

About 45,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed since the invasion of their country by the United States in March 2003. In 2005 alone over 55,000 Brazilians were murdered in a non-declared civil war that has been ravaging Brazil for years.

Oh great, now they compare Iraq with a country many times bigger than it. Using this line of thinking Antartica must be the best place in the world because IT HAS ZERO CRIMES. It doesn't have population either, but that only helps these incredible statistics!! What a f**king moron.

BTW, no links in that link you passed, just "who said what". And still using a very conservative estimative for the amount of people killed in Iraq. By no means that is "the whole amount of dead people, either due war, or due terrorist bombings, terrorist attacks, violence in general".

By no means that is "the whole amount of dead people, either due war, or due terrorist bombings, terrorist attacks, violence in general

yes mr. denial, that is the deaths in Iraq that has occurred over THREE YEARS!! due to the war, bombings, shootings, etc. Three years of WAR in Iraq equals a little less than four months in brazil as far as death by violence!!

Take it up with your Ministerio de Justiça bonehead, they did the study, call him a liar you denying idiot.

Rio isn't Brazil. WHEN WILL THESE F**KING GRINGOTARDS REALIZE THAT. Rio is a famous for its violence throughout Brazil, and no brazilian will deny that. BUT WHAT THE HELL DOES IT HAVE TO BE USED TO TALK ABOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

Camaragibe, a city in Recife's (capital of Pernambuco) metropolitan area, was the municipality with the highest number of violent deaths. There were 180.9 murders for each 100 thousand residents during the period studied.

Duque de Caxias, in Rio de Janeiro, came in second with 120.7 deaths per 100,000

And it was a big surprise to see Curitiba, capital of the southern state of Paraná, appearing in third, with a rate of 119.9 deaths.

Well that about covers it doesn't it Einstein, the north as well as the south!!

Five years ago the world witnessed not one, but many airplanes crashing against certain targets in the US, and the chaos right after, and these morons want to argue that the "organized crime can shutdown a metropolis only on Brazil".

THE ORGANIZED CRIME COULD BLOW YOU UP, EITHER IN THE US OR CANADA, IF THEY WANTED TO. AND THAT WAS PROVEN IN 9/11.

False sense of security. Not to mention London, Madrid, etc.

yes mr. denial, that is the deaths in Iraq that has occurred over THREE YEARS!! due to the war, bombings, shootings, etc. Three years of WAR in Iraq equals a little less than four months in brazil as far as death by violence!!

You know, THERE IS NO WAY OF THIS NUMBER BEING ACCURATE. This is an estimative, they have absolute no control of exactly how many people are killed in Iraq.

And judging by the much smaller population, DOES IT MAKE ANY SENSE TO COMPARE IT TO THE MANY TIMES BIGGER BRAZIL.

As I said, go live in Antartica that has a crime rate of ZERO, if that is what you believe.

What an idiot, I will no longer respond to you, you are a lost, uneducated, person living in denial. Of course they can confirm the number of deaths you ignoramus, they do bury their dead in Iraq. Do you think they don't have a bodycount of soldiers and civilians killed? Do you think the U.S. military doesn't know how many people they've lost?

A brazilian, you're great. Keep it up. You're only proving what Grunt and I have been saying all along about some of the idiots in this country. You're living proof!

And judging by the much smaller population, DOES IT MAKE ANY SENSE TO COMPARE IT TO THE MANY TIMES BIGGER BRAZIL.

LMAO!!, the "much smaller population"???? THEY'RE AT WAR YOU IGNORAMUS!!

All over Brazil, the number of deaths by violent crime grew 1% from 2004 to 2005, raising from 54,696 homicides to 55.312. This despite the reduction of murders in 11 states including Rio Grande do Sul, which saw an expressive decline of 35%.

That means that in 15 states, and the distrito federal, that death by violent crime INCREASED.

Do you think they don't have a bodycount of soldiers and civilians killed? Do you think the U.S. military doesn't know how many people they've lost?

And how do they keep such counting? Where are the records? Are you a f**king idiot. You have no way of knowing for sure how many people died. Some bodies aren't even found!!

What a believer you are!! As usual, you just say so but doesn't provide any evidence.

THEY'RE AT WAR YOU...

HUH? What is the connection of cause and effect of what you are trying to say? So:

- I say "Iraq is much smaller, the numbers should be much smaller too..."
- You say "they are at war!!"...

The war is fought by soldiers, not every single citizen. What the f**k is your point? Not only the population is smaller, the estimatives aren't accurate, and the only people dying happen to be soldiers or victims of terrorist attacks, but comparatively it makes no sense.

Well, I can assure you that a war in Antartica would kill ZERO people. Antartica is so much better than anywhere else, they keep such impressive statistics.

That means that in 15 states, and the distrito federal, that death by violent crime INCREASED.

You just forgot to read the rest. Of course, what matters for your hate campaign is the bad part of everything.

THEY'RE AT WAR YOU..

This one is incredible, it seems that Bo believes that by the fact they are at war even if the population density is like 1000 people per squared kilometer in a certain region there should be a million deaths... Bad math.

Don't talk s**t, show EXAMPLES, dishonest?? So far from what I've seen from Grunt, and from myself, has been our own PERSONAL EXPERIENCES!!! As far as the statistics that have been shown, and can be shown, regarding corruption, crime, murder, etc....show us your statistics to the CONTRARY!!! Yeah, I thought so

See, this is your problem, and other people like you! It is NOT normal nor typical in most ALL countries for organized crime to control them, shutting down major metropolitan areas, setting buses ablaze, and gunfights in the street killing women in children!!

In Rio's wave of attacks 18 people died: seven passengers of an intrastate bus, one street seller was shot in Botafogo passing by a police booth, a man was shoted during an attacked at a police station, two military enforcement officers and seven criminals. Among the 22 wounded, 14 civilians and 8 policemen. A child hospitalized due a bullet scratch was discharged today. Source: O Globo On line.

Well, that just makes you a freaking expert than. Toronto, once, as a child: so how many honorary Doctorates did you receive for that magnificent accomplishment in travel? I hope you didn´t get a nose bleed so far up north.

And I wouldn’t wager if I were you, I’m not only far more well traveled internationally than most (certainly more than you), but I’d bet the farm I’ve seen more of your own country than you, too. However, I’m not about to enter into a silly sophomoric school yard pissing contest with you E, I’m here to help you out with your Portuguese and your understanding of Brazil. Here’s an article for you to start translating. When you’re done please feel free to continue on about how Brazil is no more or no less violent than Gary Indiana.

Brazil is an entire country, Gary is one small city with a population less than 500,000. Implications: not only is your math all screwed up but your scope of geography as well. Gary, Indiana like Detroit simply has homicide rates higher than certain cities in Brazil. It's quite that simple.

Woo there simplesimon. Since when does stating a fact amount to “hate”? Why is it that the thin skinned, liberal, hug a thug, all races are equal except whitey, whinners think that bringing up a statistical reality is tantamount to hate? I don’t hate Brazil? I actually quite like the country. I save my rage for the simpletons that hold the country back. I save my rage for the idiots that turn a blind eye to the glaringly obvious. In short, I don´t hate Brazil, I dislike YOU and your ilk of monosynaptic nationalistic thugs.

What's wrong, grunt, are your feelings hurt? You keep referring to me being thin skinned as though I've made reference to your's or bo's comments hurting my feelings. Of course I never implied or made such claim, in fact I believe you are the one that has gotten your feelings hurt from A brazilians comments regarding gringos (or at least gringos like you). I mean your rant about "Why is it that the thin skinned, liberal, hug a thug, all races are equal except whitey," is evidence that you have some bruised emotional investment in this because lord knows from my corner I never stated or implied "hug a thug" or "all races are equal except whitey." I simply called out the racial epithet "illiterate monkey" for what it was. I mean really... go whimper to someone other than me about you being unfairly treated.

The Congress should be ashamed for trying such a thing! Disgusting.

"Grunt" and "Bo" clearly need to forget about Brazil. LOL

Hi Bo.
I'm sorry for your experiences in Brazil. With the power, telephone, and bank institutions.
As I was reading your unfortunate experiences, it reminded me my mom's experiences and my own.

When I was a little girl I remember going to the bank, power, and telephone offices with her so she could pay the bills or solve any particular problem, and I can tell you that it was always a nightmare.
However my mom is a kind of Brazilian that is tough, and fights for her rights.
She doesn't waste time, when something doesn't go right, she immediatly calls for the supervisor, manager, director...
She never goes home without solving her problems... even if she needs to loose her temper "derrubar o barraco", "rodar a baiana" in order to get things straight.
She can get very upset, but she tells the right things at the right people ( directors, managers... and not to the simple poor clearks, or secretary.)She likes to talk with the people that is creating the problem, the source.
She is outspoken, and not afraid of defending her rights and telling the truth, as she likes to say "doa a quem doer"(whoever is gona get offended by what I have to say.)

I never and still don't agree with her way, I believe dialog is the best way. However, living in The U.S. for almost nine years, I now understand her. I have seen both sides of the situation. I agree with you that in The U.S. most of the time in a simple phone call you can solve your problems. But in Brazil my mom's attitude becomes a matter of survival ( survival and dignity, I remember when I was 14 years old and she had to defend me in an incident that took place in an up-scale supermarket.)
Some other people here wrote a comment saying that he does not understand why brazilians in stressful situations loose their tempers. This is simple to explain. Like in my mom's example: she rates injustice, she has no place to report (there are some but it would take forever) so she tryes to resolve it by herself. I spent much of my life in Brazil ( 21 years) watching her frustration. Moreover, she is not a citizen that complaints and does nothing to help, she does something and a lot.

That is way I can't talk much about the Brazilian reality OF TODAY because I am not living there anymore. But my mom can because she deals with the culture and the aspects of it everyday.

I wish you good luck on your business in Brazil, and please don't change your way; continue to be the honest person you said you are!!!

Sou Americano mas quero dizer que tem alguns gringos participando nesse discuso que são idiotas demais e claramente estão cheirando cola.

Fatos:

"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics. "
"Facts are stubborn things, but statistics are more pliable."

Americanos gostam ditaduras:

http://community.mediaecommercenetwork.com/photos/warfightingweb/picture223.aspx

Canadenses fez mutio para ter vergonha, algun fez que pode ser o mais covarde ato no histórico de esportes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFFLZQsT2AI

No fundo, para criticar é facil. Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. O Brasil tem seus problemas sim, que ninguém pode negar. Mas o Brasil não tem guerra, terremorto, furacão, racismo extremente forte como EUA, problemas serio com religião, e sobre tudo, imperialismo que já tá destruindo as vidas das milhares das pessoas todo ano.

Quem eu ? Só um gringo que conheçe 23 paises e sabe um país bom quando vejo um. Os gringos reclamando aqui tá fazendo isso porque, bem, para ser idiota não precisa um motivo. Para falar é facil, particularmente sobre os problemas das outros pessoas.

Here’s an article for you to start translating. When you’re done please feel free to continue on about how Brazil is no more or no less violent than Gary Indiana.

http://noticias.terra.com.br/brasil/interna/0,,OI1322776-EI316,00.html

Remember, after these seven the total REPORTED number of people burned to death over the last 2 weeks in Brazil is now 11, including a 5 year old child. This number does not include ATTEMPTS at burning someone to death (since E likes using ATTEMPTS as an indicator) which is another reported 5 (but they were homeless so no one really cared).

I can't read Portuguese as you already know so it is only childish to give me the addy to something that written in Portuguese. Rio is a very large city with several millions of people, what that means is it is likely to see larger numbers in certain crimes. For example 80 murders in a small town like Gary will be judged differently than in a bigger city like mine or a mega city like Rio de Janeiro. I can't speak to the modus operandi in Rio, Sao Paulo, or Brazil at large when it comes to chosen method of murder. Certainly, burning someone to death is f***ing cruel. I personally don't like cruel people. At any rate, you seem to be talking a little with out knowledge murder in many U.S. cities. Let me tell you, in my own town it is not unknown for murder victims to be chopped up, placed in garbage cans (in the ghettos or middle class neighborhoods) and then set on fire. In fact the fire department discovered a burning corpse in a garbage can not to many blocks from me about a year ago. The point is this happens in town, as well as burying people under the cement floors in basements. And yes persons have even been murdered by the method of setting them on fire (in my own town) - even though this is a rare method.

Actually the people of Rio and Sao Paulo and all of Brazil should be given accolades they are not more violent and cruel. For if a large swath of Gary, Indiana, Detroit, or Washington D.C. was subject to living as some of the most poor in Brazil do... then one can only imagine how much worse those cities would be in homicides.

Adriana, don't be an idiot. The problems they describe are very different than whatever you might have had, what they are saying that it's common banks and other institutions to steal money from clients, and that's very far from the truth. Any "supermarket problem" has nothing to do with it.

These two are just a*****es following the "gringo we are better than you" script. Why don't they point the problems in their own countries? That would be a good place to start.

As for the "treatment" in stores and such, the only difference is that people in Brazil will talk to you as if they were your friends most of the time, and that can be rude for someone that's not used with it. My experience tells that in the US people in stores are more formal.

It's a shame to see brazilians lowering their heads and humiliating themselves like you do. And what for? For nothing, simple inferiority complex.

What's wrong, grunt, are your feelings hurt?

Actually E, if you read the paragraph clearly you’d see exactly what sticks in my craw. I don’t think it could be any clearer. There’s no hidden subtext, no undercurrent in need of analysis, and if there were I’m sure your feeble little brain wouldn’t be up to the task in deciphering it. Please, it is already well established that you know NOTHING about Brazil (although you tried to sound authoritive), and we can probably just as competently deduce that your abilities at psychological analysis are just as ill informed and pathetic. Please leave the apocryphal psyche 101 platitudes out of the mix, you’re just humiliating yourself.

This whole debacle began for me when “a Brazilian idiot” was rabbiting on about how Brazil is as safe as any other country (caveat being, for fools like him, any other country only means the US). Your knee-jerk default response (which is OH so typical from bleeding heart liberals) was that cities in Brazil are no more or no less dangerous than cities x, y or z (all being from the US of course), which is statically and verifiably inaccurate (as Bo has proven time and time and time and time again). When THAT didn’t work, you jumped to argumentative fallacies as a fallback tactic (real lame).

Now FINALLY you’ve come to your senses and agree that the country has greater problems than you originally assumed and you actually applaud the people of brazil for not being “MORE VIOLENT and CRUEL (your words)”, but you refuse to bow out gracefully and are now using ad hominen attacks and more pathetically, attempting to find hidden context between the lines I‘ve written.

Now, A Brazilian, yourself and others claim that I “hate Brazil” when in black and white it is written, by me, that I don’t. I just hate a lot of the mental midgets that drag their knuckles through the streets, and more unfortunately through o palacio do Planalto. It is mind numbingly absurd that you siwwy wabbits would draw a conclusion that conflicts with what you are actually reading in front of you. That’s INSANE and proof enough for me that you folks are totally blind to the glaringly obvious.

Let me ask again. How does me saying Brazil is in a class all by itself in terms of violence, equate HATE? If I were to say that Canada has the coldest weather in the Americas, what would THAT signify? Or that the US has more armed citizens that any other nation? Does it mean that I hate these countries? Or that I’m simply pointing out a fact?

Have a good weekend, and a prosperous (hopefully better educated) new year.

Your mother and myself have a LOT in common. Sometimes I'm not so sure if it is a virtue or not here in Brazil. I'm the type of person that if I pay for something I expect it to work, like everyone, and when I receive bills I expect them to be accurate. When there are problems, I do complain, and believe me, I go to the person with the highest authority available.

In my first couple years here in Brazil the situation concerning these types of problems were WORSE than today, some things have actually gotten better, but in all honesty, I don't see how they could've been any worse than they were. In my years in corporate america I spent numerous in the telecommunications industry, and know/knew lots of people in very influential positions with numerous communications companies. One of the first problems that I had in brazil was with the communications companies, both Telemar and Embratel. The situation with Embratel was the most difficult at the beginning as there was no embratel reprsentative here in my city with much authority. So I started to do research on Embratel, I found that at the time they were owned by MCI Worldcom, an american company. I knew many people that were in management positions at Worldcom at their corporate offices in Missouri. I phoned a guy I know, discovered that the main guy, or CEO, here in brazil for Embratel was a guy named Dan C. I had actually met Dan one time at a conference. So my friend in missouri actually gave me his number here in brazil. I phoned him, told him about the problems, and within a month or so they were resolved. But, this was the lengths I had to go to for a resolution. If I wouldn't have known people in the industry and been fortunate enough to know people in upper mgmt in the parent company I'm quite sure I would have NEVER gotten my problem with them resolved outside of going to court, afterall, I tried going through the normal channels and had gone 5 months with no resolution whatsoever. Now, my question is this, the 99.9999% of people that don't have these types of contacts....what do they do? How do they resolve their problems when customer svc. is basically trained to get you off the phone as quickly as possible, tell you what you want to hear, and when they hang up the phone the must just laugh.

Unfortunately for us here in Brazil, this is the type of ideology that exists at MOST businesses, but as I said, things are changing a bit for the better.

And Adrianna, as you can see in the post above, A Brazilian is truly lost, he twists and torts what people say to mean something entirely different. Did I say that "robbing", or "stealing" money was "normal" for banks here in brazil....of course I didn't. Because Caixa Economica NEVER stole from me. They made a payment to one of MY bills that was more than I authorized....much more. And it put me in a difficult situation, and their answer to a resolution, like many businesses in brazil was "sue me".

It's a shame to see brazilians lowering their heads and humiliating themselves like you do. And what for? For nothing, simple inferiority complex.

Wow, A Brazilian YOU ARE obviously the one with an inferiority complex!! You CANNOT accept criticism, and deserved criticism, about your own country! Humiliating yourself?? How?? By admitting the reality of situations??

A Brazilian, feel free to post things about the U.S., it's problems, IF they are accurate I will whole-heartedly AGREE with you!

The Bush administration, egoistic idiots that have the well-being of a few above the well-being of the people. The military industrial complex, a form of "legal" corruption in the U.S., laws need to be passed not allowing these high ranking military officials to retire and become presidents of arms manufacturing companies, nor any high ranking politician or CEO of an arms manufacturer to then become vice-president (Cheney), or vice-versa. This is a form of legal corruption in the U.S. that enables these companies to win billion dollar government contracts, and worst of all, more of a "willingness" to go to war as their is a financial interest involved.

Now, did I just humiliate myself?? by acknowledging some major defects that I believe my country to have? Did I lower my head in shame and disgrace?? Buddy, you need to drop that ignorant pride, as I stated before, by acknowledging the problems that exist is the only way to work towards a resolution, it's the first step.

A Brazilian, you are an idiot!

Idiotic Bolota, when I touched the subject of Brazilians suing Bradesco and others banks for that matter, the sues refer to disproportional bank fees or the like. Never an error of the bank. Who distorts information here it is you. I am sick of your lies, it is ridiculous even spending time reading you. Someone close to me had a problem with her account and her bank helped her and solved a problem that wasn't even the bank problems. I clearly stated that civil justice, consumer rights are growing, how am I denying problems. I hate spending time with you.

I would tend to agree with you mineira girl, although you were attempting sarcasm. For the FBI to get involved in a simple case like misplaced luggage after a winter storm shows how far the government goes at getting things right

Answer this:

Do you people need the Stallone fbi squad to handle this problem of lost luggage threw in dumps ? Are they (FBI) preventing the luggage from being looted? Are lost luggage looted in the US to mrs. davey jones affirm that so proactively in the case of Brazil? (In Brazil, everything would be left to João Fiejão and his companeiro Paulo Pinga and you could bet that the goods found in the lost luggage would be on sale on the streets of Copa under the watchful eyes of the miltary police the next day.)

see if you can agree with this...

FACT: 154 innocent people are DEAD.

FACT: A captain of an aircraft is the CAPTAIN. He is not only in complete charge, but he must be totally knowledgeable, be fully trained and TOTALLY RESPONSIBLE for his actions, his crews’ actions, the passengers’ actions and the aircraft itself. The First Officer is also responsible for his actions and if there are questions, particularly of the captain, to speak up.

FACT: Aviation accidents occur because of error chains, not just one isolated incident by just one person.

FACT: The preliminary NTSB report read without bias, preconceived notions, etc. contains many facts that show that there are enough faults on everyone’s part to go around.

FACT: Negligence on anyone’s part, whether Brazil ATC, the military, crew, passengers, even Excelaire (if the pilots did not have the proper training) is still negligence.

FACT: If this is truly an accident without negligence on anyone’s part, then let’s do the right thing, learn from this, fix this and make sure it doesn’t happen again.

FACT: Those that are at fault must be held accountable if it is negligence no matter who they are.


I’m confused at what part of this people don’t understand and/or accept???

when I touched the subject of Brazilians suing Bradesco and others banks for that matter, the sues refer to disproportional bank fees or the like. Never an error of the bank. Who distorts information here it is you. I am sick of your lies, it is ridiculous even spending time reading you.

Well, you didn't specify what the lawsuits were for, and bobão, what does it matter what the lawsuit is about? The fact is that in MANY institutions here in brazil one must actually go to court to get a just resolution. That is the premise. Distorting information? Lies? Show me the lies, show me the distorting. You and your ilk are the only ones "distorting" and avoiding the topics at hand, instead trying to take the topic in different directions instead of facing the arguments at hand.

No go ahead, post another idiotic story about a situation in the U.S. that has nothing to do with the TOPIC AT HAND. Nice evasion tactic!

the sues refer to disproportional bank fees or the like.

the sues?? You mean the lawsuits. And disproportional bank fees?? Please explain!

One fact is this concerning banks in brazil. They do business on a day-to-day basis ILLEGALLY here in Brazil! They charge rates of interest that are HIGHER than constitutionally allowed!! But they do this, as a matter of practice, all of them. Why doesn't banco central enforce brazilian legislation??

Just one of numerous situations of laws not being enforced in brazil. Brazil has a law for everything, but no enforcement! Não tem cumprimento!

You can say the same about Brazilians and so do I about Americans. The 154 dead at the air accident are a clear fact that taking responsibility is something some American do not accept. Wanna know why America is so screwed? These Americans.. They don’t want accept the consequences of their acts. Then they go after other weak countries to divert attention from themselves! Or go after illegal workers. Why doesn’t American justice only go after the citizens that employ illegal force in their activities? It is their responsibility since THEY ARE THE CITIZENS who know the law and brought directly or indirectly alien people to work.

you can see the ones that try and deflect blame and deny responsibility, they're the ones that start spouting off about the U.S. or post a "story", a "situation", and try to generalize that as the U.S. as a whole, and the kicker is WHEN THE DISCUSSION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE UNITED STATES!!!!

I thought you were an American showing his American perspective over Brazil’s problems. So can I assume your point of view cannot be challenged? I believe you cannot demand that from any sensitive person, unless you are in a personal fief.

If you want to bash america, there are THOUSANDS of bashing sites, do a search, you'll find them.

I assume from your statement that I am not entitle to my personal freedom of speech in the whole internet and I should head to one of those thousands of sites bashing US only. Bolota, bolota you make no sense

Brazilians are FAMOUS for NOT accepting responsibility, for DEFLECTING blame at any and all costs and if that means blaming someone, or some entity, completely innocent, then it's fair game, as long as YOU don't have to accept responsibility for an error made!

Now I think American are more than famous for NOT accepting responsibility and FOR DEFLECTING blame at any and all costs. Ok, you are saying that I personally deny facts about Brazil and you think I should rest and agree with you when I know I don’t? Also you are saying that I PERSONALLY DO NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY OWN ACTIONS? HOW YOU DARE

The 154 dead at the air accident are a clear fact that taking responsibility is something some American do not accept.

Well bobão, it wasn't their fault, clearly.


Been to the airport in brazil lately? Finally the facts have came out. The U.S. pilots should sue the brazilian ATS for nearly killing THEM in the unsafe practices that occur on a daily basis, as a matter of routine, in brazil, and have for years.

The controllers are finally putting their foot down, they've already admitted to the faults in their system, their low pay, and their overworked hours, as well as putting people in positions in which they weren't qualified, and BLIND SPOTS in the radar.....que idiota!

It enters my mind that people like you have other objectives, such as keeping brazil exactly how it is.

What can I expect from an American distorted lookout? You people are sick. Or you are simply teasing.

Woo there simplesimon. Since when does stating a fact amount to “hate”?

Since a “fact” is half truth. Have heard of rhetoric or your perfect environment doesn’t fit on it?

Why is it that the thin skinned, liberal, hug a thug, all races are equal except whitey, whinners think that bringing up a statistical reality is tantamount to hate?

You people are so preconceived that show compassion is synonym of hug a thug. Probably in your fascist mind. Thin skinned, lots of lies and you want me to be as cold as a lagartixa. Read the thread and if you need read again then maybe your reading skills will improve and you’ll understand things like false premises and the like.

I don’t hate Brazil? I actually quite like the country. I save my rage for the simpletons that hold the country back.

Then you should direct your hate against thosewho elected old congressmen involved in scandals and Lula if you don’t have any other ability to provide with the country you actually love, if you knew what that word meant, of course.

I save my rage for the idiots that turn a blind eye to the glaringly obvious. In short, I don´t hate Brazil, I dislike YOU and your ilk of monosynaptic nationalistic thugs.

I beat your familiy is full of thugs for you so easily call me a thug, it must be practically common for you state something like this. I am not in the need to be liked by small minded stinking moron or you think I wrote all that to be loved? Obviously someone like you will target a single voice among the kettle that will divert from your hate rhetoric and ignorance. That is your reality, you learned this thinking and perpetuate the ignorance of your type. Who is surprised. The other way would be surprising.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/200..._pilots_dc


Two U.S. pilots charged in Brazil plane crash

By Todd Benson Fri Dec 8, 3:28 PM ET

SAO PAULO, Brazil (Reuters) - Brazilian police charged two U.S. pilots on Friday with endangering air safety in the crash of a Brazilian airliner over the
Amazon rain forest that killed all 154 people on board.
ADVERTISEMENT

Joseph Lepore, 42, and Jan Paladino, 34, both of New York state, were at the controls of a small executive jet that clipped wings with the Boeing 737 operated by Brazilian airline Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes as they flew between Brasilia and Manaus on September 29.

The Legacy business jet, owned by ExcelAire, a charter company based in Ronkonkoma, New York, landed safely at a remote military airstrip. But the Boeing plunged into the jungle, killing everyone aboard in Brazil's worst-ever air disaster.

Air traffic in Brazil has been badly disrupted since the accident. Controllers, angry at being blamed for the crash and also to protest poor pay and long hours, have staged work slowdowns, causing scores of delays and cancellations all around the country.

The pilots were charged on Friday when they appeared at federal police headquarters in Sao Paulo for questioning, a police spokesman said. The charges carry a maximum sentence of four years imprisonment, he added.

The pilots' lawyers called the charges premature and suggested that their clients were being made scapegoats before the investigation was concluded.

"This act is absolutely prejudiced and discriminatory," said Jose Carlos Dias, one of Brazil's best-known defense attorneys and a former justice minister. "THEY'RE RUSHING TO FIND SOMEONE TO BLAME."

Despite the charges, Lepore and Paladino were allowed to fly back to the United States on Friday after being holed up in a beachfront hotel in Rio de Janeiro for more than two months. They agreed to return to Brazil at any time during the investigation if authorities request it, Dias said.

ExcelAire criticized the Brazilian police, saying in a statement: "The insistence of the police officials to criminalize this accident investigation runs counter to the safety of the international flying public, and has been the target of worldwide criticism."

The decision to charge the pilots, who have denied any wrongdoing in the crash, comes as public opinion appeared to be shifting in their favor.

Shortly after the accident, Brazilian officials suggested that the pilots may have veered from their assigned altitude. But a preliminary report by the Brazilian Air Force, which is coordinating the investigation, said both aircraft had been cleared to fly at 37,000 feet.

The inquiry, though still inconclusive, also suggested that a GAP in the COVERAGE of air traffic control systems -- and a possible misunderstanding among air traffic controllers -- may have contributed to the accident.

The pilots' plight caused a wave of protest from U.S. pilots' associations, who urged Brazilian authorities to conduct the investigation under widely accepted international guidelines for civil aviation and not as a criminal probe.


Got it minerina??? And by the way, are you in Governador do Valadares?? LOL!

I see beauty and potential everywhere in Brazil, however what strikes a nerve with me is the plethora of ill-informed, mentally challenged and ideologically retarded chest-pounding troglodytes that refuse to except that the country faces a multitude of serious problems. Like BO said: "until one admits that there is a problem, a solution is impossible"

Poor you, who do you want to sympathize your case? I challenge you say one citizen, not a government employee, a politician and anyone whose involvement with the government is a matter of way of living, that denies one single problem of Brazil

Speaking of admitting there is a problem, everyone seems to be quite quiet on this whole Rio thing
Como diz a excelentissima Ellen Gracie uma semana passada em Rio? “isso pode acontecer em qualquer lugar do mundo.” Qwa qwa qwa

SURE IT CAN..

Maybe people were shocked? Can you give people the right to react the way they naturally do? Can you give people time to overcome a shock? Can people be tranquilized? I didn’t think so.

When I say Bagança Sao Paulo, what immediately comes to your mind after last weeks news?

When I say George Bush, ozone, temperature raise, war for oil, American electorate, American Legacy pilots, knowledge of geography, state of fear and deny, the dangerous functional illiterary in the whole world, Oklahoma city, child sexual molestation, Columbine, …… what immediately come to your mind?

I forgot to add what do you think when you think of state of denial. state of fear.

Don't talk s**t, show EXAMPLES, dishonest?? So far from what I've seen from Grunt, and from myself, has been our own PERSONAL EXPERIENCES!!! As far as the statistics that have been shown, and can be shown, regarding corruption, crime, murder, etc....show us your statistics to the CONTRARY!!! Yeah, I thought so

in the U.S.the culture and education is different than in brazil. For whatever reason brazilians are raised, and the ideology in brazilian companies, is to NOT accept blame but to deflect it It's as if accepting responsibility for an error is taboo!.

The taboo you mention is your personal projections. The companies accepting responsibility has to do with losing money? And you talk as you people are the saviour of the nation and the morals top number one, as hysterical ramblings would do resolve anything. I think some, being very optimistic ok?, people don’t learn the lessons in America are in need to be bicth-slaped.

Brazil and brazilians don't need ANYONE's help to destroy brazil!! You brazilians are doing a "bang-up" job all by yourselves!!

You deny and ignore Latin American history but it still exists and will exist besides you.

So maybe you can team up with Lula and completely censure the WORLD!! So we don't find out about your hideous murder rate, slavery, prostiution, corruption, 25% of your population living on 2 dollars per day or less, and brazil's discrepancy between the rich and the poor!!

No, I never defended not freely circulating news. You people go too far

Let's all ban CNN, BBC, Globo, and every other media outlet that simply reports FACTUAL STATISTICS!!!

Brazilian, it's not sites like "Brazzil" that are f**king brazil, it's the PRESS, because they're actually reporting FACTUAL occurences that happen in Brazil!!

I never hear Brazil's media state Brazil is the most irresponsible nation amongst others in the whole world. Explain that.

Bobão, how many journalists have had to go into hiding in the last 10 years in brazil??? Do the research!!! Just 6 months ago a brazilian journalist left the country from reporting on corruption and her life, as well as that of her family's, have been threatened!! The restriction of "press freedoms" in brazil is well documented, and any idiot that tries to claim that the press is more "free" in brazil to report than in the U.S. is a blind fool!!!

Date: 18 August 2006
Source: Inter American Press Association (IAPA)
Earlier this week, Maria Mazzei, a reporter with the Rio de Janeiro newspaper O Dia, had to be MOVED with her family TO A SAFE HOUSE after receiving threats following publication of her series of reports exposing the theft of corpses in a scheme to defraud life insurance companies.
Bolota you forgot to paste the article closing:

On July 4, the Brazilian Bar Association of Paraiba reported that there was a “compensation industry” in the state. According to lawyer Télio Farias, who studies legal cases against the press, lawyers “hunt” for people allegedly libeled in articles and bringing lawsuits seeking damages of up to 800,000 reals. Farias told the Jornal da Paraíba that currently 80% of the cases against communication companies are brought by lawyers who want to benefit from alleged irregularities by the media. He also mentioned a “machine to fabricate facts” said to be damaging to the client and said lawyers look in articles for opportunities for awards, then contact the people involved and persuade them to sue for very high damages.


Why don’t you tell us about your government asking for TVs in the US not to show the floating bodies of the Katrina? Or the govt campaing of fear?

Can people be tranquilized? I didn’t think so.

Tranquilized? LOL. Yep, guess they can.

When I say George Bush, ozone, temperature raise, war for oil, American electorate, American Legacy pilots, knowledge of geography, state of fear and deny, the dangerous functional illiterary in the whole world, Oklahoma city, child sexual molestation, Columbine, …… what immediately come to your mind?

George Bush -idiot

Ozone-destruction of the Amazon

War for oil-Iraq

American electorate-relatively educated (in respect to many places in the world-"brasil")

American Legacy Pilots-scapegoats

Knowledge of Geography-Geographists

State of Fear and Deny-brazilians that live in Rio, or Sao Paulo(depends on which one is being attacked at the time)

The dangerous functional illiteracy in the whole world-shameful (in particular in those countries that are not poor yet have a high rate of illiteracy-"brasil")

Oklahoma City-the capitol of Oklahoma

child sexual molestation-Carlota

Columbine-a city in Colorado

Tranquilized? LOL. Yep, guess they can.

Show how cynical you are Bolota.

I never posted anything until our idiot friend Carolota started to post "stories", incidents, situations, and tried to equivalate them to the whole of the U.S

Then YOU start to post little "factoids", or a "story" about incidents in the U.S., which are completely off topic, as those situations are a general rule there. But this is always the tactic for many brazilians, they just can't stand it that someone that is not a brazilian could speak badly about this wonderful paradise called brazil. So if that's what you want to do, sling mud, brazil has a whole lot of mud that can be slung at it. And grow thicker skin, we americans are used to it, we're blamed for every single thing wrong in the world today, whether deserved or not, by a large number of countries and peoples around the world

“Stories”? Incidents? Those stories are accurately called facts. Not stories. Facts publicized by NYT. Google, go ahead. It happens that your friend gringo dingle stated that Brazilians are psychos in sheep clothes so it reminded me of the real psychos in America. All I know is that I saw with my eyes a person being put on a straightjacket right on a street across 6th avenue in ny. Also I was 5 days a week on 23rd street on the epoch that woman was thrown under the subway and used to I catch the subway on that street. Sexual molestation in US is also a myth?

Every nine seconds a woman is beaten in the United States. Source: American Institute on Domestic Violence 2001. Myth?

Women ages 20-34 endure the highest rates of domestic violence. Source: American Institute on Domestic Violence 2001. Myth?

On average, more than three women a day are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in the United States. Source: Family Violence Prevention Fund. Myth?

One out of every six American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime. Source: Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network Myth?

Only about one in five domestic violence victims with physical injuries seek professional medical treatment. Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics Myth?

In the 39% of attacks reported to police, there is only a 16.3% chance the rapist will end up in prison. Source: Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network Myth?

Do you think America is focusing in human rights in Guantanamo? Invading Iraq?

What do you think of education in America? Are there thousand of functional illiterates amongst your society?

American society is herself in a fragile position and you can keep throwing rocks for you enjoyment like that but that is not smart.

Now, do you want to talk about these issues in brazil? Because ALL of those little statistics that you mentioned above, Brazil supersedes them ALL!

Is there crime in america? Of course there is. Is there crime in brazil? It has amongst the highest crime rates on PLANET EARTH!!

Why don’t you tell us about your government asking for TVs in the US not to show the floating bodies of the Katrina? Or the govt campaing of fear?

Well, I could get into that, but since the topic of this article is "By Almost Doubling Their Salaries BRAZILIAN Congress Demoralized Democracy".

So, U.S. crime statistics, Hurricane Katrina, George Bush, and the other idiotic american factoids posted by YOU, can YOU tell me what that has to do with this discussion?

Justify that!

Once again, a brazilian that can't stand it that "others", meaning we gringos, aren't blowing sunshine up others asses about this wonderful, tropical, peaceful paradise called Brazil!

Bolota Do you people need the Stallone fbi squad to handle this problem of lost luggage threw in dumps ? Are they (FBI) preventing the luggage from being looted?

Do you all need the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in Foz de Iguacu? Because they're there ya know. Wonder why? Because brazil's own corrupt police force can't be trusted to handle matters of drugs, money laundering, and black market materials that many are being used to finance organizations such as Hamas in that region?

So, U.S. crime statistics, Hurricane Katrina, George Bush, and the other idiotic american factoids posted by YOU, can YOU tell me what that has to do with this discussion?

Justify that!

As I said above you are an American reasoning with your American demanding mentality so I think it is appropriate to questions your preconceived mentality.

Now, do you want to talk about these issues in brazil? Because ALL of those little statistics that you mentioned above, Brazil supersedes them ALL!

Ok, bô you won....... you won the prize of the most hillarious poster of Brazil, lol.

And for the most I may sound anti american I may be doing something good for you.

your above responses said absolutely nothing, but that's par for the course.

So, U.S. crime statistics, Hurricane Katrina, George Bush, and the other idiotic american factoids posted by YOU, can YOU tell me what that has to do with this discussion?

Your friend grunt asked what does it come to mind when saying Bragança (Paulista) São Paulo. I imitated him.

Hi A Brazilian, you wrote:
"It's a shame to see brazilians lowering their heads and humiliating themselves like you do. And what for? For nothing, simple inferiority complex."
No, I'm not humiliating myself. I'm only writing my experiences as a little girl, and teenager, and my mom's experiences in Brazil. I don't have inferiority complex. If I had I wouldn't be living in the most "RACIST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD" (THIS IS MEANT TO BE AN IRONY). Because I'm a non-white immigrant.
(European americans when they see me they think I am a Mexican woman, and they try to speak Spanish with me, which I take as a compliment, because I think Mexican woman are pretty; Asian Americans think I am from Indonisia, Philipines, India...and I take it as a compliment too; African Americans ask me "are you sister?" and I say "yes, I think so" and I also take it as a compliment.)

At my work I also relate to "THE DEVIL AMERICANS BLUE EYES" (MEANT TO BE AN IRONY). I am a child care provider. I work with seven children, and I have to relate with their families. Three of these children's parents are from the south, YES THE RED NECKS OF THE SOUTH ( MEANT TO BE AN IRONY). The other three children are from white families, and one child from a Jewish family. This job of mine takes place in a upper-class neighbourhood.Why am I telling you all of this? Because they were my sponsor in here ( I am not and never was illegal in this country), they want me to take them to Brazil, they want their kids to know my culture.

I also had an interesting experience when I got here nine years ago. My brazilian friend that was here before me wanted to help me to find a job. One day she needed help with an elderly man in his seventies years old, her job in his house was to help him to sort his documents and letters, go to the bank, and do the groceries. As we were approaching his house she told me " Adri, this man we are about to see is German and he was a member of the Nazi party, he was an eletronic engineer at The WWII, however nothing was found against him, involving killings" and I told her ok. With my broken English at that time I managed to have a conversation with him, I told him that I had a brother in Brazil that was also an eletronic engineer. And he told me that he has been to Sao Paulo to a meeting about telecommunication. I went to his house three times to help my friend. On the third time he told my friend that he was very ill, and he did not need her help anymore. He thanked her, and to me he wished good luck in The United States, and said that I had a good promise because he could see in my eyes I was a good person. He died a few weeks later.

Now A Brazilian do you really think if I had inferiority complex, I would be able to see, talk, and relate to those "DEVIL PEOPLE" ( MEANT TO BE AN IRONY) ? No, I couldn't.
The reason I relate to them is because I see them as a human being. I am not naive though, and I am not "deslumbrada" or "baba ovos" is just that I prefer to look at the positive aspects of people. I try to make sense, balance, and understand them. Of course you can only do that if you put yourself in their shoes, in their social and cultural context.
They see me as I am, I don't ask for permition to be accepted. If they like me, good, if they don't is not my business. They are the ones who needs to sort their bias out, not me.

I read some of your posts, sometimes you make some good points, but other time they are just clueless.
My mom, Bo, and the millions of Brazilians that don't write in English and so are not able to come here to share their everyday life in Brazil; they are the ones whom are entitled to talk about the Brazilian realities ( be it good or bad.)
Bo that is an American has more credentials to talk about Brazil than myself that is a Brazilian by birth. Because I am not there, I am not trying to make my living there anymore, and I am not there to see the changes taking place ( and I am sure things are changing for good and for bad)
I sugest you go to the WHITE SUPREMACIST WEB SITE AND PICK A FIGHT WITH THEM, TELL THEM IN THEIR FORUM HOW UPSET YOU ARE: WITH THE WAR IN IRAQUE, WITH THE AMERICAN IMPERIALISM, WITH THEIR NAZI ATTITUDE.........EVERYTHING YOU HAVE BEEN WRITING IN HERE. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO NEEDS TO READ YOUR COMMENTS.
There are some nasty people that post comments in here, I agree with you, but they are not the majority. Bo wrote many times that he is willing to recognize the faults of his country's foreing, political, and social policies.
Make mends with him and engage yourself in a nice civilized dialog. Don't go 2007 like that.
Peace begins within ourselves, not outside.

Actually E, if you read the paragraph clearly you’d see exactly what sticks in my craw. I don’t think it could be any clearer. There’s no hidden subtext, no undercurrent in need of analysis, and if there were I’m sure your feeble little brain wouldn’t be up to the task in deciphering it. Please, it is already well established that you know NOTHING about Brazil (although you tried to sound authoritive), and we can probably just as competently deduce that your abilities at psychological analysis are just as ill informed and pathetic. Please leave the apocryphal psyche 101 platitudes out of the mix, you’re just humiliating yourself.

This whole debacle began for me when “a Brazilian idiot” was rabbiting on about how Brazil is as safe as any other country (caveat being, for fools like him, any other country only means the US). Your knee-jerk default response (which is OH so typical from bleeding heart liberals) was that cities in Brazil are no more or no less dangerous than cities x, y or z (all being from the US of course), which is statically and verifiably inaccurate (as Bo has proven time and time and time and time again). When THAT didn’t work, you jumped to argumentative fallacies as a fallback tactic (real lame).

Now FINALLY you’ve come to your senses and agree that the country has greater problems than you originally assumed and you actually applaud the people of brazil for not being “MORE VIOLENT and CRUEL (your words)”, but you refuse to bow out gracefully and are now using ad hominen attacks and more pathetically, attempting to find hidden context between the lines I‘ve written.

Dude, you went on all that ramble to attempt to make out that I agree Brazil has more problems than what I first assumed? Dude, you are either very mistaken or a lier. My position is the same as always, which I can basically sum up as this: certain Brazilian cities like Rio are much more violent than my city, while some other Brazilian cities may not be, but ultimately some cities like Rio are less dangerous in homicides than Gary, Indiana and Detroit, D.C., and Baltimore are roughly as violent as Rio and some of her other cities. Yet as far as Brazil as a whole country it may or may not be much more violent than the U.S.

And grunt, understand this, I have a black uncle who was raised in the ghetto in his youth, has been a professional now for years, has traveled numerous times to Brazil (including Rio) and was even engaged to a Brazilian woman at one time. The picture he paints of Brazil is quite different then you. In fact when I asked him in the past about Rio's violence he just stated it's just like here in the U.S., some areas are bad, some are not, and he was adamant that the favelas were by-in-large no more dangerous than walking as an unknown up into the Robert Taylor homes in Chicago (this was years back when I talked to him about this). You see, another thing you don't quite get is I already have murdered friends, so when you keep talking about how horrible Brazil is I naturally question and wonder to myself why three friends are dead (murdered) and your still alive? The question naturally comes to my mind which city was ultimately more dangerous for whom, Rio for you or my town for them? You see when you get down to it that's all that matters.

When I hear some of you white gringos complain about Brazil, what I hear from some of you is essentially this: anger, hurt, and or bitterness that in Brazil you have felt treated unfairly, at a disadvantage, and have great concern and or anxiety for your personal security. I know you are not going to accept what I am about to say, but I am going to say it anyways: many, many, mulattoes, black peoples, and Latinos have lived with that their entire lives in the United States, Brazil, and h*ll probably even in Europe.

And dude, Bo is wrong about Rio. Rio de Janeiro as of 2005 did not have a murder rate of over 100 homicides per 100,000 people. Rio's murder rate for 2005 was below Gary's like I said. Rio however like certain cities in the U.S. may have certain neighborhoods with roughly 100 or more homicides per 100,000 people but that is not the city of Rio as a whole.

At any rate, this arguing over the violence in Rio and or Brazil is getting old and going no where but in circles, so I think I'm tired of arguing about this. For me, there is more money in Rio, more beautiful women in Rio, more sunshine in Rio, and better architecture in Rio than there is in Gary, Indiana. So if I had my choice between the two... I'll take my chances in Rio. At least I might die with a hard-on.

written by carlota joaquina, 2006-12-30 16:19:31

When I say George Bush, ozone, temperature raise, war for oil, American electorate, American Legacy pilots, knowledge of geography, state of fear and deny, the dangerous functional illiterary in the whole world, Oklahoma city, child sexual molestation, Columbine, …… what immediately come to your mind?

Very good, Carlota.

but ultimately some cities like Rio are less dangerous in homicides than Gary, Indiana and Detroit, D.C., and Baltimore are roughly as violent as Rio and some of her other cities. Yet as far as Brazil as a whole country it may or may not be much more violent than the U.S.

e harmony, you need to get a clue!!! Rio is one of the MOST dangerous cities in the WORLD! Have you seen the statistics?? Compiled by the brazilian gov't.! Guess you can't read and understand numbers? Let me repost this, yet AGAIN!

"Camaragibe, a city in Recife's (capital of Pernambuco) metropolitan area, was the municipality with the highest number of violent deaths. There were 180.9 murders for each 100 thousand residents during the period studied.

Duque de Caxias, in Rio de Janeiro, came in second with 120.7 deaths per 100,000. And it was a big surprise to see Curitiba, capital of the southern state of Paraná, appearing in third, with a rate of 119.9 deaths.

For comparison's sake, New Orleans, the US MOST VIOLENT CITY had a murder rate of 53.1 deaths per 100,000 before the Katrina hurricane. In Washington DC the rate is 45 per 100,000, in Detroit, 41.8 and in Iraq 27.5 violent deaths per 100,000 people."

Now those numbers were compiled by the Brazilian Justice Ministry as of the year 2005! Can you see that comparing murder statistics that the most dangerous brazilian cities are nearly 4X higher than the most dangerous american cities?

Can you see from the report that I previously posted, believe it's in this thread at least twice, that 55,000 brazilians were murdered in 2005, do you know how many in the U.S.? 14,000 Once again, 4X higher than a country that has a population of 300 million (US) in comparison to a country that has a population of 185 million(Brazil). So you're trying to equate a country that has 4X the murder rate of another country that has a population 60% larger. They're not even in the same category.

And also, you're comparing Gary, Indiana with Rio de Janeiro? Well that wouldn't be quite fair in making a comparison now would it? Gary indiana has a population of 108,000!! That is like a neighborhood in rio de janeiro since the city of rio de janeiro has a population of over 6 million people!! Now if you're going to make comparisons, let's compare apples to apples, not apples to oranges.

But it's plain for everyone to see exactly what you're doing.

Gary Indiana, the city with a population of less than 103,000, has a murder rate of 58 per 100,000 residents. And, this can also be noted, 84% of the population is black. And most all of these homicides are pertained to those selling and buying drugs.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=local&id=3779177

Rio de Janeiro, which has over 6 million people, is today said to have a murder rate of between 50 and 60 people per 100,000. And that number has dramatically reduced over the last 10 years, previously it was as high as 80 per 100,000.

Now, you're comparing apples to oranges, find an american city with a population of 6 million or more and make a comparison. It would be accurate to make a comparison with some neighborhoods in rio, where the pop. is around 100,000 and gary. And naturally Gary is considered one of if not the most violent city in the U.S. So, it would be accurate in comparing Gary, the most violent city in the U.S., with the most violent city in Brazil, which coincidentally has a population similar to Gary's, with 119,000 people, and their murder rate?? 181 people per 100,000! Once again, nearly 4X the number in Gary! Now, even though Rio's population is 60 times that of Gary's, it's murder rate is nearly the same, if not the same.

Just imagine, 60 Gary Indiana's clumped all together, that's the city of Rio de Janeiro.

Facts are facts, you try and make apples to oranges comparisons in making your justifications for your arguments, which hold no water whatsoever. And how can you say that U.S. as a whole, "may or may not be" as violent as Brazil???

As Grunt stated, you people take words written on a page, which is impossible to distort, especially when they are statistics, and twist and tort them to justify your stance which couldn't be more incorrect.That's INSANE!

As far as your ramblings about your uncle and you know people that have been murdered blah, blah, blah!! Well, I had one of my best friends murdered here in brazil around 5 years ago, and old american guy that was simply arriving home from giving an english class, in a small, city in northeast brazil that everyone considers "safe", because they compare it to the rest of brazil. And I would bet that your uncle, in his 2-3 week stay in Rio, was naturally in tourist areas. Hate to break it to ya, but there's a lot more to Rio than the tourist areas. Yet the crime is even terrible there, with attacks on the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, and armed thieves waiting for the buses of gringos at the airports to hijack them on their way to their hotel. For christs sake, just within the last month one of brazil's most powerful politicians got car-jacked in Rio, and she was with 4-6 security guards!! There was even a car full of security in front of her as long as riding in her car!

whever anyone goes to Rio, everyone will tell you, "dress down", "don't wear expensive jewelry", "don't drive an expensive car", etc, etc. Matter of fact, the rich people in Rio all have security guards and most have cars with bullet proof glass. Did you know that there is more bullet-proof glass sold in Sao Paulo Brazil than in any other city on the planet?

Now, when one travels to Detroit, I've been there, numerous times, one doesn't change his behavior, he doesn't have to. But naturally one doesn't wonder into the drug areas either. The same for Washington D.C. I was born in a city 175 miles from Washington DC and have been there probably 100 times. Once again, one doesn't have to change his behavior, but one doesn't go to the drug areas as well.

Also notable, the cities you mentioned in the U.S. with these high murder rates all have one thing in common....

Detroit 80% black population
Gary Indiana 87% black
Washington DC 60% black

Now, I can hear the race card playing liberals now screaming Nazi!!! LOL!! But those are the facts. And black people for MANY years now have had the same, and in most cases MORE, opportunities than any other race in america, certainly more than a white american male which is blatenly, and in some states, such as California, lawfully discrimated against!! The rate of high school graduates in Gary Indiana is 87%, yet these "brothas" see the "niggas" in the hood with their "bling-bling" and driving mercedes and many obviously choose the "easy" life of selling and pushing dope rather than going to college then moving to a larger city and start working at 32-35 grand a year.

There is NO EXCUSE today for an american to NOT have a college education! The gov't not only gives EVERYONE loans, and extremely low interest rates, that aren't payable until 6 months AFTER you graduate, but even gives FREE money in the form of GRANTS to nearly everyone as well. I worked my way through college, paid my own bills, and got student loans and also grants to pay for my education. It's available for everyone in america, yet still you have those that choose to take the "quick path" to riches, and go on the street corner slinging rock.

When I say George Bush, ozone, temperature raise, war for oil, American electorate, American Legacy pilots, knowledge of geography, state of fear and deny, the dangerous functional illiterary in the whole world, Oklahoma city, child sexual molestation, Columbine, …… what immediately come to your mind?


Very good, Carlota.

Thank you, you're kind

BTW, I read your posts and find them very informative.Thanks.

A good 2007 E ! Lots of health, strength and hope. The rest we work on it!

Peace

And also, you're comparing Gary, Indiana with Rio de Janeiro? Well that wouldn't be quite fair in making a comparison now would it? Gary indiana has a population of 108,000!! That is like a neighborhood in rio de janeiro since the city of rio de janeiro has a population of over 6 million people!! Now if you're going to make comparisons, let's compare apples to apples, not apples to oranges.

But it's plain for everyone to see exactly what you're doing.

Gary Indiana, the city with a population of less than 103,000, has a murder rate of 58 per 100,000 residents. And, this can also be noted, 84% of the population is black. And most all of these homicides are pertained to those selling and buying drugs.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=local&id=3779177

Rio de Janeiro, which has over 6 million people, is today said to have a murder rate of between 50 and 60 people per 100,000. And that number has dramatically reduced over the last 10 years, previously it was as high as 80 per 100,000.

My city is larger than Gary and has more murders than Gary, yet no one from my city would ever claim our city is more dangerous than Gary (and we have enough people from Gary in my town). It's not the number of people that live in the city as much it is the homicide rate. And by the way Gary's murder rate has been dramatically reduced from what it once was - it use to have a murder rate that hovered in the 70's to 80's per 100,000 people.

And you are correct Gary is the size of one neighborhood or favela in Rio - that's partially because Rio is a megalopolis (Rio and Sao Paulo are emblematic of the cities of the 21st century: enormous as well as full of splendor [unfortunately right beside much misery]).

And yes Gary, Indiana is not only predominately black but the blackest city in it's size category in the United States. Basically there is not much left in Gary since the industrial industries moved out, it's cold, dreary, ugly, depressing and in its own right a semi-favela right dab in the United States - the richest nation on earth. What is very interesting though, is that most Americans in the United States have no idea the black city of Gary, Indiana exists. Yet every American in the United States can tell you from U.S. media attention on Rio de Janeiro, Brazil that Rio not only exists but is an ultra violent place. I find this very interesting from sociological perspective as it pertains to race, class, and nationalism. Kind of how U.S. media likes to be sure to point out that Mexico City is an extremely violent city, even though it's murder rate floats below many U.S. cities.

There are cities in Colombia, Central America, Nigeria, and probably even South Africa with higher homicide rates then Rio. Homicide rates can reflect ones potential to get murdered in a given location, it is not perfect, but it helps assess the homicide danger. But like I said previously, within the United States due to such awesome advancements in medical trauma care over the last 40 years it is said by some that homicide rates are no longer and accurate measure by which to assess violence levels within the U.S.

Like I stated to grunt, given what Brazilians have to go through (e.g. poverty levels and degrees, unemployment levels, lack of ability to get a decent paying job without a college degree et cetera), it is surprising the homicide rate in cities such as Rio de Janeiro are not higher. Because I can just imagine how violent Detroit and D.C. would be if it had some of the same variables to deal with as Rio. Yet, so many Brazilians in Rio's favelas can smile, to me there is something humbling in that and something from which we Americans (USA) can learn from - at least I know I can.

written by carlota joaquina, 2006-12-31 18:27:29

Thank you, you're kind smilies/smiley.gif

BTW, I read your posts and find them very informative.Thanks.smilies/wink.gif

A good 2007 E ! Lots of health, strength and hope. The rest we work on it!

Peace

Thank you for the kind words, Carlota, and may 2007 be good to you too.

My city is larger than Gary and has more murders than Gary, yet no one from my city would ever claim our city is more dangerous than Gary (and we have enough people from Gary in my town). It's not the number of people that live in the city as much it is the homicide rate.

Exactly! And that is what I gave you, homicide rates per 100,000 people! And please, don't try and say that Gary Indiana hasn't been in the U.S. media, I could post at least 50 different links to news stories, from national news to regional news on the stories of violence in Gary, Indiana, in the U.S. media.

It comes down to this, the U.S. with a population of over 300 million had barely over 14,000 homicides in 2005, Brazil, with a population of 185 million had 55,000 homicides in 2005. And it just wasn't centered in one part of brazil, the worst homicide rate was in the state of pernambuco, in the north, with over 180 per 100,000, a neighborhood in Rio with 121 per 100,000, and then Curitiba, which is in the south, with 120 per 100,000, which coincidentally the vast majority of brazilians, especially from the south, rave about Curitiba and how it's like Europe, without many of the ills that affect the rest of brazil.

And for everyone on this board, have a good and safe new year!! Now I'm off to a party to celebrate the new year with my family, which includes my american/brazilian child, and my brazilian friends!!

I´ve been in South Chicago, Hammond and Gary within the lst year and I don´t think it´s so bad. Lotsa people just trying to get by. I like to leave Midway, head east to the lake, and drive down the old route along the lake.

Dude, you went on all that ramble to attempt to make out that I agree Brazil has more problems than what I first assumed?

Dude? Dude? What, are you like, ah, like, 15 or sumfim? Narly! Gag me with a spoon.

I have a black uncle who was raised in the ghetto in his youth, has been a professional now for years, has traveled numerous times to Brazil (including Rio) and was even engaged to a Brazilian woman at one time. The picture he paints of Brazil is quite different then you. In fact when I asked him in the past about Rio's violence he just stated it's just like here in the U.S

Sorry E, I have mended my ways. I spent the holidays with my Brazilian friends and family in the south. But I first read your final post to me before leaving, and it left me in utter awe. I thought and thought, while driving, and in the end acquiesced. Knowing now that you have a black uncle who has been to brazil a few times, really sunk in and made me see the error of my ways. And I mentioned this over the holidays. One friend of mine is a Carioca, who no longer lives in Rio, and today hobbles about with a cane because 5 years ago he had the misfortune of being met with a “bala perdida” (I’m sure your black ghetto uncle will explain bala perdida to you).

The discussion was about how Rio is getting out of control (just over the few days before New Years Eve over 24 were killed, 5 burned alive on buses –it was a fairly common water-cooler topic). My mate (a “carioca de gema” – again, your black uncle can explain) was complaining about how the city is only getting worse. Well, I jumped in and called him a “brazil Hater” and I then explained to this carioca de gema, that E Harmony has a black uncle from the US who knew Brazil. My presently crippled friend knew he could not argue with such unquestionable logic and bowed out gracefully from the discussion.

My father in law is a Paulista, and we also engaged in a few discussions about Brazil – for him, Rio was always a problem, but he hates to see the violence spreading in Sao Paulo, Curitiba (which until recently was rather civil) PA, Florianopolis, and other southern capitals that historically have not had to confront the same degree of violence as Brazil´s South East and North-eastern states. Well, again, I had to call him a “Brazil hater” (because that is what I’ve learned from you and A Brazilian when engaging with people who have opinions about Brazil), and mentioned, of course, that E´s black uncle from the US was almost married to a Brazilian once, and so he knows the real deal here in Brazil.

Yesterday, with a tingle of a hangover, I decided to kill an hour in front of the Ole boob tube with family and watched Lula’s swearing in to a second term. I also caught Serra´s speech in Sao Paulo, too. Well, low and behold, after the inauguration Lula called the recent events and Rio’s downward spiral into chaos – TERRORISM. His words exactly were “This barbarity that happened in Rio de Janeiro CAN’T be treated like COMMON CRIME, IT’S TERRORISM”. I jumped to my feet and hollered, Lula you “Brazil Basher ” You “Brazilian Hater” because that is what I’ve learned from you and A Brazilian, and of course now that I know you have a black uncle in the US that has been to brazil a couple of times, I know I cannot believe in what anyone else says or thinks.

Sergio Cabral (I’m sure your black uncle knows who he is, too) also referred to the recent crimes and BARBARISM, and promises that his new government will crack down hard on TERRORISTs (not common street thugs, not petty criminal, not “this can happen anywhere” crimes he called them TERRORISTS). Well, how on earth could the good people of Rio de Janeiro elect as their governor, someone who hates Brazil soo much. What a Brazil hater. I think your black uncle needs to go to Rio again and prove to all these Brazil Haters, that he knows the real Brazil, and what ever happens in Rio, Sao Paulo, REcifie, Salvador, et.al could happen anywhere in the world.

Serra, mentioned briefly the violence in Sao Paulo a few months back (200 dead over 4 days, city should down, but A Brazilian doesn’t think it was that bad), but what struck me angrily was that he said Brazil was confronting a crisis of ETHICS. Damn what a Brazilian hater! Who voted for such a Brazil Basher!

So if I had my choice between the two... I'll take my chances in Rio. At least I might die with a hard-on.

Ah, more truth. No sweat. I’m sure you’ll fit in with the rest of the gringos chasing mulata whores. No harm in that. And I do agree, I’ll take a nice little Brazilian bunda over some fat Kentucky Friend Chicken eating crack-whore from bumf**k s**tsville USA any day, too. You see we’re not so different.

When I hear some of you white gringos complain about Brazil…

Now, I am really starting to understand, Lula is white, Serra is white and Cabral too is white. My mate from Rio with a cane is white… I´m WHITE, So us white-folk iz jest plane stooped, dem, aight? Gotcha…. Now that I know you have a black unlce who almost married a brazilian, I´ll be sure to hold my tongue when commenting on Brazil. Thanks for the enlightenment.

Bo that is an American has more credentials to talk about Brazil than myself that is a Brazilian by birth.

Hahahahaha, everything was ok until this point. This guy only goal is to show Brazil in the worst light possible, he picks articles here and there and pretend it is the everyday reality. This is what I meant by lowering your head.

I live here, as many others that come to this forum to reply to this Bo Nazi, and I have more credentials to speak about Brazil than he does. After all I have known it for such a long time.

As I told you had inferiority complex I didn't mean by race, I meant the need to show how Brazil sucks, even for american Nazis. All places have problems, but this is no honest conversation, this person is not here to help, he is here just to feel a little better of his own shortcomings at the expense of others.

I sugest you go to the WHITE SUPREMACIST WEB SITE AND PICK A FIGHT WITH THEM, TELL THEM IN THEIR FORUM HOW UPSET YOU ARE: WITH THE WAR IN IRAQUE, WITH THE AMERICAN IMPERIALISM, WITH THEIR NAZI ATTITUDE.........EVERYTHING YOU HAVE BEEN WRITING IN HERE. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO NEEDS TO READ YOUR COMMENTS.

Brazilians need to hear my comments, I speak to them. Some people come to this site and think at a first sight that this a serious site, my comments are just to help them to see what this is all about. I don't give a s**t if the Nazi americans decide to kill themselves or other people in that country, it's none of my business and I couldn't care less.

All I care about is Brazil.

Peace begins within ourselves, not outside.

If you look at Bo's comments and some other loser's you will see who is calling other people what. My only goal is to let other brazilians know that this site is a propagandistic site and nobody here has good intentions.

I can't believe in you, he is the one offending everyone that disagrees with him, incapable of having a civilized conversation. All he does is to google bad news and copy here and you are talking to me about "peace". I am always in peace, but apparently nor you or Bo are with it.

Hahahahaha, everything was ok until this point. This guy only goal is to show Brazil in the worst light possible, he picks articles here and there and pretend it is the everyday reality. This is what I meant by lowering your head.

LOL...can everyone see how CRAZY this guy is??? Damn son!! That is what YOU and E Harmoney have done!! I showed OVERALL STATISTICS! Either you're one of the most ignorant people I've ever come across,or you're only posting to get a reaction.

A Brazilian your problem is that you cannot accept ANYONE to talk about the negative realities in Brazil! Why is that?

the funny thing is, e harmony, by his-her own admission, has never been to brazil! I just think that is hilarious for someone to speak about a place that they have never stepped foot in. Never even went on a vacation to, which even people that have came to brazil on vacation certainly don't know brazil, as e harmony's black uncle, lol.

There once was a girl posting here that was from Liberia but had been living in DC her entire life, she didn't even have memories of Liberia, naturally her parents told her their experiences. She had admittedly never been to Brazil. But she used to come and post about brazil as if she were an authority, and spewed a lot of the same ridiculous rhetoric with the same ridiculous justifications that e harmony has demonstrated.

I just don't get these people. It would be like if I spoke about the reality in China as if I were an authority, I've never been there and only know what I've studied and learned through research. I think I have an idea of what it may be like, but I could very well be completely, 100% wrong, in my thoughts and opinions about the place, afterall, I've never spent one minute there.

A Brazilian your problem is that you cannot accept ANYONE to talk about the negative realities in Brazil! Why is that?

You don't speak of any reality, you speak of deductions based in ONE case. For example in the "bank problems" you had, you then used it to say that all of Brazil is like that WITHOUT ANY GROUNDS ON REALITY. This and a lot of other "bad news" picked here and there. It's so idiotic as picking some rape news from the US and pasting it here and say "Look, in the US rape is a normal thing!".

the funny thing is, e harmony, by his-her own admission, has never been to brazil!

That doesn't mean much, you claim to have been to Brazil but shows only ignorance. And still consider yourself to be an "authority" of everything concerning Brazil, making stupid generalizations of things you obviously don't know about.

I don't understand why someone need to show so much mau-caratismo, lack of honor just to print the obvious: Brazil has violence and violence is not pretty. Is this your point Grunt? Did you need to move to Brazil, marry a Brazilian to find out that Brazil has its portion of violence in the world? I guess by that we should give you the prize of the most media litterate gringo of Brazil! I hope your enjoy your prize.

I understand you have no other skills to help the Brazilian society resolve it's problems. Then I think we should add you to the contingent of Brazilians who hold back the country At least the illiterate and poor people has the excuse of not having access to everyday political information and know the name of the politicians who were involved with last year's scandals.

What do you usually find in a BANANA REPUBLIC? Answer: monkeys

I suppose your Brazilian family know you call them monkeys.

Brazilians that take any criticism about their country and turn it into an anti-American diatribe

You didn't answer me. Point one Brazilian that is not a public official that denies Brazil's problem?
Criticism? These people insult Brazilians, I am a Brazilian-born.

What are you afraid of? Why don't you answer your challenged brilliant thoughts?

Again, how can you call me a thug? How can you affirm I am not accountable for my actions? Can someone be more disgraceful than you? Can someone be more racist than you?

One friend of mine is a Carioca, who no longer lives in Rio, and today hobbles about with a cane because 5 years ago he had the misfortune of being met with a “bala perdida” (I’m sure your black ghetto uncle will explain bala perdida to you).

How long do you live in Brazil? And what did you contribute during all this time to change the place where you live for the better? I expect you contributed a lot to change because you are part of Brazil's now and you all also is entitle to criticize so much.Unless... Or did you expect to move here and just take the goods from the place and not contribute for its development? Your carioca friend thinks he'll defend himself against a gun bullet not pointed to him with a cane?

I believe you are an expert of Brazil and for this reason you can bash it the way (unfair ways) you want. Well, do you truly believe you are among those who are not part of the problem but part of the solution?

I hope I would see less people in this site claiming that burning people on streets is an everday fact in Brazil. I cannot understand a person who says such a thing.Also, I don't understand how someone can affirm that life conditions in Guantanamo are better than in ANY penitenciary in Brazil. Do your Brazilian family know what you've been writing here?

Grunt você é uma pessoa sem uma definição que não choque os ouvidos de qualquer pessoa sensível.Quem quer que você seja, você é uma pessoa lamentável! Não vale a pena ler muito menos escrever pra você. Vocês não respondem quando são questionados, apenas dizem: ah, voccê está mudando de assunto! o assunto discutido é o do artigo, quando ninguém está mais discutindo o artigo em si. Sabe, eu chego a conclusão que você só pode ser um gordo, careca, velho, impotente renascido depois do Viagra, miserável, feioso, amargo, ressentido e fedido. Ishe se a sua vida é tão chata não quer dizer que a de todos também é. Relaxa, é ano novo, se ninguém ajuda, se enterra em algúm lugar e torne o ano de 2007 um ano melhor. O Brasil será um país melhor também...

E harmony I think that the best thing to the year of 2007 is to ignore such ignoble persons because life will be much better this way.

ou don't speak of any reality, you speak of deductions based in ONE case. For example in the "bank problems" you had, you then used it to say that all of Brazil is like that WITHOUT ANY GROUNDS ON REALITY.

No boner, I gave an example showing the general mindset or ideology that many businesses here in brazil have. You tell me A Brazilian, would you rank "customer service" here in Brazil as ......"good"?

First question is, are you familiar with good customer service? The problems I described concerning banks and other brazilian companies certainly do not only happen to me, they happen to everyone in some shape or form. One of our lawyers here is a procurador do estado, he is also a lawyer for consumer rights, diretos do consumidor, you should talk to him about the never ending problems and lawsuits that BRAZILIANS have against the communication companies as well as banks, as well as numerous other types of businesses. ANYONE that has spent anytime whatsoever in brazil are fully aware of the problems one incurs routinely when encountering a problem with a business. One deals with customer service reps that typically are indifferent about your problem and a solution, if one is obtainable, normally takes betweeen 2-4 months. Not to mention that you typically have to spend more money in phone calls and time that the credit you deserve to get a resolution. That's INSANE!

Just yesterday I had a problem with an american company. I bought an internet "bowl package" from ESPN to watch all the college bowl games over the internet. Yesterday the first game started at around 1 pm brazilian time, the game was not accessible for some reason. After 30 minutes into the game and still no access I called their customer service number. They verified the problem, said they were working to get it fixed, but it may be another hour, but then the guy put me on hold, spoke with his manager, came back and completely refunded the money I paid for the bowl package but still gave me the bowl package! This would NEVER happen here in Brazil. Businesses here in Brazil, once they have your money, its a done deal. Their ideology is certainly not one of "respect for the consumer", or, "the customer is first". It's quite on the contrary, and unfortunately for us in brazil, specifically because in many industries there is little to no competition, they have the attitude as if, "you need us, we don't need you!" I can only imagine the reactions of brazilians that live in the U.S. or any other country where companies actually solve customers problems efficiently and fairly in as little as a 5 minute phone call. They must be in disbelief the first time.

And Carlota, weren't YOU the one that was posting the little "stories" on things like rape, murder, in the U.S. and then trying to paint that as a general theme in the U.S.? Well, the statistics are there for all to see, at least U.S. statistics, just google whatever stat you want about crime in the U.S. and you'll be inundated with studies and factual numbers. Try doing that with brazil. The stats on crime here in brazil is NOT EASY to find. Wonder why that is? At least recently the brazilian federal gov't. have done some studies and compiled numbers in regards to murder and violence against women, as well as slave labor, and they're not flattering. Did you know that Brazil is the ONLY country in Latin America to NOT have a law against domestic violence?

The point of all this is, it's blaringly obvious that people like you and A Brazilian are so proudfully ignorant and thin-skinned that you can't stand ANYONE speaking "badly" about brazil. If I talk about the situation that has been happening in Rio over the last week, the people murdered, buses burned, etc, am I talking "badly" about brazil? Or am I simply stating an obvious fact? But since I wasn't born in Brazil I have no right to even mention such a situation??

ANYONE that has spent anytime whatsoever in brazil are fully aware of the problems one incurs routinely when encountering a problem with a business.

That means absolutely nothing except your word against the entire country of Brazil. Since when this kind of phrase is evidence? You don't get tired of repeating yourself, you just used ONE case to deduce the entire country, and such generalizations are so stupid.

Well, the statistics are there for all to see, at least U.S. statistics, just google whatever stat you want about crime in the U.S. and you'll be inundated with studies and factual numbers. Try doing that with brazil.

Lie.

Did you know that Brazil is the ONLY country in Latin America to NOT have a law against domestic violence?

It does, so much recently a famous TV actor were found guilty of beating his wife, and he is doing community services.

The point of all this is, it's blaringly obvious that people like you and A Brazilian are so proudfully ignorant and thin-skinned that you can't stand ANYONE speaking "badly" about brazil.

You made such a big text without a single piece of evidence of whatever you are trying to prove.

am I talking "badly" about brazil? Or am I simply stating an obvious fact?

There's a difference in mentioning a fact and using it in a campaign against Brazil. You or grunt said: "Do you know how many people have been burned alive only in the last two weeks?"

This is misinformation, because you make it look like people are burned EVERYDAY, all the time, and that this is something normal around here. This is a lie, I told all of you this is a lie and you insist and making such stupid claims.

Did you know that Brazil is the ONLY country in Latin America to NOT have a law against domestic violence?

It does, so much recently a famous TV actor were found guilty of beating his wife, and he is doing community services.

Sorry, my bad, as of August 7th, 2006, Brazil NOW has a domestic violence law. It is not yet 5 months old!! But congratulations for finally getting one.

I don't understand why someone need to show so much mau-caratismo, lack of honor just to print the obvious: Brazil has violence and violence is not pretty.

What on earth are you going on about? Between you and A Brazilian, I’m not sure who has the weakest grip on reality.

Is this your point Grunt? Did you need to move to Brazil, marry a Brazilian to find out that Brazil has its portion of violence in the world? I guess by that we should give you the prize of the most media litterate gringo of Brazil! I hope your enjoy your prize.

???WTF?

You didn't answer me. Point one Brazilian that is not a public official that denies Brazil's problem?
Criticism? These people insult Brazilians, I am a Brazilian-born.

Who is insulting Brazil? I certainly am not, I’m just “stating the obvious” about violence because, well, low and behold, A Brazilian didn’t think violence was a problem in Brazil. Ask him your same question. I think you two need to exchange notes to decide whether 1. I’m just stating the obvious that Brazil is a violent country, or 2. I don´t know what I am talking about and Brazil is no different than any other country in the world in regards to crime. I’ll be waiting for a response.

What are you afraid of? Why don't you answer your challenged brilliant thoughts?

Well, if the truth be told Carlita, I’ve avoided making any comments to you because I find your comments to be that of a, and there is no way of sugar coating this, TRULY RETARDED f**kING IDIOT. And, I don’t normally like to waste time with the mentally challenged. I leave that to hospital workers and care-givers.

How long do you live in Brazil? And what did you contribute during all this time to change the place where you live for the better? I expect you contributed a lot to change because you are part of Brazil's now and you all also is entitle to criticize so much.

One; I have stated on a number of occasions this little piece of information. The fact that you can’t read, (which makes comprehension impossible) doesn’t obligate me to keep bringing it up over and over again. Two; I contribute to Brazil like everyone else, in TAXES. That is about the only way I WANT to get involved. And contrary to what you wrote, I have not crticised Brazil, and I’ve actually stated “I DON´T HATE BRAZIL” but for some strange reason that still has not sunk into your thick Jurassic skull. And finally, my posts here are NOT to help or hinder Brazil (that is so funny you folks think there is a conspiracy), they’re just to add some factual info into what always ends up being an emotionally charged and distorted debate.

Or did you expect to move here and just take the goods from the place and not contribute for its development?

XENEPHOBIC! Here lies the true undercurrent of our little knuckle dragger’s agenda… Sorry deary, there is nothing here for me to TAKE.

I hope I would see less people in this site claiming that burning people on streets is an everday fact in Brazil.

I didn’t say it was an everyday occurrence. WHERE did I say this? Although for a period of two weeks it basically WAS. I just referred to the fact that it had been happening quite a bit as of late and ppears to be the latest MO for, as your PRESIDENT calls them, “TERRORISTS”. Burning people alive is NOT something that --quoting your VP of the STJ “can happen any where in the world.”. Nope. Sorry, doesn’t happen. Even in France where they lit over 300 cars on fire, NO ONE WAS IN THEM.

I hope I would see less people in this site claiming that burning people on streets is an everday fact in Brazil. I cannot understand a person who says such a thing.

That´s because no one said it, you FREAKING DufUS!

Also, I don't understand how someone can affirm that life conditions in Guantanamo are better than in ANY penitenciary in Brazil.

I don’t know how anyone can deny it, Guatanamo is OBVIOUSLY much cleaner, less violent, and never has rebellions.

Do your Brazilian family know what you've been writing here?

What have I been writing that is not factually accurate? Yes, everyone knows my views, and in most cases, THEY are far more disenchanted and much more verbose in expressing their concern with this nation than I. Like I have said repeatedly, I don’t hate Brazil, just the idiots like you and a Braziilan that happen to ruin it for everyone else.

written by carlota joaquina, 2006-12-30 16:19:31

When I say George Bush, ozone, temperature raise, war for oil, American electorate, American Legacy pilots, knowledge of geography, state of fear and deny, the dangerous functional illiterary in the whole world, Oklahoma city, child sexual molestation, Columbine, …… what immediately come to your mind?

E Harmony

Very good, Carlota.

Seems you both have trouble reading. No surprise there….Let me repost the line you both are responding too.

"When I say Bagança Sao Paulo, what immediately comes to your mind after LAST WEEKS NEWS? "

I put the part you both so conveniently ignored in bold this time. Try paying attention. Much of the confusion on this board would be eliminted if you folks concentrated on facts and tried not to let your emotions eclipse your rationality.

A BRazilian

I don't give a s**t if the NAZI americans decide to kill themselves or other people in that country..

Nazi Americans? And you call Bo hateful? Seriously Braz, talk with your doctor.

When I say George Bush, ozone, temperature raise, war for oil, American electorate, American Legacy pilots, knowledge of geography, state of fear and deny, the dangerous functional illiterary in the whole world, Oklahoma city, child sexual molestation, Columbine, …… what immediately come to your mind?

Ok, let me rephrase it for you. After a lifetime experience what come to your mind when saying .....

Sabe, eu chego a conclusão que você só pode ser um gordo, careca, velho, impotente renascido depois do Viagra, miserável, feioso, amargo, ressentido e fedido.

Translation (because that´s all thatis really needed): "You, know I have come to the conclusion that you can only be a fat, bald, old impotent reborn after viagra, miserable, ugly, bitter, unfeeling and smell.... "

ROTLLMAO - you forgot, "MEANY"

Too funny....

written by Grunt, 2007-01-02 08:27:28

Ah, more truth. No sweat. I’m sure you’ll fit in with the rest of the gringos chasing mulata whores. No harm in that. And I do agree, I’ll take a nice little Brazilian bunda over some fat Kentucky Friend Chicken eating crack-whore from bumf**k s**tsville USA any day, too. You see we’re not so different.

You're right, grunt, your "respect" and "appreciation" for Brazil and her "monkey's" as you and bo would like to refer to the Brazilians, as well your "respect" and "appreciation" for mulattas and black peoples is glaringly obvious.

Now, I am really starting to understand, Lula is white, Serra is white and Cabral too is white. My mate from Rio with a cane is white… I´m WHITE, So us white-folk iz jest plane stooped, dem, aight? Gotcha…. Now that I know you have a black unlce who almost married a brazilian, I´ll be sure to hold my tongue when commenting on Brazil. Thanks for the enlightenment.

Yeah Lula is white to you gringos when he is in Brazilian political and social hierarchy. However, place Lula in the United States as a low level laboring immigrant and you gringos will immediately identify him with his swarthy looks and Brazilian Portuguese accent as a "Latino." In the U.S. vernacular we all know "Latino" implies "non-white."

Lula without doubt is considered white and or moreno in Brazil and perhaps he should be. I have no problem with Brazilians in this regard. However, I note the inconsistency in you gringos applying your racial paradigm throughout the North America and Latin America. Interesting isn't how President Chavez would be considered Amerindian if he was a citizen of the United States by gringos, but that rules a Latin American country now all of a sudden gringos recognize his "mestizoness" and will refrain from identifying him as an Amerindian leader of a Latin American country, sense the gringos like to project Latin America as racially behind and backward that of the United States - after all gringos (at least many black gringos) refer to Bill Clinton as the "first black President."

written by Carlota Joaquina, 2007-01-02 12:27:22

E harmony I think that the best thing to the year of 2007 is to ignore such ignoble persons because life will be much better this way.

I think so too, Carlota.

"Carlota" sounds like a mineiro trying to say "hubcap". No offense meant, just trying to continue learning Portuguese....

Marvellous, Ric is trying to figure out what my accent is like...LOL

E, I am sure most black Americans are beautiful and charming. Some people cannot stand how beautiful they are...

No. no, not what you sound like, what the word "Carlota" sounds like....a mineiro trying to say calota.

You're right, grunt, your "respect" and "appreciation" for Brazil and her "monkey's" as you and bo would like to refer to the Brazilians,

Don't put words in my mouth e, I never called anyone a monkey.

Hi a Brazilian.
How was your New Year's Eve? I hope it was good.
I think you did not understand me, when I wrote that Bo has more credentials to talk about Brazil than myself.
What I meant was he lives there, has family, and works there. This is the same for my parents and friends who live in Brazil.
Whenever I talk with them, they tell me about their lives and strugles, my attitude towards them is more of a listener. I don't judge them or underestimate their concerns. Because I am not there anymore, I don't know what they are going through. I don't want them to tell me, " Hey Adri, you don't know what you are talking about, you don't live here anymore, remember?"

I kind of regret have told you to go to the white supremacist web site ( I don't like to be harsh on people, even with the ones I don't know.) What I meant was ( and somebody here also said ) this forum is about Brazil. We ( Brazilians and foreigners) come here to discuss the Brazilian affairs. So why? often times the discussion instead of being about Brazil, it becomes about the U.S.? That's what I meant.

This reminds me about a dinner that I had with some brazilian friends a while ago. I was taking an American History class in college, and I told them it is a beautiful History. And how surprised I was to know some missconceptions I had. For instance, the Republican Party's philosophy of today was the Democrat Party's philosophy of the past, and vice versa ( my ex-date told me something happened in the past that made them flip-flop their philosophy, but I forgot.) Because before this information I used to BASH the Republicans without knowing the party's history ( I guess it changes a little bit, to know that Washington and Jefferson ( two of the founding fathers and their good philosophy) were Republicans.) As I was saying this at the dinner table, one friend interrupted me and said, " You know what, Brazilian History is really beautiful too, you know." I stopped talking, and thought...did I say anything bad about the Brazilian History? or any comparison?...After I composed myself I answered her, " Yes, you are right, Brazilian History is also beautiful, maybe I should review it again, the last time I read about it I was in high school. I am sure I will find extraordinary events (no irony in that.)"
I went home and I spent some time thinking about what she said ( And that goes on with what you said in your post that I was humiliating myself for defending Bo, an American.)
After that dinner, I learned two things:
1) Maybe she was right, maybe I was forgeting and neglecting my Brazilian cultural identity.
2) Never feel ashamed to express my admiration to The U.S. Culture ( after all, it has been nine years I am living here, and I am sure if some day I decide to live in another country I will admire it too.)
Last semester, I took English 1B ( which is an introduction to American Literature) and guess what? I fell in love with the American writers: Eudora Welty, Sarton, Faulkner... I told my professor I wanted to know more, and she gave me a huge book about American Literature ( and the last day of class, I gave her a book called [White Teath] by Zadie Smith, a good book.)
Now, before somebody says, " you know what, Brazilian literature is also beautiful...."
I asked my father to send me a book about the History of the Brazilian Literature, and books of Goncalves Dias (romantismo), Jorge Amado, and Joao Cabral de Melo Neto.
I have them here with me, now I am happy!
I'm sorry a Brazilian, I write and talk a lot ( I feel sorry for my friends !!! )
Thanks for reading this. Happy New Year!!!!

Your dinner story is an all too familiar situation. For whatever reason, many brazilians react in the same way your dinner guest did especially when talking about the virtues of the U.S. They react as if you're talking badly about brazil, or as if you're saying the U.S. is "perfect". Same thing happens when one, especially a "gringo", talks about the problems in brazil, many brazilians, as you can see in this very thread, take it as if you are once again saying your country, specifically the U.S., is perfect.

It's easily understandable why many "gringos" come to the conclusion that many brazilians have inferiority complexes due to this very type of behavior and type of reactions.

There's one big difference between an honest conversation and what you do Bo. And there's a big difference than virtue and brainwashing. Surely Adriana is free to think whatever she wants, but I disagree with her.

From the top of my head I can think of thousands of years of history that are either fascinating and informative about what makes the world look like it is today. Many of things we see, like democracy and freedom, were little seeds planted by other peoples (i.e., not americans) a long time ago.

Bo, you are dishonest. I have proved here the reasons, you pick bad news and want to portray it as "the everyday reality". You don't care at all about whatever problems Brazil has, all you want is to feel better about your own shortcomings at the expense of others.

The international media and international NGOs (as the example I gave about the "Transparency International" and their biased reports) are all about portraying latin america in general as a land of savages and corrupts, and make a big case of everything that happens here. In the other hand the problems in Europe or in the US are minimized, and when they are too big to be minimized they are just not talked about it.

This patronizing tone used by people like you and the international media in general regarding countries like the ones in latin america is a mixture of plain ignorance and bigotry. We don't need your help, and we don't want it. And we know pretty well about all the wrong things.

Now here is the catch: if a latin american lows his head and humiliate himself recognizing the "many problems" his country has (but never talking about Europe or US problems of course) then it's "the way it should be", NOW if the person is more intelligent than the average and react to this repulsive "We know about your problems better than you" thinking then he is called of all kinds of things.

They want us submissive, quiet and obedient.

This reminds me about a dinner that I had with some brazilian friends a while ago. I was taking an American History class in college, and I told them it is a beautiful History. And how surprised I was to know some missconceptions I had. For instance, the Republican Party's philosophy of today was the Democrat Party's philosophy of the past, and vice versa ( my ex-date told me something happened in the past that made them flip-flop their philosophy, but I forgot.) Because before this information I used to BASH the Republicans without knowing the party's history ( I guess it changes a little bit, to know that Washington and Jefferson ( two of the founding fathers and their good philosophy) were Republicans.)

Washington and Jefferson were slave ownners. This in itself would mean little to me as just about all the world was embroiled in slavery at onetime. However, neither men lived lives in my opinion that were beyond the virtues of say Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, Mahatma Gandhi, Joe Lewis, Geronimo, or even Joe Bananno. Thomas Jefferson especially represented every "primitive" form an ideal of what we might consider "Latin American" or "Brazilian." Indeed if one admire Thomas Jefferson they have no recourse but to admire a rich Brazilian who knows jack about handling money, is probably metro-sexual, lives a life of luxury spending time philosophizing paid for off the back breaking labor of others, f-cks 13 year old girls, cheats on his wife, and believes only a educated elite few should run the country. Oh and let me not forget to add that that 13 year old mulatta Jefferson was having sex with was his wifes half-sisterand both their slave. Jefferson died broke because his rich pampered a** only knew how to spend money and not save it (unlike most his slaves surely had to learn how to save). While Thomas Jefferson was indeed a very intelligent man, very learned and well read, and while produced some admirable political philosophies... one thing I'm certain of he was no better as a man than me nor of most Amerindians that traveled this ground before him nor of most white, moreno, mulatto, or black Brazilians that inhabit the favelas after him. If I were to believe such, I would be guilty at worse of what that great Peruvian intellectual Gustavo Gutierrez calls "structures of sin," and at best I would be guilty of what the Catholic Church calls I believe, "invincible ignorance."

Fernand Braudel, as well as another historian, has inspired me to look at history from the contribution of the masses and not just a select elite few which is traditionally the way most history is written. That means black and mulatto slaves, as well as free in Brazil, or the historicity of Irish and Chinese labor building the transcontinental railroad in the U.S. matters as much if not more than singular people in history. Another thing is two philosophers from a book they coauthored and I read, have helped me come to understand better that all history is made up of a significant portion of fiction. As these philosophers pointed out, in contemporary modern times a f--king jury in the U.S. court of law can't figure out beyond reasonable doubt much of the time what actually occurred in a given case, and this is with them often having the luxury of thousands of pages of testimonies and other physical evidence.

My point is this: the beauty of Capoiera is as much "history" as Thomas Jefferson's sexual liberties with a 13 year old girl and his pontifications slavery should end while he never frees his and that the King of England has suffered "savage Indians" upon the innocent harmless white folks of his American colonies.

written by A brazilian, 2007-01-03 14:28:51

From the top of my head I can think of thousands of years of history that are either fascinating and informative about what makes the world look like it is today. Many of things we see, like democracy and freedom, were little seeds planted by other peoples (i.e., not americans) a long time ago.

The U.S. was formed as a republic not a pure democracy. What a republic essentially meant was rule by a small educated elite. The U.S. developed over time to become more and more democratic. There is no doubt about this because black slavery aside the U.S. originally did not have universal suffrage for all white males or females (let alone Amerindians). Certain colonies were de facto company ruled, similar to how the British East India Company ruled parts of what we call India today. The U.S. South was also a feudal plantation run system no less than what one found in Brazil - these were essentially aristocratic in nature and both the plantation owners in the United States and Brazil had unbelievable wealth surpassing that of much of the nobility in Europe. These plantation owners ran the towns politics and met out punishments ultimately.

Before the U.S. was a republic there were the republics of Venice and Milan (one does not have to go back to ancient Greece or Rome). And before the U.S. had "freedom of religion" their was the "Edit of Milan" given by Constantine the Great.

I think that the woman in this article knows more about Brazil than you do.

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/28470

Note to Brazilian readers, The Onion is a site that specializes in satire; the 'news' articles are not real.

Bo, you are dishonest. I have proved here the reasons, you pick bad news and want to portray it as "the everyday reality". You don't care at all about whatever problems Brazil has, all you want is to feel better about your own shortcomings at the expense of others

It's quite comical to read your illogical rants. Everything you blame on others you actually do yourself. When one reads your comments one has to consider the possibility of a diminished mental capacity to understand.

You have proven NOTHING, you have not produced one single solitary fact or study about anything, yet I have, time after time, showed STUDIES that have been done by your own federal gov't. and also the U.N. You claim that NGO's such as amnesty international have some type of axe to grind with latin america, and that is simply because they report on factual, shameful abuses that occur as a matter of routine throughout brazil. So naturally they must have other agendas and "pro american" and "anti brazilian".

Once again, you say that someone is "lowering their head in shame" if he talks about, or agrees with others, about the problem in a country, specifically brazil. A Brazilian, you are a SHAME to educated brazilians, and to those people that want to honestly and vigorously want to make changes in this country for the better. YOU, my friend, are exactly what is, and what will, hold brazil back for decades to come.

And e harmony, there were many cultural differences, not only in the U.S., but in the world, things that were a matter of commonplace and accepted, that aren't accepted today. To claim that Thomas Jefferson was not a great man, a visionary way ahead of his time, as were Ben Franklin, John Adams, John Hanc**k, and numerous others, that was significant in producing the FIRST and OLDEST democracy in the world, is just plain blasphemous and ignorant.

É verdade o que você disse A brazilian. Eu estava conversando com um brasileiro morando nos eua e ele fala do preconceito e já li como eles sentem o preconceito sutil contra eles. Neste caso com uma censura, o cidadão americano começa a falar de um aspecto ruim do Brasil, que o Brasil é um país muito violento, li no orkut. Daí, o brasileiro fala assim: pelo menos não tem uns loucos escondidos nas estradas pra matar qualquer um que passe na frente dele. Sabe o que o cidadão americano fez? Levantou e foi embora.A história da Amazônia é velha, mas depois que o Bush salvou a pátria e deu as costas pra Kyoto, acho que os americanos esqueceram do assunto! E eu turista "inocente" fui "pega de surpresa", todo mundo sabe como os americanos são com os latino americanos, em um restaurante em uma despedida de brasileiros quando a americana falou ohh, o Brasil está destruindo a Amazônia! Foi a primeira vez que vimos a pessoa que disse isso, e a última, o coitado do outro americano, o amigo, ficou com a cara no chão" Isso há muitos anos 8 anos. Hoje com muitos brasileiros lá o problema parece que é mais violento para alguns deles, os mais fracos, os ilegais, talves com as mulheres também.O Jean Charles é emblemático.Tem muito xenófobo no primeiro mundo e o infeliz vem me chamar xenófoba. Eu vivi minha vida inteira entre imigrantes no Brasil muito porque a minha família é imigrante.Tenho amigas de infância descendentes de imigrantes ainda hoje. Mas, "tudo bem", os brasileiros aprendem com essas e outras.

...that was significant in producing the FIRST and OLDEST democracy in the world, is just plain blasphemous and ignorant

Hahahahahahaha

pelo menos não tem uns loucos escondidos nas estradas pra matar qualquer um que passe na frente dele.

What do you call what's going on right now in Rio de Janeiro?? Just last night a women was shot during an attempted car jacking, in the same locale that a female doctor was shot and killed a few months ago while being car jacked.

Population 185 million -55,000 murders (2005)

Population 300 million -14,000 murders (2005)

Those people in the country of 300 million, believing that their country is violent, what must they think of the country with 185 million and 4X the number of murders!!!

And unfortunately, there are many americans, especially today, that do have preconceptions about latin americans, you see our country is flooded with illegal immigrants that cause many social problems outside of the benefits that a few realize from them. When you have a country with approximately 12-20 million illegals, there comes a time when enough is enough. And unfortunately for the brazilians that are in the U.S. legally, the hundreds of thousands, if not millions that are there illegally, don't do them justice.

Hi a Brazilian
You wrote:
"From the top of my head I can think of thousands of years of history that are either fascinating and informative about what makes the world look like it is today. Many of things we see, like democracy and freedom, were little seeds planted by other peoples (i.e., not americans) a long time ago."

I agree with you that there were seeds planted by other people, but we can't deny the American contribution. If ONE cannot see beauty in the ideals of the Declaration of Independence, Revolution War, Civil War, American Constitution... events that took place, I think around 1790s; then, I don't know what to write anymore and I will rest my case.
BTW, the professor who taught this class ( American History) he is a NATIVE AMERICAN. He has a Phd. in History and Sociology. Many times he would get upset about some particular events, ( specially concerning the Native Americans) but, he would agree on the principles of the Declaration of Independence and the individuals that made it happen. And as far as I'm concern, I consider events in this time ( and other times: Civil Rights Moviment, Hippy (peace and love) moviment, Feminist Moviment...( in modern times)) to be a legacy, an example to us all. Because that time was the time of the European Colonialism in the American Continent, and individuals who had an ideology like Jefferson, Franklin, Washington... had; was a blessing.
I love World History and Anthropology. I admire many other events at the course of the Human History. It is because I am living here, and I had to take this class in order to transfer to University. However, I don't take it for granted my opportunities to learn.
Then, you wrote:
"Now here is the catch: if a latin american lows his head and humiliate himself recognizing the "many problems" his country has (but never talking about Europe or US problems of course) then it's "the way it should be", NOW if the person is more intelligent than the average and react to this repulsive "We know about your problems better than you" thinking then he is called of all kinds of things.
They want us submissive, quiet and obedient."

Well, if I was in that position of being asked about my country's problems; I would, first of all, assess the real intentions of the person asking me the question. Then, if I think this person's intention is well-intended, or If I could be of any help in a constructive debate; I would be open, as much as I can to address their views.

Thanks for reading this!

Okay, this is a version of my post for those who would like to read it.

I agree with everything that a Brazilian said. I got to know a guy one of this days, he told me how some Brazilians are being marginalized in US nowadays when we talked about a case of a Brazilian girl murdered. I’ve read in a Brazilian board at Orkut a guy say he feels the subtle racism in US when his American colleagues from work kind of censor him by stating a negative aspect of Brazil or when one of them says he doesn’t look like a Brazilian! The case he mentioned: a guy he knows said how violent Brazil is; he replied saying that at least there aren’t crazy nuts hidden on highways at night to kill somebody. The American stood and left him alone! Nagging Brazilians touching the case of the Amazon forest is quintessential and old but after Bush turn his back to Kyoto protocol it seems Americans “forgot” all about the Amazon. And I, as an “innocent” tourist, “innocent” because most Latin Americans know how they are disregarded in America, in a farewell dinner for Brazilians in a restaurant was caught by surprise when the American girl said Oh, Brazil is destroying the Amazon! It was the first time we saw the girl! I think in this case we may not put too much attention because the girl might have just been jealous or something! That was 8 years ago. Nowadays some Brazilians and other foreigners, the poor ones, the illegals and probably the women, are facing more dangerous problems. Jean Charles case is emblematic. There are many xenophobic individuals in the first world and the unfortunate grunt call me a xenophobic. I happen to be an immigrant descendent and I always had other immigrant descendents as friends.

In this case all the Brazilians mentioned were in perfect conformity with the law.

Adriana, e-harmony have expressed about controversies on the "virtues" of individuals better than I could do myself. I won't criticize or say anything about anything concerning specific points in the american history, I will just comment about your attitude towards it and what I really meant by the "thousands of years of history".

You can't deny the american contribution but you can't place it above everything else as a unique example for all of us since it just follows the flow of history, i.e., without the previous peoples contribution the american one wouldn't exist. It's not something that just popped up out of nothing, because some men wanted to, but it was derived of previous experiences in history.

Your tone is similar to lots of other americans, they believe they are superior to everyone else and they are teaching the rest of the world how to live. They seem to think they have a mandate from God to do whatever they want. Another common misconception is that you won't find "freedom" anywhere else but in the US. One perfect example of it is in the "Tex-Mex serendipitous find" article in this site where one american is arguing with me about "at least we can criticize the government in here" (sic), he doesn't even know that the president and every important public figure is massacrated by press in Brazil. This kind of ignorance is very common.

This atittude of dimishing other people's culture and history and inflating the importance of their own offends every single person in this planet, not only brazilians or myself.

And regardless of the ideals is a fact of the history that the US has supported many murderous dictators and dictator regimes when it's convenient to them, like the ones in latin america and other places, or with Saddam Hussein himself. So whatever ideals might have existed one day they seem to have been lost for some time now.

I place american history in the same level as any others, nor better nor worse, nor beauty nor ugly, just a

Well, if I was in that position of being asked about my country's problems; I would, first of all, assess the real intentions of the person asking me the question. Then, if I think this person's intention is well-intended, or If I could be of any help in a constructive debate; I would be open, as much as I can to address their views.

Then either you are not doing it right now or you don't evaluate people's intentions very well.

Hi E-harmony.
I'm sorry if I offended your sensibility.
The thing to me is that I don't share Bush's view of the world and people, " Evil or Good."
To me there is no such thing. I myself made and make mistakes. I wish I could be like Mahatma Gandhi, I'm working on it. I practice meditation.
"A Holy Roman Emperor Charles V." Was he a man of virtue? Really?... (I read Adriano or Adrian was a good one too).. A Rome EMPEROR? Are you sure? Did you do your homework? The reason I'm asking you this is because I did my homework with "Cheguevara" and I discovered that he was merciless when killing his opponents. Instead of not liking him anymore, ( which is not going to make any difference) I decided to analyze him beyond the concept of "Evil or Good."
It helps a lot, I don't get frustrated anymore, WITH MY HEROES, please, excuse my irony.

I agree with you that the contribution of the masses MUST BE CONSIDERED. However, single people has also the power to change Human History. Be them from whatever ethnic background or social class.
I can give you an example that happened in The U.S.:
In 1955, a lady named Rosa Parks, refused to give her sit to a white woman. Because of this single act of defiance, she ignited the modern Civil Rights Movement.
She wasn't the MASS, in fact she created the MASSES, with a single act.
Have a good day!

I can give you an example that happened in The U.S.:
In 1955, a lady named Rosa Parks, refused to give her sit to a white woman. Because of this single act of defiance, she ignited the modern Civil Rights Movement.

Funny, in Brazil we didn't have blacks giving seats to whites due to the law, or any anti-miscigenation laws, therefore there was no need of a Rosa Parks to exist. So, isn't that better than anything the US could have?

Hi a brazilian.
My whole point with you started when you wrote me I was humiliating myself, and had inferiority complex. Only because I shared my mom's experiences in Brazil. I tryed to explain you what I meant.
I guess by now you and I kind of agree about that.
It's hard to have a debate on an internet forum or in any other place these days. Either, because the our message is not clear or somebody wants to see it based upon their own views and life experiences. This is true for me and for you. I really believe our views about the world are shaped by that experiences.
However, we should be constantly checking ourselves, and don't let these experiences become our main source of information.
That is the message of all of my posts.
I don't have the Americans' tone. I wrote many times and I'm gona write it again. I'm living here now, maybe next year, I'll be living in Asia, Africa, Midlle East....And as a naturally process I'll assimilate the culture, conciouslly or not; I'll like it or not, I'll admire or not.
I'm not an expert about The U.S. Culture, but I can guarantee you that certain things that I used to think about this Culture, when I was living in Brazil; turned out not to be accurate, and vice-versa.
That is also part of the message in my posts. We are so closed minded about cultures ( and I include myself on that)...That we'll be very surprised when meeting with someone from a different one, and learn that we were wrong.
Have a good day!

The Holy Roman Empire was just a name. The leaders were not Roman, but Germanic. The Roman Empire ended in 462 whereas the H.R.E. was hundreds of years later in present day Germany. Therefore an emporer of the Holy Roman Empire was ironically not an Italian.

Adriana, far be it from me to project I'm a pontiff of history, I by no means know everything and I continue to learn. However, your grasp of U.S. history, as well your methodology to interpreting "history" has not gained much maturation, to put it gently. If you are indeed Brazilian, and if you are indeed a Brazilian woman, I have no intent to descend into an unkind argument with you. You Brazilians are "all good with me to," to use an American slang.

What I said regarding Charles V, was: "However, neither men lived lives in my opinion that were beyond the virtues of say Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, Mahatma Gandhi, Joe Lewis, Geronimo, or even Joe Bananno." I never stated Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, Mahatma Gandhi, Joe Lewis, Geronimo, or Joe Bananno (better known as "Joe Bananas") epitomized all virtues known to man. Actually all of them surely had their vices. Ghandi was racist and cared little for black peoples and felt the black people of south Africa deserved their place in servitude to whites. Joseph Bananno was the crime boss of one of the five La Cosa Nostra crime families in the U.S. to which one of which he lent his name. Understand, Charles the fifth did have his virtues, and on a certain level epitomized them in the living of his life much better than Thomas Jefferson. Charles V spent most of his life fighting Muslims on one side, Protestants on another, protecting the Papacy while at the same time keeping the Papacy in check. Had the Pope listened to him and ceded on some issues of religious discipline and non-dogmatic doctrine then perhaps Europe could have been spared the Reformation and consequently half of Germany from eventual slaughter and burning as the Swedes made their amphibious landing. Charles V eventually retired to a monastery exhausted from his duties, realizing death was approaching him he summoned for his Last Rites. As Charles laid with monastic Priest beside him, he requested to attend Mass, the Priest gently let him know that as he had received his Last Rites it was not necessary for him to attend Mass. The redoutable Charles the fifth replied to the Priest, "It may not be necessary, but it is good company for so long a journey." Charles the fifth having kept his word to Martin Luther in assuring his safety in trip, and having been in my eyes a better man than both Martin Luther and the Pope at the time, died sitting in a Mass in a monastery while holding the portrait of his first wife. Do I think Charles the fifth was as good a man as Thomas Jefferson? You god---n right.

As for the U.S. Civil War, Adriana, I think you interpret a number of things in its relation less than lets say... accurately. I'm by no means a Civil War scholar and there are some things of or in relation to the U.S. Civil War I admire. However, the U.S. Civil War was shocking to Europe in its carnage, this was one of the bloodiest wars of its era. To date it ranks as I believe the U.S. war costing the most casualties. What is extraordinary of the Brazilian history in similar relations to this, is that Brazil never had to have a major bloody civil war to end slavery. Likewise Brazil did not require a major war to transition from Monarchy into Republic. The U.S. Civil War demonstrates the level of racial antagonisms in the U.S. at that period that white brothers would kill each other rather than negotiate and accept black emancipation and the virtues of miscegenation (openly). And as for the Revolutionary War in the U.S., it was won with the help of the Spanish and French, and it was not fought for "freedom" of all per se. It was a war resulting - partially justly so - from the merchant class and plantation owners beef with unfair trade standards and taxes the British had ruled into effect on her colony. It's generally said that 1/3 supported the war, 1/3 remained loyal to the British crown, and 1/3 remained neutral. The more taxing question in my mind is how did the new United States treat the Amerindians that sacrificed the treasure of their youth to help them purchase their liberty in blood from the British?

As for individual men and women effecting the course of history for good or ill by the power of their ideas and or persuasion, I concur fully with you this happens. Rosa Parks was and wasn't that in my opinion. A number of peoples had protested in the past by sitting in the front of the bus, the Rosa Parks thing was we know to day staged and caught media attention. I also would not take such liberty to state Rosa Parks launched the Civil Rights movement. Many black men that fought in World War II came back determined to change the situation of their exclusion in society. There is much propaganda to "history" and many, many, stories that never get told.

written by Ric, 2007-01-03 22:32:51

The Holy Roman Empire was just a name. The leaders were not Roman, but Germanic. The Roman Empire ended in 462 whereas the H.R.E. was hundreds of years later in present day Germany. Therefore an emporer of the Holy Roman Empire was ironically not an Italian.

Yes, I would hope people would already know that. The Holy Roman Empire is sometimes referred to as the Holy German Empire. Just as Charles the fifth was a Hapsburg, multilingual, and multicultural as a number of the "second estate" (or is it "first estate"? can't remember) in Europe were at that time.

Hi E.
You wrote:
"Adriana, far be it from me to project I'm a pontiff of history, I by no means know everything and I continue to learn. However, your grasp of U.S. history, as well your methodology to interpreting "history" has not gained much maturation, to put it gently."
Just so you know I am good at critical thinking analyses.
My American History class was a survey course only, I'm not an expert. We did not cover the Civil War, but I read a little bit about it because I was curious.
Well is impossible to know The whole Human History. What I do is I pick my favourites. I love to read about the WWII and the Holocaust ( I have personal reasons for that), I love British History ( I know, there was tirany, I know, but I don't see it from the "Evil or good" perspective, in fact what fascinates me is the human's ability to be good and bad, in another words, be able to change), Middle Ages ( because of the inquisition, I strugle to understand "Torquemada's role"), Civil Rights Movement in the U.S., Dictatorship in Latin American ( I have also personal reasons for that), the declaration of independence in The U.S., and the ancient civilizations of the Middle East ( because of the desert's role in those societies, desert bewitches me.).... And my favourite of the favourites... The History of the Rock and Blues Music in The UK and The U.S....And the History of Brazilian Music ...Jesus Christ...There must have a genetic explanation for British, Americans, and Brazilian's Talent for music.
Have a good day!

Hi Ric.
Thanks for the information about " The Holy Rome Empire." I did not know that.
I think this is how a civilized Forum should be. One learning from each other.
I believe a constructive debate is when we exchange ideas and informations, in order to improve ourselves.
Have a good day!

I wouldn’t waste my time on folks prattling on about “virtues”, when a few posts back they’re calling people “American Nazis”, “gringos de merda” and a number of other nice little pejorative labels. They whine and cry that two gringos living and paying taxes in Brazil have comments in regards to the violence in this country. You Bo, have not at all been rude, but have been rudely treated. I´m surprised just how you have managed to keep your temper with these fools.

They scream that we are ‘unfairly critiquing their nation”, or funnier “are apart of some international plot to keep Brazil in the red” and then two lines later they fire off a healthy round of WMDs (weapons of mass defamation) and the US and gringos. You cannot find a better example of retarded hypocrisy.

This dufus Carlota goes back and forth between “duh, ya Brazil is violent” to “no, Brazil is not violent”. Which is it sunshine? I’ve been the only single trick pony on this board trying to keep the conversation on the straight and narrow. While the thin skinned of the lot keep dodging and weaving anything that remotely resembles a fact and trail off in search of innuendos, connotations and simply put: things that just don’t exist.

We’re not dealing with superior grey matter here, Bo. A Brazilian, and Carlota are synaptic deficient (in need of ridalin) children. And this is exactly the reaction one can expect from a very large cross section of this REPUBLIC, as you hve mentioned. Remember the reaction to the Simpon´s cartoon “Blame it on Lisa”? Folks in Rio would have lynched Groening had they been given the chance.

A reminder about the episode: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blame_it_on_Lisa, Pay particular attention to the “reaction in Brazil” section. He he he.

You will not make any headroom with these folks, Bo. They’ll huff, and puff, hold their breathe, rant and rail, make up facts, and call you and I any and every name from their "insecure anti-gringo manifesto". They no longer deal with information; they only peddle in emotionally charged nationalistic hyperbole.

E Harmony is worse not only because he chimes in on topics that he knows nothing about (BRAZIL), but his obvious agenda is race. Each and every comment written by E Harmony inevitably reverts to race, or he see racists connotations in just about anything. There is no discussion with someone so hellbent on feeding his own personal agenda. Like I said E, “Hommy don’t play dat, AIGHT”.

Back to good fun loving and safe Rio de Janeiro: Looks like Rio is going have the national army’s help from now on. A Brazilian must be flipping out as this news circles the globe. This story lead the first pack on both CNN International and BBC world this morning. How DARE those “gringos de merda fala mal do Brasil”. eh, Dips**t?

Fui!

I wouldn’t waste my time on folks prattling on about “virtues”, when a few posts back they’re calling people “American Nazis”, “gringos de merda” and a number of other nice little pejorative labels. They whine and cry that two gringos living and paying taxes in Brazil have comments in regards to the violence in this country. You Bo, have not at all been rude, but have been rudely treated. I´m surprised just how you have managed to keep your temper with these fools

2 gringos writing about violence in Brazil? Did you forgot you stated that Brazilians are monkeys to you?

They scream that we are ‘unfairly critiquing their nation”, or funnier “are apart of some international plot to keep Brazil in the red” and then two lines later they fire off a healthy round of WMDs (weapons of mass defamation) and the US and gringos. You cannot find a better example of retarded hypocrisy.

Prove the defamation. Do you want me to paste here old comments? I can do it later.

This dufus Carlota goes back and forth between “duh, ya Brazil is violent” to “no, Brazil is not violent”. Which is it

Prove where I stated Brazil has no violence?

E Harmony is worse not only because he chimes in on topics that he knows nothing about (BRAZIL

You genious, you cannot point one single foreign scholar that have written and published a researcher on whatever subject related to Brazil and never set a foot in Brazil? One needs patience with this type of comments or what?

Ever heard a person's experience is not made only of practice but knowledge from books? That famous writeres already stated that practice knowledge is not that important to know the world?

Back to good fun loving and safe Rio de Janeiro: Looks like Rio is going have the national army’s help from now on. A Brazilian must be flipping out as this news circles the globe. This story lead the first pack on both CNN International and BBC world this morning

Ohh, the news is circulating the globe!!!!

Adriana, tell me this: I was called a political opportunist. What do you think about being called a monkey born in a Banana Republic and that your general mentality is ‘I am not the responsible for this’, as your friend Bo and Grunt and others state many times in this site as general things of Brazil and Brazilians? Am I a thin skinned, are you and your family monkeys born in a Banana Republic and you and your Brazilian family have largely the mindset of not taking the responsibility for your actions as opposed to Americans that learn from early stage how to be honest and never point the fingers to others when the fingers are pointed to them?

I can give you an example that happened in The U.S.:
In 1955, a lady named Rosa Parks, refused to give her sit to a white woman. Because of this single act of defiance, she ignited the modern Civil Rights Movement.

Funny, in Brazil we didn't have blacks giving seats to whites due to the law, or any anti-miscigenation laws, therefore there was no need of a Rosa Parks to exist. So, isn't that better than anything the US could have?

LOL....Brazil needs a Rosa Parks TODAY A Brazilian, you are truly an imbecile, sorry, can't come to any other conclusion. Please, you're much better off just ignoring any talk of slavery concerning brazil, seein that Brazil was the LAST country to abolish slavery on planet earth.....BUT IT STILL EXISTS TODAY!

A Brazilian special envoy to the united nations reported in 2005 that at least 27,000 people working as "slave laborers" exist in brazil today!

Now, I just know you're going to ask for some kind of factual information to back this up......well here ya go.

http://www.oitbrasil.org.br/download/sakamoto_final.pdf

Please, you're much better off just ignoring any talk of slavery concerning brazil, seein that Brazil was the LAST country to abolish slavery on planet earth.....BUT IT STILL EXISTS TODAY!

There's slave labor even in Europe TODAY, especially with gangs especialized into bringing women from poorer countries from latin america, eastern europe and other continents and force them into prostitution, but not limited to that. Not to mention the many illegal immigrants, with no rights whatsoever and being murdered and suffering violence.

But why aren't those problems publicized?

Brazil is more racially evolved than the US, where people are kept separated in groups either they like it or not and use a very strict "racial system" to classify them.

But I thank you for making such comment, Adriana surely didn't read all your other posts insulting me and other brazilians, now she will be able to see what your intentions really are.

is that Brazil never had to have a major bloody civil war to end slavery.

To legally end it, your correct, but it still exists today in the form of slave labor. And, when slavery ended in brazil, what took its place was a system of 1st class citizens and 2nd class citizens. E harmony, you've never even been to brazil, when/if you finally come to brazil and spend any significant time here and experience the households of many brazilians, middle, upper-middle, and upper-class, you will see that nearly ALL of them have an "empregada", or maid. These maids make minimum wage normally, around 175 dollars per month, and the treatment of many of them here, especially in the northeast, is not the treatment that you or I would ever accept from anyone. Believe me, I've seen it first hand in numerous brazilian households.

And E, you're right, you're not a history buff, what Rosa Parks did is known as a "trigger event", and it was NOT staged, the trigger event itself. But, there had been numerous people involved in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference that were "leaders" of the civil rights movement and Rosa Parks had been acting as an advisor to Claudette Colvin of the SCL whom had refused to give up her seat earlier that same year, yet it didn't have any impact whatsoever. Now, the resistance movement had the ideology, "to resist is to win", and they knew that sooner or later, if they kept resisting, there would be a trigger event, and their RESPONSE to the "trigger event" WAS staged, but Rosa Parks act in itself most certainly was not.

You genious, you cannot point one single foreign scholar that have written and published a researcher on whatever subject related to Brazil and never set a foot in Brazil? One needs patience with this type of comments or what?

Can you comprehend as well as read? He made that statement about e harmony, a person that has admitted to NEVER stepping foot in brazil, yet talks about it as if he "knows" brazil. I'm sorry, but you can read ALL the books you want, about ANYTHING, NOTHING replaces practical experience......NOTHING.

I hear ya buddy. I'm quite sure you have had a lot of the same experiences I've had. I'd also bet that the vast majority of your brazilian family, and friends, have no problem whatsoever with what you've said here, or with what I've stated. Matter of fact, MANY of my brazilian friends are much more critical than I.

after this was announced early this morning yet another group of tourists were car-jacked and robbed of their belongings. The 5th group of tourists robbed in Rio by car jacking since October! These guys don't discriminate either, last night it was germans and croatians, and previously english, americans, chinese, and chechens.

To legally end it, your correct, but it still exists today in the form of slave labor. And, when slavery ended in brazil, what took its place was a system of 1st class citizens and 2nd class citizens.

First of all, don't talk of "slave labor" as if it doesn't exist enywhere else, it DOES exist in so many "first world" countries TODAY.

Second, the "slave labor" is an exception and something restricted to remote areas, where people is ignorant enough and are used by powerful people.

Third, the United States itself is a country of '1st class citizens' and '2nd class citizens', the evidence is that non-white people aren't called simply americans but always labeled as something else that carries a load of stereotypes.

Fouth, american corporations are notorious for using labor of countries that doesn't respect workers, and sometimes employ even slave or/and child labor. Why do you think you can find many things so cheap in there? Consumerism knows no ethics.

THIS TALK OF THE "SLAVE LABOR DIDN'T END" IS JUST ANOTHER LIE FROM PEOPLE WITH BAD INTENTIONS LIKE YOURSELF. IT DID END, AND WHEN IT IS FOUND THE PEOPLE ARE ARRESTED. THIS IS ANOTHER CASE OF PICKING ONE THING AND PORTRAYING IT AS "EVERYDAY REALITY", AND ALSO NOT MENTIONING THE PROBLEMS ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

The ridiculous thing is that this is used by so many ill intended people that makes me sick. The other day I saw on TV some farmers from England, that obviously CAN'T compete with brazilian farmers for obvious reasons, protesting against brazilian products on the grounds that it uses "slave labor". Was any evidence provided? No.

I don't even know why I waste my time with this idiot, this guy is completely going out of his way to "prove" Brazil sucks, with his "personal experiënce" that obviously he uses to deduce about everything in the country.

You should create your own media channel specialized in Brazil bad news. Have you noticed that no one else here is copying and pasting bad news from american newspapers for proving "how it sucks"?

The city of Rio is a problem, but that city isn't Brazil.

Do you realize how ridiculous it would be to select some news and paste it here? Do you realize that by doing so you are just confirming what I have said about you and your intentions to everyone reading this forum?

with his "personal experiënce" that obviously he uses to deduce about everything in the country.

http://www.oitbrasil.org.br/download/sakamoto_final.pdf


No personal experience there buddy, that's a factual study of brazil by brazilians.

The city of Rio is a problem, but that city isn't Brazil.

And Camaragibe in Recife? Curitiba? Sao Paulo? Those are cities from the north to the south.

Brazil is more racially evolved than the US, where people are kept separated in groups either they like it or not and use a very strict "racial system" to classify them.

No, it's seperated by classes, the poor are seperated from everyone else in their favelas. Now what race do you think comprises the VAST majority of poor in Brazil?

Fouth, american corporations are notorious for using labor of countries that doesn't respect workers, and sometimes employ even slave or/and child labor. Why do you think you can find many things so cheap in there? Consumerism knows no ethics.

You are correct! And approximately 7-8 years ago Kathy Lee Gifford, a well known talk show host, and married to Frank Gifford, a famous ex professional football player, had a line of clothing that was being manufactured in Asia, and it was discovered that there was "slave labor" being practiced at this manufacturing plant. This situation drew much attention to this specific practice, and today companies are held legally, as well as fiscally, responsible for such atrocities.

Now what race do you think comprises the VAST majority of poor in Brazil?

Your narrow mind can't comprehend the mixing.

Your narrow mind can't comprehend the mixing.

You can't try and paint it any way you want, but this is for sure, it's certainly not white brazilians!

You can't try and paint it any way you want, but this is for sure, it's certainly not white brazilians!

It's certainly not racial. For people like you and the many racists that come to this site, for the purpose of propaganda and a racist agenda promotion, a successful person would be considered "white", even having some non-white ancestors, and the same person would be considered "black" if it were poor, just for the sake of manipulating the numbers.

No personal experience there buddy, that's a factual study of brazil by brazilians.

You apparently lack the cognitive ability of recognizing context of what is written. It may be a study produced by some group dedicated to end this thing, but you are implying AGAIN that this is the "everyday reality", and that this is something that happens only in Brazil.

It would be just as ridiculous if I said that all american and only american corporations employ slave labor in the exterior, and exploit illegal immigrant work inside of the US, therefore having connections with the organized crime that bring those people there.

well thanks for telling me my beliefs and opinions...


People like you think that brazilians are a race since anytime someone says something about brazil other than blowing sunshine up ones ass their labeled a "racist nazi".

People like you think that brazilians are a race since anytime someone says something about brazil other than blowing sunshine up ones ass their labeled a "racist nazi".

The only people labeled as "racist nazi" are americans trying to apply their "race system" to Brazil, either blacks or whites that promote racist and segregation.

No, you're quite incorrect, just go through the threads, anytime anyone starts speaking about murder, crime, prostitution, or any other problem in brazil many here label them a "racist nazi".


Truly ignorant.

but you are implying AGAIN that this is the "everyday reality", and that this is something that happens only in Brazil.

No, I didn't imply that this is the "norm" here in Brazil, stop ASSUMING and IMPLYING things, ok? The words are plain for everyone to see....don't add words that aren't on the page. But, the situation is definitely not good here in brazil in respect to slave labor. Whenever there are an estimated 27 thousand slave laborers existing in any country, that is terrible.

And because I mention brazil's problem with slave labor, I'm inferring that ONLY brazil has this problem? LOL, do I have to mention ALL the countries that have the problem of slave labor to pacify your ignorance?

You may or may not care about this detail, but the "Rosa Parks bus" on display at the Henry Ford Museum is the actual same bus she rode on, an "old look" GMC, which was discovered on the back lot of a bus company, somewhere in the South, reported on in National Bus Trader Magazine. Same serial number....

THIS TALK OF THE "SLAVE LABOR DIDN'T END" IS JUST ANOTHER LIE FROM PEOPLE WITH BAD INTENTIONS LIKE YOURSELF. IT DID END, AND WHEN IT IS FOUND THE PEOPLE ARE ARRESTED.

So you're saying that slave labor doesn't exist in brazil anymore? I mean, that's what you've wrote, "slave labor didn't end" is just another lie? So if it "ended", why are people being arrested? Arrested? But what about spending time in jail? Another story all together huh? I'm sure you know that in the last year or so that a brazilian politician was found to be employing "slave laborers" in northern brazil.....where is he at?? Plano Alto!

killed a 21 year old medical student...

Ever heard a person's experience is not made only of practice but knowledge from books? That famous writeres already stated that practice knowledge is not that important to know the world?

Carlota, I'm pleased, very pleased, that you and A brazilian have "kept your heads up" as we say in the United States, and not allowed bo or grunt to cause you two feelings of dejection about Brazil and your Brazilian friends and family you all love. I am very pleased by this.

However, I don't think there will be much positive fruit continuing to debate with bo and grunt as they both wish to only see Brazil and the Brazilian people in the most negative light. Grunt himself seems to have some emotional problems and bo... well bo... is just an idiot.

--
--

P.S. bo... there were black people that protested and sat in white only sections of trains decades before Rosa Parks. I have no objection to Rosa Parks but a Jack Johnson in defiance of race and laws I don't see her as. The great thing about Brazil is there was no need of a Rosa Parks, but then Brazil didn't have the KKK riding at night either.

Carlota, I'm pleased, very pleased, that you and A brazilian have "kept your heads up" as we say in the United States, and not allowed bo or grunt to cause you two feelings of dejection about Brazil and your Brazilian friends and family you all love. I am very pleased by this.

The kind of slave labor that still exists in Brazil is the kind on the cover of Realidade magazine years ago. "We Bought Two Slaves". Two indentured servants whose chattel changed hands on the streets of S.P. Like the old song 16 Tons, "another day older and deeper in debt..."

Not that long ago two kids walked into town. One had an eye missing. They had been working on a ranch owned by a Capixaba. Owed the company store more than they could pay back, exhorbitant prices. Fled at the right moment, chased by armed guards, got away tho. We gave them a place to sleep, food and a job for a week so they could get enough money to get a bus back home in another state. They didn´t want a handout. I am afraid this still goes on, coroneis from the southern states trying to build up a stake at the expense of someone else´s blood.

I think Bo, Ric are selfish. Be fair to people (and yourselves) is not only nice but much more realistic and stimulating.

Selfish because I helped a couple of guys that escaped involuntary indenture, when everyone else in town wouldn´t even talk to them? Interesting definition.

she's obviously insane.

Hi Carlota.
You wrote:
"Adriana, tell me this: I was called a political opportunist. What do you think about being called a monkey born in a Banana Republic and that your general mentality is ‘I am not the responsible for this’, as your friend Bo and Grunt and others state many times in this site as general things of Brazil and Brazilians?"

Carlota, are you saying that my mentality is "I am not responsible for this"....After being called a monkey born in a Banana Republic?
No, Carlota, I don't have this mentality, " I am not responsible for this". I feel responsible for Brazil, but not in a way you may think. I LOOOOVE BRAAAAZIL. However, I decided that the best way of showing my affection to Brazil; is by being a good representative of my culture anywhere I go. I really believe our example and attitude tell more about who we are then our words.
As for my "Friends" Bo and Grunt, I cannot say much. I can only speak for myself. I don't know them.
But believe me or not ( you gonna hate me for this)....I think Bo has good intentions. I guess you are ironically saying that he is my friend because I wrote that my mom's experiences were similar to his. You don't want to meet my mom, like I said she is a woman that says her things and "doa a quem doer." I myself had a hard time with her in my adolescence. And the most funny thing to me is how my mom and my dad have managed to stay together for almost thirty years. I don't quite get that. My father Carlota, is totally the opposite of my mom. My mom says that I'm my father's daughter, she thinks we are identical. To be honesty with you I don't think I would have survived my adolescence with my mom; without my father. For instance, she would tell me "curta e grossa" the things not to do to avoid trouble, and I would do the opposite; the things to give me trouble.
Carlota there is one thing though, I really Regret. One day my mom and I were having this big discussion (I think school, and how I was not serious about it), I saw that she was wining over me with her "doa a quem doer" arguments, and with no more words to say, I told her this, "Mom I think if there is such thing as past life, I'm sure you were a nazi on your last one".....Oh! Carlota!....That was the only time, she did not respond me back. She just looked at me and left the room...
I can't not tell you how guilty I felt, for months...Then, our last fight and the biggest one before I came to The U.S.
One day I decided to give a break on my psychology's studies at the university, and find a job. I was tired to see my father's strugles to pay the tuition. And I broke the news to them. They almost had a heart attack. My father said, "This is an absurd, I paid for your brother, and I must pay for you"...my mom said, "Whaaat aree youuu gonna do with your life?"...I told her I was gonna find a job and be independent...at that point we were screaming at each other...Four days later my father came up with an idea, there was a friend coming to The U.S. My father told me, "why don't you go, it is important to know a second language, stay three months, refresh your mind, then, you come back."....I came to stay three months, and it has been nine years. There were hardships, Carlota, many. Until one day I called my parents sobbing on the phone. I told them I couldn't take it anymore. I was confused and homesick. Carlota, I will never forget my parents' words ( specially my mom)....My father said, "I will support you in whatever decision you take, you are welcomed to come back, but if you want to stay, I will work as hard as I can to help you over there (we were middle class).".....And My mom said, "So, you want to come back?"...I said yes, and she said, " I fear for you."...I asked why, and she said," Because when you get here, you are not going to see The Bay Brigde and The Golden Gate Brigde anymore; TWO BRIGDES THAT TAKE YOU TO THE CITY YOU LOVE SO MUCH, SAN FRANCISCO." After her words Carlota, I never thought of giving up anymore. I will tranfer to SF University on fall. My mom told me when that happens; she is gonna die very happy. I told her she needs to stay alive, so she can see my graduation.
The most meaningful thing to me was, I had to leave my mom, go into the world to understand her message. My mom loves The U.S. ( she loves coming here to visit me) I guess because she is grateful for the things I have learned. My father loves it too, but everytime he comes, he can't wait to go back to Brazil. I think at some extent, My parents represent to ME a methaphor of BRAZIL AND THE U.S....WHERE MY FATHER IS BRAZIL AND MY MOM IS THE U.S.
I'm sorry Carlota, and everybody else, for this long story of mine.

Carlota, are you saying that my mentality is "I am not responsible for this"....After being called a monkey born in a Banana Republic?

Adriana, I thought it was clear that the one who called you a macaca, you being a brasileira, and what your mentality is all about, is grunt and bo. Anyway, if it is really necessary try to read my question again. What I understand with your long answer is that you are showing how not a serious person you are, I don't care what your parents are like (sorry couldn't read all the post) I can only say that about you. I have no idea what your intentions are.

I feel responsible for Brazil, but not in a way you may think. I LOOOOVE BRAAAAZIL

I have no idea what is it that you are talking about here. What city are you from? Can you write a post only in Portuguese? If necessary, write a summed version inEnglish.

However, I decided that the best way of showing my affection to Brazil; is by being a good representative of my culture anywhere I go. I really believe our example and attitude tell more about who we are then our words.

Adriana, if your words are not that important why bother writing a diary about your parents after all? Am I confused here? Well, Adriana, a Brazilian attitude anywhere should be best you can do to manage yourself. But i agree with you in one thing, example and attitude tell a lot about someone. But, nothing that learning cannot help.

As for my "Friends" Bo and Grunt, I cannot say much. I can only speak for myself. I don't know them.
But believe me or not ( you gonna hate me for this)....I think Bo has good intentions. I guess you are ironically saying that he is my friend because I wrote that my mom's experiences were similar to his.

Adrianna, that's how these people are, carlota, e harmoney, and A Brazilian. Because you did not demonize the U.S., because you can understand and empathize with what I've stated here, they then say we are "friends" and will try to "clump us all together" as "Brazil Haters" and "America Lovers". Trying to converse intelligibly with these individuals is an act of futility.

And it has to cross ones mind, that with all the words these people put into others mouths, how they twist and tort the very words written here to mean something different than they actually mean, that they have "other objectives". I have to say its crossed my mind that they could be employed by this site and make the statements they make, twist and tort the words of others, etc, just to keep the conversation "lively". Because many of their responses are not logical, and do not respond to the matter at hand. Instead they always try to make whatever topic into a U.S.-Brazil pissing contest. The following is a perfect example.

Carlota's Quote:

Adriana, I thought it was clear that the one who called you a macaca, you being a brasileira, and what your mentality is all about, is grunt and bo.

Adrianna, NO ONE called YOU a monkey. Matter of fact I chanllenge ANYONE to show ME where I called someone a monkey or macaca, if someone can show this, I'll pay you 10,000 dollars. I can make this challenge because at NO TIME did I call anyone that name. If I'm not mistaken Grunt said something about "you know what you have in a Banana Republic.....monkeys." Something to that effect. It wasn't ME, AND, I am perfectly certain that there was no ill-will towards anyone on this site from Grunt in respect to the statement he made.

Just one more thing Adrianna, I'm glad that you can see my intentions, I can't see how anyone couldn't. I've not only talked about faults in brazil, but also many problems that I believe exist in MY country, the U.S. But I truly believe that Grunt has good intentions as well.

Here is basically a synopsis of this thread.

1. Brazil is one of the most dangerous countries in the world

rebuttal: No it isnt, that's Rio, Rio is not brazil. You people try and take one incident and talk like this is reality all over brazil.

2. Show statistical facts of murder rates ALL THROUGHOUT BRAZIL showing that terrible murder rates exist from the north, to the south.

rebuttal. But these things can and do happen everywhere.

3. Show statistics that the murder rate that exists in brazil DOES NOT exist everywhere...far from it.

rebuttal: Bo and Grunt and Ric are selfish Nazi's.

That's basically it in a nutshell....how can one converse with these types? You know yourself Adrianna, you came here with all good intentions, yet you've been told that you were "humiliating" yourself by simply stating your experiences in the U.S. and with your mother. You empathised with me and once you did that, you were a "nazi" in their minds. Someone that has been brainwashed by american ideology!

Hi Carlota

" have no idea what is it that you are talking about here. What city are you from? Can you write a post only in Portuguese? If necessary, write a summed version inEnglish."

Do you know what metaphor (metafora) means? Is an IMAGINATIVE COMPARISON that makes use of the connotative values of words. ( do you remember connotation and denotation value of words? I learned that on my portuguese class in high school. For instance, take the word love.
The denotation value of the word love is: to love someone.
The connotation value of the word love is: when you say or someone says the word love, what comes to your mind?.... Happiness?..pain?...disillusion?...)

So, with that said, My parents are a metaphor TO ME, REGARDING THE U.S. AND BRAZIL. WHEN I SAY THE WORD MOM (MY MOM) I HAVE FEELINGS ABOUT THE U.S.....AND WHEN I SAY THE WORD FATHER (MY FATHER) I HAVE FEELINGS ABOUT BRAZIL.
I did not want to bother you or others with my long story ( I'm glad that you did not finish reading it).....yeah!!!!.... I'm like that...I'm openned to people...I tell them my stories, and I love hearing theirs...Now I know this thread is not the place for that...is too much hatred in here....I'm very sensitive....however, I don't like the HIT AND RUN ATTITUDE...that is why I'm still coming to respond.
As for the "macaca" and "monkey"....well....I don't see myself as being one...and I don't wanna go through details...at this point I'm kind of tired....
Have a good one!!!!

Hi Bo.
Thanks for the conforting words.
Based on what you wrote in HERE, I think you MAY be like the Americans; ( men and women, and the ones that became American Citizens, and are from different ethnic backgrounds) I had the pleasure to meet. The way I got to meet them were in the most hard circunstances of my first years in The U.S.....And they were there to give me a HAND: with words, financial help, advise, sponsorship...They were my professors, counsellors, the families I worked and work with, and ordinary people.
The Brazilians, who came first, also help a lot the new-comers ( although, some of them can put the new-comers in a Hot Spot.)
I don't think this is just about luck. My many Brazilians friends ( men and women) share the same experiences. So why do you think, me and others who came here to stay three months, ended up staying nine, ten, twenty years?
Of course, there are sad stories.....maybe because of the Cultural Shock, we all go through ( usually it happens on the FIRST TWO OR THREE years. That is the CRUCIAL TIME, AND WE NEED TO HANG ON.) And to get cultural information about the U.S before coming here helps a lot....To the Brazilians, I strongly suggest, whatching the Brazilian Cable ( Globo) GNT chanel called Manhatan Connection. The Brazilian journalists in this program are superb: Lucas Mendes, the mediator; Nelson Motta, the Brazilian and American lover; Caio Blinder or Binder ( i'm not sure), the American lover; and Arnaldo Jabor, the Brazilian lover. I used to whatch this program religiously, every sunday night, when I was in Brazil. The quality of discussions, and the people who goes there is fantastic.
I wish I could share the many funny and sad stories, that happenned to me and friends when we first came to the U.S. ( but at this point, in this thread, I'm gun shy.) Today, we laugh about it, but at that time, we did cryed like babies.
Have a good one, Sir!!!!!

Stop whining like old whores. I can't be bothered to slap you about your wrinkled gin-ravaged faces any longer - it's too easy!

Most people I talk to who watch the Manhattan Connection say they watch it mainly to see Diogo, since they read him every week in Veja. Good luck at SF (state?), Adrianaa. I went to college in the East Bay and grad school in SF. Your must live in the East Bay. I Used to work with the horses in Golden Gate park (not Fields). A couple of years ago we found a small Brazilian restaurant around the corner from the SF bus station.

I found that the secret to success on the Bay Bridge was to commute in an old Ford pickup which was painted in gray primer. When they try to shove you over, just stay where you are and they see you don´t care.

Costinha,

I thought that you had sworn off insulting people. At least, that's what it said in these comments:

http://www.brazzil.com/content/view/9749/41/

Hi Ric.
I can't watch the Manhattan Connection from here. Only on-line I guess. Diogo is funny, I read his articles in Veja.
Yeah, I go at least three times a week to San Francisco, and I'll be going even more when I transfer to SF State. I have the feeling that I'll move to San Francisco then.
Golden Gate Park is terrific. In Summer time they have Rock and music concerts over there, and it rocks. Another good place to ride horses is in Rodeo Beach.
I live in the East Bay, In a place called Richmond ( I'm sure you heard of it, I live in the part that borders with El Cerrito.)
Maybe you went to Contra Costa, Vista, or Merry College.
It's a good tip, I'll try it when driving in The Bay Brigde. About the Brazilian Restaurant, I'm going to one right now. It's a steak house called Espetos, it's on Market St. in down town SF. It's expensive but is good.
Ok, have a good day!

First I went to Hanc**k College in Santa Maria, and we had a student council convention at the Palace Hotel, used to be Sheraton, my intro to SF, then went to a college on Elm St in El Cerrito, no longer there. I know Richmond pretty well, N. Richmond, the gym at the refinery, rod and gun club, been to Parchester Village and Point Richmond. Worked for awhile at a warehouse near Safeway, and at a gas station on Hoffman, that area is all fill, like under the ferry building in SF. Once we dug down 15 feet and found debris all the way down. Landed airplanes at Hayward. I like Jack London Square and the Mexican food in Alameda. And Aliotos no. 9. And a fish place in Berkley or Emeryville, can´t remember. Flying to Manaus tomorrow, good luck in KGO land....

Adriana, you missed the point of what you’ve been questioned. Anyway, this is internet and while most people have no interest in help in a serious manner we all know how many things written cannot be taken seriously. Anyway, I could not read your long post in the morning that day; one, I was in the middle of my work, but taking a break; two the beginning of your post personally gave me the picture that you were trying to “me enrolar”, through yapping and playing a “smart” game of making understand I say what your mentality is.

About having a good one, don’t be so vulgar,dear.

This the time of the web 2.0. Bloggers and readers produce and spread content available worldwide along with the whole media. Reading late Timothy Gartn Ash’s article I couldn’t help of thinking to write here. He says how powerful media has become in our days, how every organization, government, NGO worldwide give maximum priority to promote its messages throughout media (he is an historian). He gave the example of Al-Qaeda, 9/11 and even the war in Iraq mentioning that if it wasn’t for the media much of what we know today would not exist.

An article from a journalist called Sérgio Augusto in the daily O Estado de São Paulo again mentioned the media and told us readers how some media in US are used as ideological tools for neoconservatives goals. I understand that almost every single aspect of American life has to do with their ideological choice. The world is reading about Iraq’s war and how democrats are delaying in taking a more energetic position about the end of this war. After all, the target was Osama Bin Laden, not Iraq, not Saddam.

I might get responses about the crime rate in Brazil. Or when I once mentioned here the Lebanese war, Palestine suffer I got that Brazil has more deaths more starving people and the like. I hope Brazil continues its struggle as the rest of the world.

Today´s Veja is all about the crime rate in Brazil. Next week Isto É [Porrada] will cover the same stuff. Best Tips: on how to avoid being kidnapped. Seriously.

How are you using the word "as" in you last sentence?

Hey Ric.
I work in Alameda. There is a good Mexican Restaurant on the corner of Santa Clara and Park St. I had lived in El Cerrito for two years, a nice city.
I know the industrial part of Richmond. I pass by it when I have to take The Richmond San Rafael Bridge to go to Marin County ( the cliffside trails.)
Have a good trip to Manaus.

Adriana, I am so curious about you: I've been reading your posts. In the middle of your academic studies on psychology in Brazil you went to US for a trip and now you are 9 years there. You are minimum 30 years old today, am I wrong?....you went in your tweties, let's say, 20 y-o and now you are 29 or more. How are your studies on psychology ? What branch or branches of the psychology studies are you most found of? What do you do for a living now, do you work with some psychology related position? Or have you chosen some other subject to continue your studies?

About having a good one, don’t be so vulgar,dear.

was that a lame attempt at humor??

Ric, did you read about Borat in Veja too? Did you see Americans portrayed in the film have lawsuits against him? Veja said: the Americans who signed an image cession contract are now filling a suit against the production because they did not like to see themselves in the film portrayed how they, in fact, are.

Is it just me, or all this neo reactionarism have no selfcriticism? Ric, good luck with your mindset.

I wouldn't worry too much about this people if I were you. This is a propagandist site and everyone but a few brazilians seem willing to believe in whatever the media puts out, in a very naive way. I already gave a link to the kind of "study" NGOs make, but, of course, that was conveniently ignored.

Let's just talk to the brazilians that come here, so they know that this is no serious place where some honest debate can happen.

BT