Brazzil

How do you know what Americans ask themselves? And I can´t remember any American asking whi "everybody in Latin America hates them". Not that any American who has traveled here would use the word "everybody". Don´t say never, always, invariably, unless you can prove it. Take a course in writing.

An empowered people don't search for alternatives to their condition. Last year, a Brazilian poll placed the government fifth (if I remember correctly) of the entities that Brazilians trusted. This, in a country where voting is mandatory. Brazil's post-Democratic experience is only about 20 years old but has left huge gaps in the people's faith. The Brazilians I have met see no direct connection between their vote and sincere advocacy of their issues. What they see is middle-class congresspersons and senators (and often their families) becoming super-rich in just one term. They see the STJ prosecuting just 2 out of 400 cases of corruption that comes before it. They see a population being held hostage by a Policia Militar who are beholden to no one. They see projects such as Salvador's METRO system becoming a pawn to politics and greedy contractors who underpay their workers, leading to continuous strikes, more delays. This, in a city where nearly 1/4 of the workers walk 10 to 13 km because they cannot afford the fare.

Had not the oil oligarchy in Venezuela become the de-facto government and treated the country like its own piggybank, enriching 25% of the population, there would never have been the climate for a Chavez.

Had not Bolivia's elite, mostly white, treated the majority indians as dirt, there never would have been space for Morales.
America cannot defend democracy in Brazil because democracy in Brazil is still finding its legs. It is stronger in some areas than others, such as the South. Hopefully, the next American president will think of Latin and South America as something more than the potential for expanding markets but a "government of the people, by the people, for the people". That sounds communistic but it is from America's constitution.

America has to regain its position as the champion of human rights and stop assuming that capitalism AUTOMATICALLY equals democracy. After propping up Papa & Baby Doc Duvalier, Trujillo, Somoza, Pinochet and winking at Brazil's ANTI- democratic coup of 1964, we cannot come skipping into South America, tsk-tsking and slapping wrists.

It all comes down to leading in Hell or serving in Heaven, doesn't it? It's all very well for Americans that plunder and pillage this unholy planet as they see fit to expound rah rah democracy, and rah rah, capitalism, while the rest of the world have to wonder how sane the system is, how corrupt it used to be, how corrupt it is, and how much corrupted will it get. Unless that by representing the people, is meant representing its people's amorality and insatiable greed. If wondering we err, it at least prevents us from erring by forcing the required changes from the outside. Sorry, I'm just not impressed...

America cannot defend democracy in Brazil because democracy in Brazil is still finding its legs.

The author never said that. Did you really read the text?

Olavo de Carvalho is the best Brazilian philosopher alive.

Take a course in writing.

You have to be kidding, right? Haha.

It is not only true that Americans "worry", in the sense they know it exists, about anti-Americanism, but in fact today, 08/10/2008, on FoxNews, the guy (I think his name is Bill O'reilly) was asking if "anti-Americanism" was influencing the judges scores in the Olympics given to American athletes. Certainly the term is not unheard of.

It's not something that people lose the sleep about, but the term "anti-Americanism" and the notion that "they hate us for " exist.

You would need to grow up first to the level of knowledge this guy has before being able to criticize him. You are not even in the same league. I am saying it based on your participation on this forum, which is far from stellar.

Check this out:

http://olavodecarvalho.org/

most news in brasil and SA is slanted to the left .
and if the US is so bad than why do so many educated brasilians live in the the US
another brazilians are the secound most illagle living in the US

and most people from the US dont care what other countries think about us as we have been hated from the git go by all .

even thoes we have pulled out of the jaws of death hate us
we have fed , clothed , protected , just abouit every countrie on this planet .
we have helped all with out requring a pay back and a thank you .

but like most kids hate there parents the US is hated in the same way

time to go out and be hated .

i do feel sorry for fatima as she comes from a country that every bodie loves
and me from the evil empire .

that is if you listen to globol

The writer sums up his point with:

"if Latin-American communists are allowed to say and to do what they please and are never thwarted by any American counter-propaganda, it comes at no surprise that anti-Americanism goes epidemic everywhere in Latin America."

And my little humble point is that you cannot attack...(or would you prefer that I use the writer's words "thwart"?)...you cannot 'thwart' communism without defending and strengthening that which communism seeks to "derrubar".

How do you think that 'propaganda' functions?

If the great philosopher didn't say that...he should have.

Yes, I read his article. And I went beyond it. Is that okay with you?

And my little humble point is that you cannot attack...(or would you prefer that I use the writer's words "thwart"?)...you cannot 'thwart' communism without defending and strengthening that which communism seeks to "derrubar".

Huh? What? He is talking about anti-American propaganda produced by leftists in Brazil! It naturally aims the USA (why would it be called anti-American?). He is not talking about defending democracy anywhere, BUT DEFENDING THE US!

It's understandable if they don't give a damn, but then don't complain about Chavez, Castro, etc. You had what you deserved by being so incompetent in defending yourselves.

"I am not their guardian angel and cannot promise them the jackpot"

Since when Brazil is wealthier than the USA ?????

Furthermore it was due to the USA that Brazil avoided bankruptcy more than once. Never the opposite !

Yesss emerging nations always criticized wealthy nations....due to their envy, jealousy and inability to be as good as the ones they criticize.

Quite laughing that emerging nations criticize the US$ decline over the last 5 years or so, when these same countries currecies ALL nearly lost anything between 90 to 99,9 % against the US$ over the last 30 years, even when including the recent US$ decline.
Not counting those that went bankrupt.
Or said otherwise and more straight :
Is a currency such as the Brazilian Reais so strong on a secular basis, knowing it took OFF 4 times 3 zeroes, on top of several devaluations........in the last 70 years or so ?????
you would need TRILLIONS and not even billions of your apparent strong currency from 1940...to barely have 1 Brazilian Reais TODAY.
And some more to make 1 US$...TODAY !!!!
Is the US$ so weak against most emerging countries....in the secular trend ?

Welllll....only junkies, idiots and ignorants are sure and certain of what they are talking about without having looked the secular trend of their own currency.
For a simple reason : too shameful !

What are you talking about? Perhaps you mean your country's youth that in trying to escape a situation that might seem like an abyss swells the ranks of all sorts of non-profit organizations around the globe? No, you don't mean that, do you? You meant the World Bank, that maintains corrupt governments all around the world that would do well to be over turned, putting chokers on said country's economies, and pushing irrelevant/ludicrous policies like condom usage discouragement, so that on a bright day they might, eventually, be unable to compete with heavily subsidized agricultural products. Seventy percent of Americans can't find their own country in a globe, but there's more to geography than that, isn't there, that's the part you guys understand.

Let me laugh....laugh....and laugh again....when the Historical World Champion in INFLATION...wants to give a lesson to others whod had on average 95 % less inflation !!!!!!

The Historical World Champion being B R A Z I L, followed by ARGENTINA your brother that hates you, and others South Americans countries such as Venezeuela your cousin and
Bolivia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Peru, etc etc, or simply stated...the new UNSURE block !!!!!!
Real fun that losers insist to teach how to lose...to the winners !!!!!

Who the f--k started the currency flame? I don't see it... What's the relevancy?

"They hate us for our freedom, wealth, Olympic medals, oil prices(way back when)..."

Of course we do, doh! You use all your wealth to acquire more wealth, you can't educate your children, help neither the poor nor the sick, or give aid to a major city in distress, or have a decent infrastructure to keep New York City with electricity, you can't stop burning coal, or perhaps start giving NASA 2% instead of 1% of the defense budget and go plumber a few asteroids or another planet and stop bullying weak countries. Your freedom is limited to upholding "family values" bordering on religious fanaticism, and disdaining education and Socratic morality. Sorry, we just have to frown on stealing oil to drive consumer frenzies and the building of suburbs. Btw, I don't mean you you, only the population that holds your country hostage.

Huh? What? He is talking about anti-American propaganda produced by leftists in Brazil! It naturally aims the USA (why would it be called anti-American?). He is not talking about defending democracy anywhere, BUT DEFENDING THE US!

It's understandable if they don't give a damn, but then don't complain about Chavez, Castro, etc. You had what you deserved by being so incompetent in defending yourselves.

Wow! Such a simple point goes over your head. Let someone else explain it to you.

good points in this article , i may not agree with everything, but, it sure touches on things i have perceivecd and noticed...

the problem is ,if america does something , its criticised, if it does nothing, it is criticised...its hard to know the best way to deal with this .and, whole generations are being brainwahsed in schools painting a not complete picture of the united states and the real deal about the cold war

there are plenty of americans who perceive they are hated and arnt comfortable with it. there are others who perceive they are hated and are comfortable with it...

i do beleive that in south america, those reading off the stale soviet union page with castros snot all over it , and wallowing in anti americanism , will only hurt their own countries.its really up to the people to understand when they are getting snowed or hearing the truth. if they see someone condemming the united states but not condemming farc, who really is affecting daily life in brazilian big cities, then , there is hypocracy. the americans got snowed by this administration and they are paying dearly for it

i dont think people have to be the best freind of the united states, but , thinking its the worst enemy is foolish , get for real , this is one dirty world, you look at the real statistics and the united states pales in comparison to millions eliminated from comunist countries and the 40 million who died in world war 2 defending against facism

yeah, democracy has a lot of holes in it, but, its better than neo marxism

yesssss....such as Brazil !
Did you not know that Brazil has been the biggest beneficiary of the World Bank Loans !!!!

Ohhhhh dear idiot, the World Bank has not its headquarters here. Sorry for you junkie.

And are you telling that my country has more corruption than Brazil ?
You better go back and read the World Rankings on Corruption.
We shine as the least corrupted. Not Brazil dear junkie.
Sorry for you idiot but the ranking was not by me or by my country !


Be proud to have 28 times (not percents) more crime rates than in my country ! Being fair these 28 times are already adjusted for population size....wether you like or not.

And be proud to scratch your balls, in 2008 Brazil will finally export
more than US$ 1000.- per capita. Or 25 times lower than here.
But sure Brazil is better. You still insist to give a lesson to the winning people !!!!

And to the other idiot who said where the currencies history take place in this dialogue, let me say that so far for the last several years, your filthy government have published mostly their trade prowess against a declining currency.....of course. Otherwise if measured in local currency.....there are no longer any prowess to boast about. Therefore how do you expect to publish their new stats to keep their apparent prowess when the US$ will reverse ? Simple : they will again publish in LOCAL currency.
I bet you did not catch their tricks yet. Welll...idiots CANT...BY DEFINITION.
All they ask you to do is swallow their lies and re-elect them !!!!!

Enjoy your Tropical Mud that Brazil is.
And give my regards to your families members, members of the world reknown deaths squads...killing thousands of young children yearly with TOTAL IMPUNITY !!!
Stupid question : how many millions street children Brazil still has ?????
A really great booming country.
Isnt it ?

"28 times more crime rates?"

Is that a like a special mathematical function? Please, this coming from a country where 2% population is serving time, and your index are more adulterated for political means than the use of corn syrup in your chocolate. As the author said, fifty-thousand Brazilians die every year from robbery and drug related crimes, while fifteen-thousand die every year in USA from drug related crimes only. Not to mention the death total would be much smaller if the drugs didn't come through Brazil to feed the great addiction up North. You should just start with basic arithmetic...

What's the rationale here? I criticized that the afore mentioned "great" humanitarian aid that was used to keep afloat corrupt governments and military juntas the US itself helped institute, and then you deny my point by saying Brazil was the biggest beneficiary, which you agreed maintained a corrupt government, which instead of adding to my indignation, should somehow to chatter my opinion? Does this inept smoke and mirrors really work with your compatriots?

What's this, "he with most toys wins"? Wins what, you should be ashamed of saying your countries produces 25 times more than Brazil, and yet you're unable to boast twice better governmental results, even if you ignore what Brazil was 50 years ago, and what USA was 50 years ago. Nevertheless you expect lovesick obedience, praise and aspirant emulation?

Your general opinions on Brazil's inflation makes me wonder at your level of education.

Ch.c is not from the United States...he is from Europe. Switzerland, I believe and is referring to his own country.

Said by some philosopher,, I forget his name.
But ANY nation that holds status as super power for better or for worse will be hated.

We will see if all these "haters" will be happy once the United Nations takes over.
What was the point of the article anyway? It is so simple.

news in brasil and SA is slanted to the left .
and if the US is so bad than why do so many educated brasilians live in the U.S

brazilians are the secound most illagle living in the US

So true. At the drop of a hat most Brazilians would leave Brazil for the U.S

Again , just what was the real point of the article? It is just simple flawed human behavior. Most hate what they envy.
Does the writer "prefer" how things are done in Brazil?

Taking politics too seriously is plain stupid.
People should recognize that most Americans are just regular people trying to do the best they can where they just happened to be born.
If you have a problem with where your parents concieved you, have a good talk with them. Ask them why they allow your conception in such a problematic place? But don't hate other countries for handling their biz just because you are dissatisfied with how your own country handles theirs.
It's a personal problem.
I agree. Why should Americans Care?

Somewhat stupid the article !

Couldn't have said it any better

Who would expect to be hammered by a Swiss while criticizing USA anyway?

Oh, you who have been neutral since the Peace Treaty of Westphalia, and who probably disagrees that good governance is inherent to small populations, forgo our inability to either prosper or submit.

It's just silly to measure a country's success on the number of fools willing to go on a gold rush. Now you will say educated Brazilians also aspire going to USA, but their intentions include easily and cheaply gaining your country's highest distinctions, like an Ivy League post-graduate degree, and then as citizens of the world do whatever suits them best. I hear many countries have programs to encourage college graduates to immigrate to their country, like Canada, what are their success rates in Brazil?

The article is not confusing...it's just not complete. I went to the author's site and he tends to write, somewhat, tongue in cheek. Look, by his words, he is accused of protecting conservative interests in America. That should make the neo-fascists on this site very happy. But just because someone is anti-American doesn't mean that they DON'T have a basis for it. The author doesn't expound on the universe of "anti-Americanism". He focuses on Communism. He doesn't focus on issues that causes conservatives and businesspeople to be 'anti-America' like the trade protectionism that exludes certain Brazilian goods out of the market or the flooding of Brazilian cinema with American films or the various ONGs that keep watch over Brazil's judicial processes and the transparency of Brazil's government. The author may be a good philospher but when you do not help a people understand the foundations of their actions, how can you suggest to them to accept the same unquestioned "American counter-propaganda" that caused such support of dictatorships in the past. I'm African American and I'm not a critic of America. America has done some damn good things and, other times, they have fallen short. No country develops by its own learning curves. Societies are interactive and propel themselves based upon their own inner dynamics AND from lessons from other societies. Chew the meat and spit out the bones. For example, both Brazil and America and South Africa are racist societies. That does not mean that the solutions for each are the same. So, you Brazilians are correct to protest when an unstudied 'American' prescription is applied to a Brazilian problem. (but you DO have a problem...demanding a solution). Those 100 signers of the document that A Brazilian talked about were against "Cotas", not against the belief that there is racism in Brazil. Cotas is problematic. That being said, just because someone is against the American way of dealing with race does not mean they should not look at America's justice system and their way of dealing with white collar criminals, which is a huge problem in Brazil. Brazil's evangelical movement is imitating America's evangelical movement, step for step. Now, why doesn't the 'evangelical' Brazuca say "leave Brazil in peace" in regards to this group. I know why but that's not for this thread. America is a libertarian society, where individual rights can protect its citizens from the harm that self-proclaimed religious zealots can do. To a degree. Brazil has these laws also, but they are unevenly enforced, if at all. So, you get the situation like the group in Salvador who invaded a women's house and caused her death or the 'Tammi and Jim Baker' style evangelists, arrested at the airport in Florida, hiding their money in a Bible! Brazilians need to be very "anti-American" about American style religion, not necessarily religion.

But how can the author walk this line on this topic? Especially when his goal was not "anti-Americanism" but anti-Americanism as expressed by the so-called Left. (the Brazilian right-wing gets aroused on that topic. Better than sex.)

You can't have it both ways. Rhetorically, you can, but that just shows up in ignorance and disjointed convictions.

If the right-wing in Brazil really want to cut down on the Lefties, here's a good idea...follow the lead of FDR, after America's depression, who broke the back of oligarchic and monopoly capitalism, instilled workplace laws, allowed a greater portion of the country's wealth to go to its workers, created stiff penalties for white-collar racketeering, created laws against nepotism, brought it's outcast societies into the flow of economic activity with electricity, roads, etc and oriented their productive activity towards domestic consumption first. And the United States remained a democractic, capitalist country. Imagine that! Of course, the small middle and upper class complained because, after people found good jobs, they couldn't find cheap maids to feel up and people to trim their fingernails. Tough! Let them clean their own damn houses and that's what fingernail clippers are for. Their lazy ass kids need to learn how to sweep and take out the trash. Brazuca should agree. That's that good old Protestant work ethics. Communists and socialists exist because predatory, monopolistic capitalism does NOT work for the good of a society. Competitive competition can only work when you haven't pissed on the majority of your society and excluded their market voice. When a group of coffee drinkers at Starbucks in America determine Brazil's economic policy, you're in deep s**t!

That's what any American counter-propaganda should be saying.

that should read..."not necessarily ANTI religion."

Has anyone seen "Boo" (a.k.a "Bo") around this site?

One reason could be, because generally we are a bunch of arrogant idiots, bad at geography, spelling, violent, spoiled, manipulated and brainwashed by our own government. We continuously go on about how great we are, and 'think' other countries are second best to us.

And if you ever had to go through the American public education system you would gain a much better perspective on why there is such high rate of functional illiteracy in America.

These are some of the reasons why a lot of other countries don’t like us, I only hope enough of us wakeup before it is to late.

One reason could be, because generally we are a bunch of arrogant idiots, bad at geography, spelling, violent, spoiled, manipulated and brainwashed by our own government. We continuously go on about how great we are, and 'think' other countries are second best to us.

I don't know, Heather, if what you stated is true. Mah American friends are pretty good in Geography, Spelling, Maths, etc; They need to read more Shakespeare's plays to perfect their spelling skill.Also, the Americans have to stop drinking Coke and Pepsi, as these are not good for health. Also cut down on fast food.

Any time you need further advice, please do not hesitate to post.

Twas a great post from you, Heather and thank you so much.

Is that the more the antiamericans post on this site, the easier it must be to sell space to advertisers, the more revenue the site generates, most of which is probably spent in my Home Town, where the site is located.

Los Angeles, California. County, anyway.

m

ost news in brasil and SA is slanted to the left .

And in America, do you even have news? You gotta be kidding here Forrest, Fox News is as left as you can have. CNN is a joke and your other news. Do you know how many European news site I check everyday to get a balanced view? 4! I don't trust American news, it is salt and pepper and very local.

and if the US is so bad than why do so many educated brasilians live in the the US
another brazilians are the secound most illagle living in the US

Here we go again, Americans are so sensitive to criticism. I live here, I pay taxes, I have a right to complain just as much as you do. I can come and go as I please-by the way Forrest, we were invited to come to the US, wonder why? Get over, people will complain and you also complain about Brazil, as you should.

and most people from the US dont care what other countries think about us as we have been hated from the git go by all .

As asp said, some do some don't. Your news anchor seems to be worried about, if the athletes do a good job-and deliver it, then the US has nothing to worry. This sort of comment are for losers!

even thoes we have pulled out of the jaws of death hate us
we have fed , clothed , protected , just abouit every countrie on this planet .
we have helped all with out requring a pay back and a thank you .

but like most kids hate there parents the US is hated in the same way

There is a difference between charity and giving something and expect pay or a thank you. Charity, dear Forrest, has to be from the heart and nobody should expect a thank you. Although I believe courtesy and good manners needs to be taken into consideration.

i do feel sorry for fatima as she comes from a country that every bodie loves
and me from the evil empire .

that is if you listen to globol

Always ask why? American foreign policy is to blame for. Bush got elected not only once, but TWICE!

I really enjoy my American friends, they are good people and hardworking. I don't have hate for anyone, I try not use the vocabulary on my day-to-day living.

there is racism in Brazil.

Man this topic got beaten to death last week. MOST people on this board believes that there is no racism in Brazil, go and figure!!!!

Of course we do, doh! You use all your wealth to acquire more wealth, you can't educate your children, help neither the poor nor the sick, or give aid to a major city in distress, or have a decent infrastructure to keep New York City with electricity, you can't stop burning coal, or perhaps start giving NASA 2% instead of 1% of the defense budget and go plumber a few asteroids or another planet and stop bullying weak countries. Your freedom is limited to upholding "family values" bordering on religious fanaticism, and disdaining education and Socratic morality. Sorry, we just have to frown on stealing oil to drive consumer frenzies and the building of suburbs. Btw, I don't mean you you, only the population that holds your country hostage.

Freedom in America is relative, after Bush, all is relative. You forgot to include Bush's will to destroy the Endangered Species Act, one more from the idiot who doesn't know his ass from his elbow!

That being said, just because someone is against the American way of dealing with race does not mean they should not look at America's justice system and their way of dealing with white collar criminals, which is a huge problem in Brazil.

There is not justice in Brazil, it is a country where white collar criminals and politicians break the law and go unpunished. Although I am keeping a close look at the Ted Stevens case.

Brazil's evangelical movement is imitating America's evangelical movement, step for step.

Care to find out about Igreja Universal? Then we can talk about it more...

Now, why doesn't the 'evangelical' Brazuca say "leave Brazil in peace" in regards to this group. I know why but that's not for this thread. America is a libertarian society, where individual rights can protect its citizens from the harm that self-proclaimed religious zealots can do.

Interesting, the religious zealots you mention, helped Bush get into office! Have you seen the program God's Warrior by Amanpor? If you get a chance, watch it is very informative. Back at Uni. I took a class in Religion, Public Policy and Law and I have concluded that the separation of Church and State is a very thin line indeed. In my law class, we read countless of Supreme Court Cases, from Texas to NY, from school voucher to monuments on court lawns. In the end, the rulings by certain judges were for the separation of Church and State, but others recognized that this country was founded on religion. Justice Rehnquist had a more conservative agenda and he certainly deliberated in favor of religion. Ideologically, you should separate faith from public office, but in reality, religion has shaped this country from the beginning, and it always will. It began when the pilgrims left the UK looking for religious freedom. Your founding fathers were religious man, although they have fought to have a separation of church and state. Some as you may know were Protestants, 3 I believe were Catholics, Lutherans, etc. A few were anti-clerical, like Thomas Jefferson, nevertheless they emphasized religion as a means to bring man together for the common good, and it served as a moral bond and the rule of law when America had no official government right after its independence.

So to go back to my point, religious zealots are also present in American society, and individual's rights have dwindle greatly during this past presidency. We can philosophically talk about why we need laws, and does it decrease freedom, etc. but the reality is that American is less of a Libertarian society as it used to be.

Look who is talking about the Brazilian currency.

In your country the major industry is money laundering from the crooks of the world, proceeds from the illegal drug trade, from global prostitution, and from all other kinds of crooked businesses.

When you think about Switzerland the first thing that comes to mind is secret bank accounts and money laundering.

If you want to see what currency default is all about then you should read the following thread:

The US dollar and the biggest default in history
http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/...did=121313


The cumulative amount of money that foreigners lost in Brazil over the years it is just nickel and dimes when compared with the amount of money the countries around the world have been losing because of the meltdown of the US dollar.

You said: “Welllll....only junkies, idiots and ignorants are sure and certain of what they are talking about without having looked the secular trend of their own currency. For a simple reason : too shameful !”

Your Blah, Blah, Blah about the Brazilian currency in the last 70 years means nothing regarding the future.

By the way, your comments show that you don’t have a clue about the direction and the changes that are in store for the international monetary system in the coming years.

Ch.c you got the prize you are the most “Obnoxious” person on this forum. On my book you are a real idiot.

.

When you think about Switzerland the first thing that comes to mind is secret bank accounts and money laundering.

PERFECT!!!

Remember not long ago, I mentioned on this board about the incoming housing crisis? If you remember I used my brother-in-law's opinion on what was in store for the housing market and the US economy? Some people on this board, and you know who they are, took it lightly and even made fun about it! Guess what? According to his analysis, the worst has yet to come...we have not reached the bottom of the barrel!

Who is financing the American War? Government spending has gone out of control, the government should lead by example, no wonder why Americans are deep in debt!

The U.S. military budget is now over $600 billion. Have any of the leading presidential contenders called for a freeze much less a reduction? The United States is demanding that other countries dismantle their nuclear programs while we embark on a program to build new nukes—where's the justice in that? And should the costs of addressing global warming fall on the backs of the poor? Can we continue to push forward with global economic policies that further widen the gap between rich and poor? An unjust foreign policy is both an unpopular and an ineffective foreign policy that traps us in a cycle of fear, hostility, and decline. We will not feel secure until we all feel secure, at home and abroad.

From Foreign Policy In Focus : http://www.fpif.org/fpifzines/wb/4328

I was told that the "Big One" -earthquake/San Andreas Fault- will not be in the next 30 years, it will be in the next "Two Months". I'm a bit skeptical, since is hard to predict earthquakes. But the guy -someone I know works with him and told me he is a respected I "assume" geophysicist or seismologist. Sorry for the incomplete info but, I will find out his name.

What I'm worried is that, if this info is true -I'm not seeing anything in the news- the Oakland/San Francisco Bay Bridge is not ready yet for the "big one"; if you remember what happened to the upper part of the bridge in the quake of 89. For years there has been a construction site next to the bridge, supposely reinforcement, or even a secundary bridge, but whatever it is, it's not ready, and I need to cross the bridge twice a week to go to SFSU.

She also told me to be ready: have water, flash light, canned soup... both in my car and home.
However, I will never leave SF Bay, this place gave me so much, I have so much to give back.
Peace.

Adriana, glad you've returned to post after so long. Hope what you say is not true / does not come to pass. Know some folks that did the migration from Montreal to San Diego in order to get a fresh start / try to keep thier heads above water and do not wish to see them living on a separatist island.

Said by some philosopher,, I forget his name.
But ANY nation that holds status as super power for better or for worse will be hated.

You fall in the same trap as many simple minded people do: "They hate us for our freedom", "they hate us for our prosperity"... MY ASS!.

They hate you for many reasons, such as:

- Your country is run by degenerates who don't hesitate to wage war for profit and control. The value of human life for them is null;
- Your country has consistently committed blunder after blunder, always giving excuses. For example, they supported Saddam, they supported the Taleban, with the excuse they were fighting some common enemy. I think they are about to commit the same mistake again with Georgia. And then they give the same lame ideological speech about democracy and freedom, HAHAHAHA What kind of idiot would believe in such degenerates?

The propagandists only amplify your obvious flaws.

You are blind, deaf and dumb to the world around you. You live in a world of delusion, believing in some "superpower" myth while your economy falls, your army is stretched too thin between many wars and CAN'T face Russia, and your degenerate leaders are making sure you will have enemies for generations to come.

WTF! Do you have cable or satellite TV where you live? Do you get news channels from other countries!?

For example, both Brazil and America and South Africa are racist societies.

Nice try. No, Brazil is not racist. Why did you run from the argument with Brazuca on the other thread? Your comments are illogical and now you try to include snippets of information here and there on non-related threads to pass your point accross.

Those 100 signers of the document that A Brazilian talked about were against "Cotas", not against the belief that there is racism in Brazil.

Wrong. They are against the racialization of Brazil, i.e., the association of what a person is "entitled" to based on how they look, which is what quotas are about. The whole affirmative action is something very foreign, artificial and imported "as-is" from the US. The same ideology and propaganda.

[Nice try. No, Brazil is not racist. Why did you run from the argument with Brazuca on the other thread? Your comments are illogical and now you try to include snippets of information here and there on non-related threads to pass your point accross. /quote]

Senor, Since you clearly don't understand the gist of this simple thread, it's understandable why you think Brazuca's rant was some response. I listed two examples where the sum totals of your 'wisdoms'are at odds with historical reality. I don't have time to write a response to all of them for two reasons: 1) unlike Brazuca, I don't have a 'dream' life, I have a life and 2)regarding him, I already know his responses...I know a bit more about him than you know. He sucks the tits of American right wing ideology who, finding themselves under attack because of their blatant racism, simply changed tactics and now create this superiority of western (white) culture. That bulls**t is being dismantled, even though some of you Brazilians are picking it up. And when you add that nonsense to Brazuca's post millenialist beliefs (that's why he supports most of 20th century dictatorships), you have a very dangerous mixture.

Did you get all of that?

I doubt it.

The very same philosphy that led America to make some policy decisions that YOU just criticized above, form the core of Brazuca's thinking. Brazuca fills the forums with quotes from the very same Ann Coulter and the a*****es of the religious right who form the inner circle who guide George Bush and you, with "itching ears for any flighty doctrine that supports your bigotry" get all tripped up with your superficial anti-Americanism and your, at best, patriarchial attitude towards your 'fellow' Brazilians.

You're being mind-f**ked and you don't even know it!

No, senhor. If I wanted to know the man's points of view, I can just go to the huge volumes of cut and paste articles with which he has littered this forum.

I usually don't have time for these things, but, somehow, the boy just had to bring my name up. It's no big thing. I don't hide from anyone. I can take a punch...but watch out for my left. (that's a joke. Laugh!)

Have a good night, sir.

WTF! Do you have cable or satellite TV where you live? Do you get news channels from other countries!?

That was hilarious! I said to Forrest the same thing. American news are a means to disseminate propaganda. Just watch Fox News, MSNBC, CNN and you will see the mind blowing news...well, if you can call it news.

a lot of people hate america because they just cant look in the mirror and take responsibilty for the real problems that affect their perspective countries

a lot of people are just reading off the stale cold war propaganda page from the soviet union , in south america its covered with castros snot

the problem in south america is that everyone knows what the united states did bad in the cold war, but, nobody recognised the other three parties involved.nobody wants to look at the fact the the kgb had agents in the military, the media and the government in brazil ( this from a casual interveiw on globo tv with an ex kgb agent),or that there were really people studying in cuba to organise armed revolutions.

there were four parties involved in the cold war, smaller countries with their inner conflicts had both sides inviting the usa and soviet union in to help, all sides are to blame , every one is dirty

there are plenty of america haters in brazil, but, few compain about farc as it kidnaps brazilians off the border and rapes its cities with its contacts with the top drug gangs in rio and sao paulo.right now, that is affecting those cities a lot more than anything the united states is doing to brazil...thousands come out to prottest bush, but only hundreds to protest the violence that is ripping the infrastucture out of those cities

i dont trust people that only look at americas hemmoroids but dont look at any other countries hemmoroids

in europe, in world war 2, most all of their countries had their inner guts churned out.germany declared war on the united states the day after japan hit it.the soviet union and its severly flawed comunism, especialy after it fell and many documents surfaced to prove it, really wanted to destroy the united states. islamic fundamentalists really wanted to destroy the united states....and, the united states has prevailed.

exactly because of the realities of world war 2 , the united states shifted into a position of wanting to be engaged with the world. bad leadership, paranoia and ignorance brought many errors into this aproach.but looking at america with backwards binoculars while the rest of the world is doing the same thing is missing the whole truth

while it has made many mistakes along the way, with its military government policies, basicly , this is a dirty world.of all the wars and destruction in the world and its histroy, the united states is tiny compared to figures like 20 million eliminated in the soviet union,millions more dying in the chinese comunist regime, 6 million dying in cambodia, millions dying in africa, a million dying in the iran iraq war, a million dying in the afghan civil war...and, yet fools just keep running a list from the dead stale comunist propaganda page about america being the biggest terrorist and causing the most problems in the world etc.

i dont care from what country , american haters that can only look at the united states hemmoroids are naive

i can see what is bad about the united states, but, i also see a really dirty world around it, with plenty of death , destruction and hypocracy to go around for all

At least the America-haters should thank the USA for providing them with the internet thus making it possible for them to vent their spleens to a wider audience.

It´s good therapy if nothing more.

there are plenty of america haters in brazil, but, few compain about farc as it kidnaps brazilians off the border and rapes its cities with its contacts with the top drug gangs in rio and sao paulo.right now, that is affecting those cities a lot more than anything the united states is doing to brazil...thousands come out to prottest bush, but only hundreds to protest the violence that is ripping the infrastucture out of those cities

asp, Brazilians-apart from myself and a very scant number of bloggers on this site, have a more balanced view of the world. Brazilians aren't the kind of citizens that a country would like to have. You are right, when Bush visited Brazil, there were protests galore. As you have mentioned, the Brazilian government continues to turn the head the other way to the violence in Brazil. Brazilians do not care, otherwise we would see protests of the same magnitude in Brasilia.

I like to call the people in Brazil, patridiotas. As Andrew coined a good expression: They are being mind-f**ked and don't even know about it- but I will go further. Most people do not care and their values are non-existent.

while it has made many mistakes along the way, with its military government policies, basicly , this is a dirty world.of all the wars and destruction in the world and its histroy, the united states is tiny compared to figures like 20 million eliminated in the soviet union,millions more dying in the chinese comunist regime, 6 million dying in cambodia, millions dying in africa, a million dying in the iran iraq war, a million dying in the afghan civil war...and, yet fools just keep running a list from the dead stale comunist propaganda page about america being the biggest terrorist and causing the most problems in the world etc.

I have a question/comment to ask you? Mathematically I can see that 20 million versus the 2 000 Iraqui citizens-killed by an unjust war, is peanuts. However, my moral judgment and belief tell me that one life is too much. Do you think it is justifiable to kill 2000 people for oil? Your answer above is like the kid on the playground saying "just because he did, I will do it as well". Asp, I respect you but I think you are trying to justify America's war on terror WITH terror. Diplomacy has to be used and all forms of negotiations should be taken into consideration BEFORE an attack. The US has two very simple options: 1) Withdraw membership from the UN 2) Continue with it and oblige by the rule of law. The UN did not approve the invasion of Iraq.

America wants a "friends with benefit" type of relationship with the UN and its members. Unilateral decisions in a multilateral organization cannot bring people into a consensus building approach.

If you want to justify the US invasion of Iraq in plain mathematical terms, then we'll see that troop death Iraq civilian death = destruction, pain, misery, etc.

The higher ranking military professionals are paid quite well, have a lot of training. You can't put a blind eye on the fact that the evidence to link Saddam to Bin Laden was weak and that America had absolutely no military plan. What they believed, which is not naive, but plain stupid, was that Iraq citizens were going to welcome American troops with open arms. What a mistake, from top officials!

I am not an American hater. I have two little Americans in my family. this is my country as much as my children's. Instead of using the funds to help our economy, we are wasting it all in a war that is unjust. I have the right, as a legal citizen, to complain about seeing my tax dollars go into Iraq- when they have billions in their banks!!!

At least the America-haters should thank the USA for providing them with the internet...

I pay for my own internet. This is not a favor, it is business. I have nobody other than myself to thank for it.

By the way, why wouldn't the Americans provide it? Have they started hating money now? Haha. Since when? They would sell their own mothers if someone were willing to pay for it.

Today's anti-americanism has one name, George War Bush. He's the most imbecile and inept president the US has ever had. All the more amazing is the way Americans we fooled into for the 2nd time as they reelected him. George War Bush had a golden opportunity literally landed on his had after 09/11. America had all the support of the world to such an extent that a Parisian daily headlined that "the whole world is American". GWB had the chance to lead a as real leader by rising to the occasion as good leaders do. But he is a complete imbecile and fumbled the ball by deceiving the American people and played the 09/11 card as a scoundrel in a number of times and "created" a new noble cause for the American to fight; The war on terror. Of course Terror must be fought and deceived, but whatever is based on lies is fated to failure. History has plenty of examples and only blockheads and imbeciles cannot seem to learn. Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel. History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce but only the true leaders can discern that and GWB is not such an example. He was made president by the Supreme Court (What an example of sheer democracy).
GWB should be tried by an International Court for his crimes against Humanity.

Fortunately GWB is not perennial and will soon be gone. And I hope that whoever occupies the WH will go to lengths to restore America's eraned credibility. As British Historian said " America is the greatest achivement of mankind". But it has to live up to it by setting examples, good ones preferrably. And America will be looked up to again as it deserves for all the good it has brought to the world. Mistakes we all make and America is not perfect. And let's hope the next president will make it a "more perfect union".

Good riddance GWB.

One senses that you are holding back a bit. Let us know what you really think about George Bush. Don´t dilly-dally, just say it.

You pay your Provider. The fact that it´s called a provider doesn´t impy that it´s provided free. But the Americans invented it and maintain it. If even paying for the service provided, it means a net gain for you in some way, you would not participate.

One senses that you are holding back a bit. Let us know what you really think about George Bush. Don´t dilly-dally, just say it.

I think he was loud and clear :

Today's anti-americanism has one name, George War Bush. He's the most imbecile and inept president the US has ever had.

Well, that sentence is a value judgement, and wrong English to boot, an unproven assertion.

Three generations that dominated US politics, and Breck thinks GWB is an imbecile. Is that possible?

By the way, why not blame U.S.apathy for everything? It could work.

Four generations if you count Samuel P., head of ordnance in WWI.

Blame US Apathy for Growing Anti-Americanism in the entire world!

Don’t believe me? Just Google it! To facilitate it, I placed them in alphabetic order (have fun):

Argentineans Hate Americans
Australians Hate Americans
Central Americans Hate Americans
Chinese Hate Americans
Colombians Hate Americans
Egyptians Hate Americans
English hate Americans
Europeans Hate Americans
French Hate Americans
Germans hate Americans
Indians Hate Americans
Iraqis Hate Americans
Iranians Hate Americans
Italians Hate Americans
Koreans (north & south) Hate Americans
Latin Americans Hate Americans
Malaysians Hate Americans
Mexicans Hate Americans
New Zelanders Hate Americans
Philippinos Hate Americans
Russians Hate Americans
South Africans Hate Americans
Spanish Hate Americans
Vietnamese Hate Americans

Hehehe, among others… Each will generate hundreds of linked pages.

Now then,

Shelly69:

There she blows again…

I like to call the people in Brazil, patridiotas…. I am not an American hater. I have two little Americans in my family. this is my country as much as my children's.

Hehehe… She typifies the recent arrived immigrant in the US, taking upon themselves the arrogance of John Wayne and Ronald Reagan combined into one. Nothing that time cannot take care of! After a few years and several bumps on the road, they finally realize that no matter how hard they try, they will never be allowed to be assimilated in that racist society.

As to Shelly69, perhaps some redneck will tell her one day “them foreigners coming over here and taking our jobs away,” or perhaps her little ones (as Shelly69 said… My two little americans) will be called Brazilian c**kroach as it happened to a friend of mine, a Mathematics Professor at Duke University. Shelly69… get this thru your thick skull, even if you look like they do, once they find out you are from Brasil, you became a w*****k in their Gringo view, simple as that. Now, if you are European (especially from North Europe), you may encounter a completely different situation.

As to your kids being born in the US means jack, as the case of many illegals that had kids born there but were deported the same. But if your little one are at the draft age and willing to die in Iraq, then all is well.

Shelly69’s motto instead of “Live & Learn” is “Live & Lick”



Retarded Idiot Cocksucka (rickie):

Let me remind you… The internet was invented by Al Gore!

Actually, the communication between 2 computer started in the Pentagon. Up to that point, large mainframe computers were stand alone, connected to its own peripherals with dedicated buses (lines).

The first interlinking between 2 computers were very primitive with dedicated lines, in the mid 70s. Cisco Systems then (soon to become a Chinese Company… hehehe), developed some of the more edprimitive pipe-backbone of the then, military restricted internet.

Nowadays, most of the internet technology “does not come from the US” any longer, no longer dedicated lines either but multipurpose phone, satellite & cable technologies, but from India, China, Brazil, Germany, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Russia and some others. Because the US sponsors the NIC (Network Information Central) just like they do the United Nations, it does not mean that it cannot be relocated to another country, at the blink of an eye!

So rickie, shut your dirty mouth… unless of course you spot another peppy your way, faggot!

Costinha da Costa

You can all kiss my arse!

Costinha

well, i absolutly agree that iraq is a horrible mistake . it is one of the blunders that the unites states has made along the way...

this is a great time for america haters. that war has cripled the economy , demonstrated america at its most imperialist , and, the basic people are paying a price for it. america is hurting now and any american who doesnt realise it is in self denial.

after world war 2, america was shifted into an international position it was not really prepared to deal with. it has never worn the mantle comfortalbly . remember , before world war 2, it was mostly isolationist.

and, i have a moral concience about wars and death , but, i also know this is one dirty world.if you are going to feel for the babies who died in iraq,how about the babies in the congo ? or the mothers raped in darfor, the victoms of some extremist islamic terrorist bomb from pakistan, to the philipines, to indonesia, to saudi arabia, to europe , to london etc , to the deaths at the hands of farc , to the deaths in georgia etc

while mistakes have been made by the states, next time you see south koreans running and doing jackie chan kicks into the police , you can beleive they couldnt do it in north korea.

Entertaining when Costinha really gets worked up, foams at the mouth. I personally blame U.S> Apathy for that phenomenon. Fun to watch, tho.

Well, yes, there is no more internet backbone in the USA but put IXPs and peering points together and the USA accounts for more than the rest of the world combined. And to my knowledge there are no major IXPs in South America.

Plus the fact that reliable stats on USA usage is not easy to access. It´s more than they tell you but I don´t know why that is.

Some new vocabulary and insults would be a nice change, Costa. Don´t let yourself get stale and predictable. You probably speak for many blond, blue-eyed, European-appearing Brazilians with issues, and as such, have a Special Responsibility.

I am starting to believe the latter applies, listen to this:

Ricky’s boyfriend in a total jealousy rage, dragged Ricky to his garage, place Ricky’s penis in a vise, secured it tightly and removed the handle.

He then picked up a hacksaw; Ricky terrified, screamed, "Stop! Stop! You're not going to cut it off are you?" His boyfriend replied with a gleam of revenge in his eye, said, "Nope. You are…. I'm going to set the garage on fire."

Ricky, why don’t you run along and go use your gay pride elsewhere, OK fruitcake?

Now talking internet… Peer to Peer… “F.U.C.K. - O.F.F.“

It means “Fast Uninterrupted Communication Kilobytes – Output Feasible Flow”

Hugs

Costinha

You are a fallacy, a cancer on this blog-but funny to watch.

My kids, Darling are English and Dutch by blood. Therefore your assumption that they will encounter hate is absurd, the irony is we have never been a victim of racism, maybe you have-it looks like.


Brazil has nothing to offer my kids or my family, and you sir, are fall in the patridiota category! Go and take your metro to work and pray, pray really heard that you won't be the next victim.

More people die in Rio than in Iraq!

I found a "recent article for you".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6734407.stm


Bending rules, breaking laws in Brazil
By Gary Duffy
BBC News, Sao Paulo

A wide-ranging police investigation into the misuse of money for public works projects has targeted governors, an ex-governor, several mayors and ex-mayors as well as high-level state and federal employees. A government minister, who denies any wrongdoing, has resigned.

The government has admitted that every year, billions of dollars are lost through fraud in tendering for public contracts.

A vivid illustration of this is a picture, widely published in the Brazilian media, of a bridge with no connecting road serving as an improvised snooker hall. It was built, of course, with public money.

The scandals do not just involve the abuse of contracts for public works. Earlier this year more than 20 people, including judges and prosecutors, were arrested over allegations related to illegal gambling.

Even the home of the brother of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was searched as part of an investigation into illegal slot machines. Lula said he did not believe his brother was involved, although he praised the overall police operation.

Some would argue that the relentless arrests of recent weeks is proof that the system works, and that the federal police are doing their job.

The legal procedures for a prosecution in Brazil are very complicated. This is... very good for the lawyers, but not for society
Paulo Renato de Souza
Opposition politician

But statistics support the argument that much wrongdoing in Brazil goes unpunished despite many high-profile investigations.

A columnist in the weekly magazine Veja points to a previous scandal known as Operation Bloodsucker, which involved the purchase of overpriced ambulances.

On the day it was exposed, 48 people were arrested. One year later, Andre Petry points out, no-one is in prison. Of 72 parliamentarians suspected of involvement, none has lost office.

Paulo Renato de Souza of opposition party PSDB says impunity plays a big role - anyone with a lot of money and a good lawyer can frustrate the process with endless delays and appeals, and therefore avoid punishment.

"The legal procedures for a prosecution in Brazil are very complicated. This is something that is very good for the lawyers, but not for society, " he told the BBC News website.

Jumping the queue

So is there too much tolerance in Brazil of bending the rules and breaking the law?

One key part of life in Brazil is the "jeito" or "jeitinho" - the "little way" - a word that can sum up finding a means to get round everything from red tape to avoiding a fine.

A man holds a banner that reads in Portuguese "Corruption is also violence" during a protest against violence in Rio de Janeiro on 31 May 2007
Corruption is violence too, reads this protester's sign

Many jeitinhos can be as harmless as jumping a queue, or an inventive method of overcoming the perils of bureaucracy, or using a friend to get something done. But further down this path the lines can become blurred.

A survey in 2006 suggested 69% of Brazilians believed they had broken a law, while 75% admitted to irregularities, including receiving benefits to which they were not entitled, buying products they knew to be stolen, or presenting false medical certificates to excuse themselves from work.

The survey also indicated a high level of tolerance for corruption in politics.

Silvia Cervellini of market research company IBOPE says there was shock at the conclusions.

"Everybody had this feeling but when you put a number - 75% tolerate political corruption - that is a bad surprise. People somehow knew that we were in this direction, they didn't know the size of it."

Law professor Augusto Zimmerman has argued that: "Because of the many instances in which jeito can be applied, the bypassing of legal norms has become more the rule rather than the exception in Brazil.

"In fact, the bending of laws

America, even with the problems it has, it 1000X better than living in Brazil. Unless you are a politico or a friend of one, if you know what I mean...

Skin cancer? Ele diz que é galego. Lung cancer? Too many Derbys. Cheapo cigs. Pancreatic or other? Lots of bile flowing. Prostate? We, we really don´t know; judging from what interests him I would postulate Colon Cancer.

I found this article for you " Murders (per capita) (most recent) by country".
http://www.nationmaster.com/gr...er-capita

Oh…Oh… Looks like the good ol USA is way ahead of Brasil, in murders!

Costinha

PS: Shellita, did you ask your little ones if they had any nice uncles in your neighborhood? Hell, maybe your own hubby, the rotten teeth Brit Princess!

Shellita, you make me believe in reincarnation, because no one could get that dumb in just one lifetime!

Shelly jumped into a sinking ship (the US of A), and she is proud of it….Hehehehe. When that ship waterline goes below the water surface, may you become the structure for a future coral reef.

Hehehehe

Costinha

PS: RIC... Up Yours!

You mentioned "My kids, Darling are English and Dutch by blood."

To be honest with you, that sounds gayesh! What the world needs, two more gay-residents in San Francisco.

Costa

Skin cancer? Ele diz que é galego. Lung cancer? Too many Derbys. Cheapo cigs. Pancreatic or other? Lots of bile flowing. Prostate? We, we really don´t know; judging from what interests him I would postulate Colon Cancer.

I had the hardest laugh ever LMAO , that was so funny...yes I agree Colon Cancer !

http://oglobo.globo.com/pais/e...008/08/14/ tse_autoriza_envio_de_tropas_militares_para_campanha_el
eicoes_no_rio-547758023.asp

O Tribunal Superior Eleitoral (TSE) decidiu na noite desta quinta-feira, por unanimidade, autorizar o envio de tropas militares para garantir a segurança durante a campanha eleitoral deste ano no Rio de Janeiro. As Forças Armadas poderão ser enviadas assim que o governador Sérgio Cabral (PMDB) formalizar o pedido que já fez informalmente ao presidente do TSE, Carlos Ayres Britto. Nesta quinta, em novo telefonema a Ayres Britto, Cabral disse que considera extremamente necessária a presença de militares para garantir a segurança durante a campanha e as eleições no Rio.

Only in Rio...

Rio 40 graus
Cidade maravilha
Purgatório da beleza
E do caos...(2x)

Capital do sangue quente
Do Brasil
Capital do sangue quente
Do melhor e do pior
Do Brasil...(2x)

Cidade sangue quente
Maravilha mutante...

O Rio é uma cidade
De cidades misturadas
O Rio é uma cidade
De cidades camufladas
Com governos misturados
Camuflados, paralelos
Sorrateiros
Ocultando comandos...

Comando de comando
Submundo oficial
Comando de comando
Submundo bandidaço
Comando de comando
Submundo classe média
Comando de comando
Submundo camelô
Comando de comando
Submáfia manicure
Comando de comando
Submáfia de boate
Comando de comando
Submundo de madame
Comando de comando
Submundo da TV
Submundo dep**ado
Submáfia aposentado
Submundo de papai
Submáfia da mamãe
Submundo da vovó
Submáfia criancinha
Submundo dos filhinhos...

Na cidade sangue quente
Na cidade maravilha mutante...

Rio 40 graus
Cidade maravilha
Purgatório da beleza
E do caos...(2x)

Rio 40 graus
Purgatório da beleza
E do caos...

Eh! Rio 40 graus...

Quem é dono desse bêco?
Quem é dono dessa rua?
De quem é esse edifício?
De quem é esse lugar?...(2x)

É meu esse lugar
Sou carioca
Pô!
(Sou carioca!)
Eu quero meu crachá
Sou carioca
Pô!...

"Canil veterinário
É assaltado liberando
Cachorrada doentia
Atropelando!
Na xuxa das esquinas
De macumba violenta
Escopeta de sainha plissada
Na xuxa das esquinas
De macumba gigantescas
Escopêta de shortinho algodão"...

Cachorrada doentia do Joá, eh!
Cachorrada doentia São Cristóvão
É Cachorrada doentia Bonsucesso
Cachorrada doentia Madureira
É Cachorrada doentia da Rocinha
É Cachorrada doentia do Estácio...

Na cidade sangue quente
Na cidade maravilha mutante...

Rio!...

Rio 40 graus
Cidade maravilha
Purgatório da beleza
E do caos...(2x)

Rio 40 graus
Purgatório da beleza
E do caos...

A novidade cultural
Da garotada
Favelada, suburbana
Classe média marginal
É informática metralha
Sub-uzi equipadinha
Com cartucho musical
De batucada digital...

Gatinho de disket
Marcação pagode, funk
De gatinho marcação
Do samba-lance
Com batuque digital
Na sub-uzi musical
De batucada digital
Eh!...

Meio batuque inovação
De marcação prá pagodeira
Curtição de falação
De batucada
Com cartucho sub-uzi
De batuque digital
Metralhadora musical...

De marcação invocação
Prá gritaria
De torcida da galera
Funk!
De marcação invocação
Prá gritaria
De torcida da galera
Samba!
De marcação invocação
Prá gritaria
De torcida da galera
Tiroteio!
De gatilho digital
De sub-uzi equipadinha
Com cartucho musical
De contrabando militar
Da novidade cultural
Da garotada
Favelada suburbana
De shortinho, de chinelo
Sem camisa, carregando
Sub-uzi equipadinha
Com cartucho musical
De batucada digital
Ulalá!...

Na cidade sangue quente
Na cidade maravilha mutante
Huuuummm!...

Rio 40 graus
Cidade maravilha
Purgatório da beleza
E do caos...(2x)

Rio 40 graus
Purgatório da beleza
E do caos...

Capital do sangue quente
Do Brasil
Capital do sangue quente
Do melhor e do pior
Do Brasil...

(O Rio de Janeiro!)
(O Rio De Janeiro!)
(Soy Loco Por Ti!)...

Rio 40 graus
Cidade maravilha
Purgatório da beleza
E do caos...(2x)

Rio 40 graus
Purgatório da beleza
E do caos...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...re=related

Hi, thanks for the reply. I trust you're doing well.
My post had nothing to do with the topic being discussed in this thread. I was just sad. I too hope that nothing bad happen here.

However, is always good to come here, I love blogs. I learn a lot from them, and I laugh a lot too.

Brasil, dear moron, is the sex country of the world. Many, many children walk the streets of cities from Rio to Olinda, selling themselves for a mere $25 dollars. As you will see from the video done by students from a University in Brazil.

There were an American couple caught abusing kids, but far more Brazilians involved. The second video the counselor for the child protective agency was involved in a pedophilia ring, she payed by Brazilian and warned the night club that the police was going to search the place. Her conversation was taped by the police, she is in jail along with the man and owner of the club.

Most kids in Brazil sell themselves to eat, to have food and somewhere to sleep because your dear government, which is growing so much, but still keeps over 100,000 kids (according to UN) living as sex pets for Brazilians and foreigners to abuse. The age of girls and boys vary from 4-16. You should be ashamed of Brazil's record on doing zero, nada, nothing to provide the population with education, a decent pay, job, health...


If nothing else, Brazil should be protecting its children...

My kids are far safer in the US than in Brazil. More people die in Rio than anywhere else in the world.

You can keep you slum ridden city, paradise of sex where child abuse goes on unheard.

Ta-ta

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=related&v=LQyj-qPneus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...re=related

there was an American couple

Here we go again Costa rica, a research paper from the University of Delaware. If you need more, I can get it for you-I have free access to most online journals....

http://www.udel.edu/butzin/articles/child.html

The presence of vast numbers of unsupervised and unprotected children is a phenomenon that is common throughout Latin America, and in few places are the street children more visible, and reviled, than in Brazil. Estimates of their numbers in Brazil have ranged from 7 to 17 million, but more informed assessments suggest that between 7 and 8 million children, ages 5 to 18, live and/or work on the streets of urban Brazil. Accounts of drug abuse among street youths in Brazil are commonplace. Numerous scientific studies and media stories have reported the widespread use of inhalants, marijuana and cocaine, and Valium among street children. Also common is the use of coca paste and Rohypnol. Risk of exposure to HIV is rapidly becoming an area of concern because of the large number of street youths engaging in unprotected sexual acts, both renumerated and non-renumerated. Moreover, Brazil's street children are targets of fear. Because of their drug use, predatory crimes, and general unacceptability on urban thoroughfares, they are frequently the targets of local vigilante groups, drug gangs, and police "death squads." Although there have been many proposals and programs for addressing the problems of Brazilian street youth, it would appear that only minimal headway has been achieved.
The United Nations Center for Human Rights has estimated that by the year 2000 half of the world's population will be under 25 years of age and located in cities, and that significant numbers will be living in poverty (UNICEF, 1996a). The United Nations also estimated that by the end of this century there will be almost 250 million more urban children in the 5-to-19 year old age cohort then there were in the mid-1980s; that more than 90% of these youths will be living in developing nations; and that by the year 2020 there will be some 100 million indigent urban minors in Latin America alone. It is likely, furthermore, that many of these children will be living in the streets (UNICEF, 1996b).

Thieves in Brazil, usually close a street to incoming and outgoing traffic, stop everyone and brandishing a handgun, they rob every single driver or person walking in the area. The beaches in Rio have similar problems, if you are a tourist and see a bunch of men, kids walking in a line-fashion, run away, it is called Arrastao, " The big sweep" (lack of better translation). Better yet, do not visit Rio, there are better places for you to spend your money. Crime usually goes unsolved and the police won't be able to recover your personal property. Please, go to Aruba,Cayman Islands, Fiji, Australia, Greece, Cyprus, anywhere but Rio or Sao Paulo (There are very FEW places in Brazil that are safe).

More violence from Rio:

Guerra do tráfico deixa mortos, interdita ruas e paralisa linhas de trem em Vigário Geral

http://oglobo.globo.com/rio/mat/2008/08/15/ guerra_do_trafico_deixa_mortos_interdita_ruas_paralisa_
linhas_de_trem_em_vigario_geral-547764730.asp

Novo arrastão faz 20 vítimas em ruas do Jardim Botânico

http://oglobo.globo.com/rio/mat/2008/08/14/ novo_arrastao_faz_20_vitimas_em_ruas_do_jardim_botanico
-547761192.asp

The Washington thugs are at it again, Bush lectures Russia “In the 21st Century, No Country Can Invade another Sovereign Nation.” What do you call the Iraq and Afghanistan invasions? Americans lie on top of lies to a point that becomes hard to discern which lie they are talking about.

In the case of Russia, the US is slowly but surely surrounding that country with military threats. The United States missile shield agreement with Poland, efforts to bring Georgia into NATO which naturally, alarms the Russians, fearing such system will blunt its own nuclear deterrent.

The United States is trying to expand its sphere of influence around the world, but failed miserably to persuade others to support its quest for global hegemony. Evil will not reign forever, the American Empire may survive for a while but eventually, the divine curtain will be lowered upon its stage.

The United States deserves everything that is coming their way; as the ships sinks further and further underneath the water, they will quickly realize that they are completely isolated in the world with no friends in sight to their rescue. That’s when justice will be done!

Costinha

PS: I hope Shelly69, her little ones (the americans), and her rotten teeth gay husband, know how to swim. It is a ling way to Brasil, hehehe.

In your last few defecations where did you get your inspiration from? The arrogance of John Wayne or the stupidity of Ronald Reagan?

“I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free…. Lalala La La….”

Your Costa

Hehehe

Costa. You´ll know when the USA is finished when the illegals are fighting to get out.

Here in the Amazon we plug the body orfices of the dead with cotton, so the parasites stay where they are. "Get back in there, bug."

I believe that it is well established that rats attempt to leave a sinking ship.

But so far the influx still far exceeds the outgo.

On another topic, your posts do a disservice to other sincere anti-Americans, in that your attacks are virtually always ad hominem rather than substantive, dealing with issues. People who read these posts are educated people and surely recognize this, therefore your net effect is not the desired one. People don´t want to read about poop and pipi.

Hope this helps.

RIC, all that rectum activity you get from your close associates is not serving you well… It is affecting your lack of common sense.

Your Input is always greater than your Output. You are just like the roach motel: They Checking-In, But They Don’t Check-Out.

Get back in there…. Spermie!

Hope that helps,

Costinha

PS: Ricky, please stop taking all those female hormones.

Most Pomeranian Capixabas are of a better temperament than thee, Costa.

If you don´t stop picking at it it will never heal properly.

Most American Pitbulls are of a better temperament than thee, Ricky.

If you don’t stop sucking it, it will never shrink properly.

True, eu gosto de confusão. Nisto falou a verdade, raridade. Mas

Peachy Bool?

Let the boy live in his illusion, the mushroom he takes comes from the dog s**t from a "boca de fumo" in Rio. Don't bring him into reality, can we imagine a circus without a clown?

PS: I hope Shelly69, her little ones (the americans), and her rotten teeth gay husband, know how to swim. It is a ling way to Brasil, hehehe.

Sorry, pal I have the WHOLE Europe to go to. I am dear Costa, a 2 European members passport, Dutch and English. Dear Costa, do not worry about my family, you need to worry about your safety in your favela ridden city and learn how to dodge bullets matrix style. Keanu Reeves can be an excellent tool these days

Ta-ta

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...re=related

I mean… the viralata Shelly69 herself!

“Sorry, pal I have the WHOLE Europe to go to,” worse yet, a long swim in icy cold waters and with that huge behind of yours, expect to attract Orcas. However, better for us as residents of the Americas, one less b.i.t.c.h. among us!

“Do not worry about my family.” What made you think that I ever did? But I can extrapolate that in a couple of years, your british gay husband will be wearing dentures, and further down the road, your 2 little americans will be parading at the Gay festival in San Francisco.

Shelly69, if there ever was a Pandora's Box of stupidity, you would be its contents. Shelly69… clueless to the core but brave, when it befits her lack of intellect. You really are an inspiration to whores all over the world, get a bitten but always come back for more!

Ta-Ta To You 2

Costinha

Do not worry about my family.” What made you think that I ever did? But I can extrapolate that in a couple of years, your british gay husband will be wearing dentures, and further down the road, your 2 little americans will be parading at the Gay festival in San Francisco.

You still talking about my family, obviously you are concerned

As long as they do not go out with you, I would accept any other male in the house, but not you Costa" O que gosta de levar nas costas" .

Sorry, pal I have the WHOLE Europe to go to,” worse yet, a long swim in icy cold waters and with that huge behind of yours, expect to attract Orcas. However, better for us as residents of the Americas, one less b.i.t.c.h. among us

Costa, you are Ch.C retarded brother. I am glad you are worried about me living in Brazil again, obviously you are in distress. Don't worry Pal, you can keep your crime ridden country, better cold in Europe visiting all the safe countries, beautiful architecture, drinking wine, visiting museums, than living in hot violent city (country for that matter). Yes Costa, keep the old name calling rhetoric, you full of blah and not enough substance. Keep smoking dog doo-doo!

Ta-ta!

Milady
What a great pleasure to find my "conteranea carioca" and fellow American again. I hope all is quiet (and well) in the "southern" (Virginian) front" - LOL

I just noted a particularly appeling segment of you above (long) quote in Portuguese, which I find remarkable! (see below). Would you kindly inform the author? (I only noted a reference to a Rio local broadcast...

O Rio é uma cidade
De cidades misturadas
O Rio é uma cidade
De cidades camufladas
Com governos misturados
Camuflados, paralelos
Sorrateiros
Ocultando comandos...

Simply magnificent! Exceedingly deep and well written!
If alive and knowledgeble of our tongue, I would be surprised if Lord Byron himself would not join in my applause for the lines... Simply remarkable!

Cheers

His name is Jorge Antonio Barros

The passage found, further elaborated a view/opinion regarding our "home town" which I trust you will appreciate:

Já quanto a "nós e o Rio", discutindo a relação, é notório que situações limítrofes não faltam. O difícil é administrá-las... Mas como a cidade é nosso amor e nossa danação e nós temos - e devemos - fazer valer o que realmente vale a pena pra gente... Haja energia e coragem! E nossa cidade vale a pena e merece

NOW... AFTER READING THE ABOVE, I TURNED TRULY "SPEECHLESS"

Que bom ouvir de voce, estou aqui nesse lugar quieto, tranquilo com muito verde. Aonde eu moro, temos um riachuelo, Goose Creek, e as vezes pesco com as criancas apreciando o visual. Amanha vou ao show do Marron Five com uma amiga do Chile...

Realmente o Rio e uma cidade ambigua, posso ate dizer que tenho sentimentos antagonicos simultaneos em relacao ao Rio de Janeiro. Se eu fosse psiquiatra diria que todos os Cariocas sao eternos bipolares. Como fiz muito analise de textos e critica literaria, diria que o nosso Rio e personalidade travada entre o real e o irreal bem ao estilo de Alejandro Amenábar.

Se Sofocles estivesse vivo, certamente o Rio de Janeiro seria protagonista em suas tragedias ironicas. Vivemos ou nao em conflito entre a aparencia e a realidade?

Putz, o nome da banda e Marron five, nao gosto deles mais a minha amiga esta pagando!

Po esqueca, nem sei o nome da banda-bunda.

Beijos

Fui

What in her Majesty's name is happening tonight?!

I suppose I have somehow been overtaken by an unusual strike of "saudosismo" tonight (for those who do not undersntand Port. it means "a deep, sentimental longing of some sort" - LOL no precise translation into the language of William Shakespeare, I'm afraid)

Indeed, I recall the time, as a boy, when I used the quoted expression all the time...

Thanks for the priceless memories!

"VALEU"
(ataque de cariquismo - or it is "carioquice"?)

e carioquice... acho que foi a culpa do vinho.

Are you in heat? I’m taking you off the breeding program.

This b.i.t.c.h. is suffering from a serious rabies infection, which is turning her brain to mush, just like a pickle in a vinegar-filled jar.

From now on… you will be kept in a tight chocker-collar, in the kennel 24 hours a day, a fed dry Purina. No more cookies for you!

Au…au…au

Costinha

PS: Your 2 american born puppies keep licking that british dog’s genitals!

Me.... Carioquice

Shelly69... Idiotice

Costa

i like a lot of things this article sais ,the thing is, if an american speaks up about anti americanism , he is looked on as arrogant

i would also ask , where is the brazilian voice on this ? there is no real ackowledgement of anti americanism in brazil. i mean, i saw people running for local offices on anti americn imperialism platforms .an american really cant say anything on the subgect unless a brazilian can lead the way.

this article is one of the few i have seen addressing the subgect

Cesar: São Paulo é mais violenta que o Rio

Publicada em 15/08/2008 às 23h33m
O Globo Online

RIO - O prefeito Cesar Maia divulgou nesta sexta-feira um estudo do Instituto Pereira Passos (IPP) que afirma que a cidade de São Paulo é muito mais violenta que a do Rio de Janeir, como informa reportagem publicada neste sábado pelo jornal O Globo. Segundo os números apresentados, a despeito da grande redução da taxa de homicídios na capital paulista nos últimos anos, outros índices, como os de roubos e furtos, têm sido piores que os do Rio. Os números não só teriam sido maiores que os cariocas em 2007, como aumentaram muito no primeiro trimestre de 2008, em relação ao mesmo período do ano anterior.

Os cálculos do IPP foram feitos com base nas estatísticas do Instituto de Segurança Pública do Rio e da Secretaria de Segurança Pública de São Paulo. Segundo eles, as taxas por cem mil habitantes de todos os roubos e furtos ocorridos no Rio e em São Paulo no ano passado foram, respectivamente, 2.711,3 e 3.098,4.

No primeiro trimestre de 2008, os índices auferidos acompanham a tendência do ano anterior. Com 1.564,7 roubos e furtos por cem mil habitantes, São Paulo apresenta uma taxa duas vezes maior que a do Rio de Janeiro.

Cesar conclui que, enquanto o Rio não melhorou, São Paulo teria piorado. Quanto aos homicídios, Cesar Maia reconheceu que a taxa conseguida por São Paulo em 2007 - 14,2 assassinatos por cem mil habitantes - é muito menor que a do Rio.

http://oglobo.globo.com/rio/mat/2008/08/15/cesar_sao_paulo_mais_violenta_que_rio-547779551.asp

I dare say that I am relatively surprised by the contents of your report - thank you for sharing it.

Since my previous extended exposure to daily-life in our beloved, busy "Pauliceia" is dated, (back from the turn of the Millenium, when I spent considerable time there), what I experienced may no longer be taken into account as basis for comparison... No recent exposure to Rio neither actually... It's very distressing!
Thanks again

Not a problem. It is easy to forget once you leave Brazil-Rio for that matter. I visit every 3 years or so, to see family. However, with the kids, I get extremely worried about kidnappings, can't imagine what I would do if anything happen to either of them.

I am sick and tired of asking the kids not to say a word once we take a taxi, or when we were at the beach (my mother and father live one block from the beach) the kids were being watched last time and I didn't return with them. Am I paranoid? Sure! So my family has been coming here more often and visits are going to be harder as the kids grow older.

It's a pity that Brazil, despite of all the improvements we read in the Internet, appears to be turning into a increasingly dangerous place, especially when comparing the currant situation with the “country where we grew up”... It's really painful!

I cannot begin to imagine the intensity of your concerns about your children while visiting Rio. Whenever planning a future visit to Brazil, perhaps you should consider renting a house in a smaller town in the coast of RJ State - such as Cabo Frio or Parati, or head south (way south) where it’s probably much safer (e.g. Florianopolis), the only issue being that it would be more expansive and would require significant planning for you in order to involve your family members residing in Brazil.

Just a suggestion...

It´s very simple. When you take your family or a group to Rio, hire one or more armed guards to accompany you. They can be plain clothes or uniformed. It´s not that expensive.

Hire a van. My days of occasionally taking sports teams around Rio on public transportation are over forever.

And whatever a car with shatterproof glass costs, it´s worth it.

Is it really THAT bad nowadays?

I'm flabbergasted and deeply distressed...

Only now I read a very old post (in our language) dated , August 15, 2008

Fiquei realmente impressionado com a descricao do cenario de sua regiao na Virginia:
"aqui nesse lugar quieto, tranquilo com muito verde. Aonde eu moro, temos um riachuelo"

Apesar de totalmente metropolitano, gostaria muitissimo de ter a oportunidade de me "esconder" em um local tao tranquilo e natural...
Lendo a sua descricao, parecia ate' que estava lendo uma traducao de "William Wordsworth" descrevendo uma paisagem to "Lake District" na Inglaterra (a qual eu tanto adoro e admiro)
p.s. Faz seculos que nao escrevia em Portugues... E meu teclado nao tem acentos

I don't believe Augustus wants to go to your favored gay bars in Rio!

Costa

It´s been two years since we were actually in Rio, except the airport. You leave the Botanical Gardens and the taxi driver says, what are you doing on the street this time of day? I say, it´s only fourteen hours. He says, Look, there´s a favela right over the wall from the park and people are always jumping over it and robbing tourists in the gardens. Get in....

I kind of hang around between Santos Dumont and Flamengo, don´t know what it´s like over at Copacabana. We have walked around Sta Teresa quite a bit with no problem. Also Niteroi. But in general, take a guard along. The peace of mind is well worth it. I have a friend that lives right at the base of the cable car station on Pao de Acucar and do that area with him along.

Although I have not been in Rio for over 2 years, and have not lived there for a countless number of years, if I were you, I would NOT "hang" around Flamengo at night, particularly close to Santos Dumont Airport, unless of course you are simply jumping out of a cab to catch the next shuttle to Sao Paulo. I was surprised about the bad news regarding Jardim Botanico, which is fabulous and used to be so "prim & proper" and where some traditional families (used to) reside. Now… the very thought of spending longer than 10 minutes in Niteroi - unless caught in traffic after the bridge on the way to the “lakes” or Cabo Frio - is beyond contemplation (no offense is intended for an eventual Niteroi resident who may stumble upon these lines...)

If I were you, I would not consider stepping out of Ipanema-Leblon circuit/area (unquestionably the nicest part of Rio de Janeiro), and yet, I would avoid straying too far away from Vieira Souto and certainly never cross Rua Visconde de Piraja (close to Rua Farme de Amoeto). Safer still, but too “Florida-like”, is Barra da Tijuca, but that is “too far” from everything else and looks more like Fort Lauderdale every time I see it...

Well Ric, for all it’s worth, these are the humble suggestions of a New Yorker-Carioca who used to know a "certain past Rio of the past" where one could go to any of the places you have mentioned (except of course, Niteroi... LOL - For what reason ON EARTH do you ever go there?!! All my betting "chips" would be placed on the possible reason that someone "amazingly good looking", whom you enjoy “visiting”, must reside in the area...

Niteroi, business.

No exaggeration here, my dad has been kidnapped in Rio, not far from Barra da Tijuca. They took him and his car, they let him go, but took his cell phone, wallet and whatever he had. He doesn't really care, the following week they found his car with a body inside! The bad guys told him, "we are not going to destroy your car sir". However, his car was found without the wheels, jack, fire extinguisher, and his radio.

I wonder who took it? I have my bet, the police did it!

Yesterday, my daughter arrived from Rio today, my dad went to Sao Paulo for a meeting. At a very nice hotel na Avenida Paulista. He took his blazer off (it cost a lot of money), and went to the bathroom, on his way out-the blazer was gone! Not even in nice hotels you are safe in Brazil.

I don't want to have a body-guard with me, that draws even more attention to the kids.

My aunt lives in Buzios-my uncle works for the Petrobras in Macae. My grandmother left the city to live in Quissama, where life is quiet and theft is unusual. My sister lives in Petropolis, but that is getting bad as well.

Yesterday,

(my daughter arrived from Rio today)

,

I'm glad about your daughter, but petrified about the info on your father!

Petropolis & Macae should be perfect for your next visit! I wish I new somebody in Petropolist - I love the old Imperial Summer capital

I suppose I will not even consider going to Brazil in the foreseable future... surely not after reading all these reports!
Cheers

I'm glad about your daughter, but petrified about the info on your father!

You would be more petrified if she describes the sufferings of all her relatives she left behind in Brasil!!!

You would be more petrified if she describes the sufferings of all her relatives she left behind in Brasil!!!

Maybe you deserve to have someone kidnap a relative of yours! My family is fine, you do not need to worry about them or me, haven't I said that to you before?

I suppose I will not even consider going to Brazil in the foreseable future... surely not after reading all these reports!

Man, you should go if you want to. Just be careful where you go, for me, its a personal choice, I rather spend my money visiting other places. Have you been to the Caribbean? I live in VA, so flight from D.C. airport is a breeze, sure NY has direct flight as well.

Man, you should go if you want to. Just be careful where you go, for me, its a personal choice, I rather spend my money visiting other places. Have you been to the Caribbean?

Haiti is a nice place to visit too.Must have a direct flight from Washington D.C. If not, charter a Jet Made in Brazil.

After all, I did provide you with this elsewhere, so that you could reach this address... You should try being a little more discrete when using anonimity... (d.d.) Here we go again

The one we used to worry about in low powered airplanes in bad weather was missing the mountains climbing out of Santos Dumont headed north. High performance define as not having to circle to gain altitude. An Apache was a two-360 airplane.

Try removing the strippers. If not for the step here / not there sanded appliques you would walk out in one 360.

Auggie, your not getting the whole story about your abandoned homespace. It's not that great people don't still exist there, it's just that that is about all many of them can manage to do anymore. Everyone is potentially a target for something or other - luck of the draw / being in the wrong place at just the wrong time. Still, just as Shellyum says, you should go (caveat - if you want too). We've seen some pretty gruesome things first hand, know people who've experienced attrocities themselves or by those close to them in heart but we do go and intend to continue doing so as often as we can manage.

Oh, are you still a manager?

No, basically just out of control as well as being one that hasn't had the balls to try to cut it that short. There's always room for improvement ric but your wisdom and experience reigns supreme.

Hahahahahhahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahaha....Hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe

KKKKKKKKKKKkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!

Costinha

The Brazilians I have met see no direct connection between their vote and sincere advocacy of their issues.

But it's America that has those infamous Diebold electronic voting machines. And big corporations control Congress and the US government.

They see a population being held hostage by a Policia Militar who are beholden to no one.

See Patriot Act.

They see projects such as Salvador's METRO system becoming a pawn to politics and greedy contractors who underpay their workers, leading to continuous strikes, more delays.

Billions of dollars of taxpayers' money are stolen each week in the US through unaudited federal-government contracts.

See here:
http://solari.com/archive/missing_money

Had not the oil oligarchy in Venezuela become the de-facto government and treated the country like its own piggybank, enriching 25% of the population, there would never have been the climate for a Chavez.

The City of London has been indulging in, and getting away with, such chianery for, oh, centuries now; and Wall Street as well from the 20th century. Venezuela's oligarchy is nothing compared to the Big Boys in the City of London and Wall Street.

Had not Bolivia's elite, mostly white, treated the majority indians as dirt, there never would have been space for Morales.

I've been to Bolivia, and I never say any "whites", except for the tourists.

America cannot defend democracy in Brazil because democracy in Brazil is still finding its legs. It is stronger in some areas than others, such as the South.

Democracy in America? What, you mean the choice between the Democlans and Republicrats -- both parties bought and paid for by big interests? The best democracy money can buy, eh!

...but a "government of the people, by the people, for the people". That sounds communistic but it is from America's constitution.

Er, where does it say that in the Constitution? I think that has more to do with what Lincoln said than what is in the Constitution. Learn your own constitution first before you go out preaching to others about it.

America has to regain its position as the champion of human rights and stop assuming that capitalism AUTOMATICALLY equals democracy. After propping up Papa & Baby Doc Duvalier, Trujillo, Somoza, Pinochet and winking at Brazil's ANTI- democratic coup of 1964, we cannot come skipping into South America, tsk-tsking and slapping wrists.

Except when it comes to the subject of race, of course, about which the Americans are over-qualified to speak; but not in such a way, one hopes, that ought to inspire emulation from their listeners.

Is Philly already all fixed up?

For example, both Brazil and America and South Africa are racist societies. That does not mean that the solutions for each are the same.

Both? You mentioned three countries there. And you are yet to prove that Brazil is racist, other than to ascribe a spurious cause to an incidental correlation. Sure, there may be individual racists in Brazil like Ric on this forum, but such people are so aberrant in that context as to not to be worth counting, for all intents and purposes.

Those 100 signers of the document that A Brazilian talked about were against "Cotas", not against the belief that there is racism in Brazil.

The whole rationale behind the push for quotas is to remedy the ills of racism, real or perceived, which are seen to have hitherto kept those on the receiving end of such discrimination unfairly disadvantaged. Clearly the idea of race-based quotas presupposes race-based discrimination, as an attempt to overcome it. So if these signers say quotas are unnecessary in Brazil, what are they saying about the perceived need by those advocating quotas to remedy the situation brought on by alleged racism?

Now, why doesn't the 'evangelical' Brazuca say "leave Brazil in peace" in regards to this group.

Because the problems you worry about are in reality attributable to ethical shortcomings.

America is a libertarian society, where individual rights can protect its citizens from the harm that self-proclaimed religious zealots can do.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights..."

Funny how these religious zealots formulated the Declaration of Independence from which you claim your rights. After all, if your rights don't come from God, and so are not inalienable, then they can be taken away from you, for instance by government decree. Thus, the Nazis didn't deprive the Jews of their right to life, since, according to German law at the time, Jews weren't human beings. According to the Nazi worldview, might made right; so if you were weaker than the mighty, you by definition had no rights. Rights to such people weren't inalienable but were simply acquired by dint of force.

So, you get the situation like the group in Salvador who invaded a women's house and caused her death or the 'Tammi and Jim Baker' style evangelists, arrested at the airport in Florida, hiding their money in a Bible! Brazilians need to be very "anti-American" about American style religion, not necessarily religion.

You seem to be applying a standard here, one by which you find "American style religion" to have fallen short. But pray tell, what is this standard that you apply, and from whence does it derive its authority? Is it objective, and therefore universally binding in its authority? Or is it temporal in its provenance (stemming from the chance, random electrochemical reactions occurring in your brain, I should think), thereby making it arbitrary and subjective opinion? In a roomful of arbitrary, subjective opinions, which one's right?

You seem to be saying that there is a right type of religion and a wrong type? Which one is the right one? And how do you know? On what authority do you deem this to be the case? If on your own, then who the hell are you? (Let me guess -- an engineer!!!!!!! Oooooooooohhh! Bow to the Engineeeeeeeeeer! LOL)

As to FDR, you may have something there. Somebody I listen to a great deal now is historian, political and geopolitical analyst Webster Tarpley, who's a great advocate of FDR and the New Deal. I'm still greatly influenced by the Austrian school of economics, so I'm resisting, appreciating instead his excellent geopolitical analysis and historical scholarship. There's real free-market capitalism and there's the crony capitalism foisted on us by the Wall Street and City of London banking elite. When the Bible says that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, it was no doubt referring to these bankers!

He sucks the tits of American right wing ideology who, finding themselves under attack because of their blatant racism, simply changed tactics and now create this superiority of western (white) culture. That bulls**t is being dismantled, even though some of you Brazilians are picking it up. And when you add that nonsense to Brazuca's post millenialist beliefs (that's why he supports most of 20th century dictatorships), you have a very dangerous mixture.

I am a social conservative. I made a marriage of convenience with the neocons. This was because they tended toward my social conservatism marginally more than the liberals, at least enough to put in judges who may overturn Roe v. Wade and return the right to decide such matters to individual states (so that Virginia, for example, can outlaw abortion while Massachusetts can carry on its prenatal killing).

I acknowledge that Americans are racist by nature. Unlike you I don't make a distinction between liberal Americans and conservative Americans on this matter. An American is an American is an American. Recognising the importance and impact of the American culture wars on the rest of the world, I sided with that side of (racist) America which advocated for a less destructive popular culture that was going global than the other which wished to hasten the moral decadence with all steam ahead, dragging the rest of us with it. (For example, when Madonna kisses Brittany Spears on the lips, not only America sees it; the whole world sees it!)

As to superiority of cultures, I actually believe some cultures are superior to others. Since I believe there is an objective standard to apply, I am not a relativist. Those cultures that align more closely with Christian prescriptions are ipso facto superior over those cultures that don't. To the extent that Western culture is more Christian than non-Western culture, then to that extent it is superior. For example, as regards family values, Asian cultures are simply superior to most Western cultures today. Western cultures may be superior to other cultures in some respects. But for me there's an objective means of determining this.

Obviously there are those (like Ric) who would racialise the meaning of the West, but clearly I don't agree with this lot. In fact, I rarely refer to "Western culture", because I think this is too vague, and besides, Western cultures can be quite different from each other.

I've always made it clear that what I'm advocating for is Christian culture specifically or, failing that, Christian-virtues-friendly cultures (like the aforementioned Asian cultures).

You, on the other hand, being a relativist, have no basis for making evaluations as to what is better or worse, since, given your worldview, such pronouncements are inevitably arbitrary and subjective. Without an objective standard to apply, all you're offering is flatulent sound and fury signifying nothing.

As to my postmillenialist views, what the heck has that got to do with supporting the 20th century's dictators? I have never supported Hitler or Stalin or Mao or Pol Pot. If you're referring to Augusto Pinochet, I was only speaking of the lesser of two evils. While Pinochet was a dictator who killed many of his own people, Allende would have no doubt killed many times more. And Allende would have destroyed the economy, whereas Pinochet is responsible for giving Chileans the best standard of living in Ibero-America. This does not mean I support Pinochet as a dictator. It only means that, given only the choice of choosing between two evils, I will choose the lesser evil, always.

there are large public service anouncements on national brazilian tv about fighting racism in brazil

who am i suposed to believe, brazuka or abrazilian , who say there isnt racism in brazil ? or the huge national campains that readily admit there is racism in brazil and it needs to be addressed?

this isnt a small minority of people, racism is a national priority in brazil !!

you guys are way out of touch

that is what i meant

We are simply asking you to think critically, to think for yourself. Is the Emperor clothed? Just because everyone says he is -- the media with its public-service announcements, etc. -- does that mean he really is? Do you have to let other people do your thinking for you? If the Emperor's naked -- just say so. I know going against the tide isn't easy. Even a dead fish can swim downstream. Have you got the strength to swim upstream, or are you a dead fish? The media with its large public-service announcements says the Emperor is clothed. Is he? I hope you'll have the strength to decide correctly.

i dont need a public sevice anouncement to understand racism in brazil, brazuca

i just find your opinions along with abrazilian , imply that it isnt happening in brazil, where , along with all the things ive said before, the media shows that many brazilians are aware of the problem also, and, are eager to confront it....but, not the united states way...

seriously , you havent refuted anything ive said . all you have done is break it down into a semantics game.and, that is ok with me as long as you understand that some of the social problems that are choking brazil are , in part, a result of its slave past. and, it needs to be addressed....

If people didn't walk as normal on the street and instead hopped along, then our streets would be overrun with elephants and tigers. The fact that people walk on the street instead of hopping along on it is proof positive of how seriously they take the threat of elephants and tigers overrunning our streets. To say that there is no risk of elephants and tigers overrunning our streets is to ignore the overwhelming consensus on the matter of our citizens demonstrated by their choice to walk along the streets instead of hop along them. Denial is not a river in Egypt, you know.

I was considering moving to Brazil after college. Where is a good place to move to? What kinds of jobs pay well. How will their ecomony look in a couple of years.
Please Advise.

nigel_marin@yahoo.com

Nigel Marin

While Brazil appears in many ways like a Paradise, and although it does bears some characteristics which might, during a brief look, justify the assumption, I must reluctantly advise you against such consideration...

Granted that the Brazilian economy has been surprising flourishing since the beginning of the new century, mostly due to the existence of a new factor called "china" whose hungry economic growth has not failed to significantly impact upon the substantial growth recently noted in Brazil... Yet, one must never loose sight from the historical BOOM / BUST nature of the Brazilian economy along with the significant recent rise in the crime rate in both of its large metropolitan areas!

On the other hand if you were to consider southern Brazil as a possible destination - e.g. Porto Alegre or Curitiba, with a subtropical climate, stronger middle classes, and more favorable business "climate", such a choices could be considered a "reasonable" risk for a determine, brave young man who is willing to take some chances at the beginning of his career. In addition, although most of the Brazilian elite tends to speak English (some French), the overwhelming majority of the population does not generally venture into learning foreign languages, not even the language of their neighboring countries - Spanish, which albeit similar is REALLY NOT the same (despite the myth I have noted among most Americans)... As such you would have to consider the necessity of learning Portuguese - the local tongue - in order to have a greater chance of success...

Good luck in your future endeavors!

Another successfully brainwashed Anti-American lemming. Here is my question to you. Where do you get all of your information about 300 million Americans? From your biased news networks, teachers, and family members? Can your small mind even grasp the magnitude of that number (300 million)? Are you not even aware that it was Al Gore that won the 2000 election? Are you even aware that it was 35 million out of 300 million that didn't vote in the last election? How is this equivalent to "all Americans"? America and Americans are too DIVERSE a nation to label.

Speaking of apathy, I'd say that Latin America has just as many problems within (if not more) than those of the US. And I am sitting here wondering why YOUR PEOPLE haven't made any changes. Simply put, you are guilty of what you are accusing Americans for. Hypocrisy alert!

How do you claim to be an expert on the US and its people? My next question to you is, do you believe everything that you hear without challenge or question? The very fact that you mindlessly and blindly follow the masses gives you no right at all to smugly tout superiority over 300 million Americans.

May I just say that your article couldn't be further from the truth? We haven't fought against our government since the 60's? Are you serious? Or were you just joking? I was living during the Vietnam war era and we FOUGHT AGAINST that until bitter end.

The Bush administration? Have you no clue how many of us (millions upon millions) tried to get him impeached? May I ask that you read this:

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcf9x8tx_343hbhxbhch&hl=en

and this:

http://virgomonkey.wordpress.com/2008/08/13/americas-self-critical-nature-in-the-media-goes-unnoticed-all-too-often/

before you stereotype an entire nation? Suffice it to say, there are actually MORE Anti-Americans living in the US than in all other countries combined. What is your response to that?

But naturally you wouldn't know this because it is easier to be a bigoted ignoramus. And naturally, it is easier to have others think for you than to actually think for yourself looking at an issue or a nation with a more balanced and objective view noticing all of its complex angles.

With that said, if you want to be thought of as morally superior than US citizens, you've already lost. Here's how to win. Make an example of us and spare the prejudiced remarks. Nobody respects those who make sweeping generalizations about a nation that they know very little about. And you call yourself an "expert"?

My advice: How about focusing on your own nation's problems for a change instead of using the US as a convenient scapegoat?

And if it is true that all of you Latin Americans hate us, then tell all of your friends to stay on their side of the pond!

While I remain uncertain as to whom your entry is intended to address (the author or the main editorial or any of the several bloggers who provided an entry above), I would only like to outline merely three points
1)I agree with most of your comments regarding the absurd anti-American stance of many individuals either as a subterfuge to manipulate or conceal issues in their own countries AND the unfortunate fact that there are many foreigners living here (in the USA) who have the audacity, ungraciousness, and ingratitude to the Host Nation where they reside. This is an unforgivable, unspeakable act!
2)I would like to caution you to consider making an effort NOT to generalize the behavior of a few (or even many) members of a given group into the automatic conclusion that such behavior should necessarily apply to all other members…
Specifically, I’m referring to the following statement “And if it is true that all of you Latin Americans hate us, then tell all of your friends to stay on their side of the pond”… Well, in the capacity of being a proud citizen of both countries (USA & Brazil), who respects & appreciates both cultures and life styles (and who is lucky for having them in good relations to one another), I must represent at least one example against your statement…
3)In my (modest) opinion, the advent of any position displaying “anti-XXX” feelings and attitudes (XXX =American or British or French or Russian) simply reflect a traditional, historical phenomenon whereby citizens of foreign (generally poorer or less prominent) countries almost inevitably tend to acquire a negative view and even fiend postures against the dominant culture & nations of his/her time period. Two thousand years ago, most people were Anti-Roman, during the middle ages a poor Europe became Anti-Islamic; later, the world became Anti-British and more recently anti-Soviet (Russian) and Anti-American. In a few decades, I would NOT be surprised if the many individuals start developing a certain Anti-Chinese point of view… It’s almost inevitable; I suppose it can be seen as part of being simply a human being…