In light of the puzzling contradiction that Brazzil is—offering on one hand some excellent articles about Brazilian culture, life, and politics and on the other hand some distasteful, cheap notes and photos of Brazilian women—may I suggest you do a survey of your readership to know who your readers are?
I think you should do this survey as soon as possible to learn what your readers appreciate or not reading and seeing in our magazine. I believe you'd find out that many or most of your readers would like to see, for instance, an elimination of articles/photos in your "Rapidinhas" column which only reinforce stereotypes about Brazilian women (you know, those about Brazilian women being a legion of "gostosas, care free and air head" creatures).
I've noticed that several readers have written complaining about this—men and women alike—but you don't seem to be listening. If you do your survey—which is appropriate for any publication committed to serve its audience—I bet you'd learn that your readership is comprised of well-educated Brazilians or foreigners who love Brazil—not a bunch of adults with the minds of acne-ridden teenagers salivating for a "rapidinha" in the bathroom while looking at the photos of your conveniently named (?) column.
If you don't do a survey, at least start answering your letters; even a short note will do if space is a problem. But please pay attention to what your readers are saying; otherwise you risk loosing a lot of readers or potential ones—readers who would gladly pay more for a subscription in order to get better service and coverage. As a final suggestion, how about a short-story contest open to Brazilians living in the USA and Americans who have lived in Brazil?
Thanks for your attention (I hope!).
Rozemary Sabino
San Francisco, California
Again I am giving subscriptions of your great magazine to my Portuguese students. This time I am giving the gift to Joe, Bonnie, and Carla, my students from University College—University of Denver. It's wonderful that we can have this publication available. Besides the language, I teach my students about culture, history, and everything that will help them absorb all the knowledge about Brazil. Your magazine is an important tool to do this.
Adelaide Bouchardet Davis
Lakewood, Colorado
Just want to go on record as someone who loves the risqué pictures you print of Brazilian wild-women! If everyone in Brazil is talking about these things, I want to see them too! Just hearing about it wouldn't be the same as seeing Carla Perez reinvent once more our understanding of the "garrafa." Much admiration and thanks. Your magazine continues to amaze me!
Elizabeth Mainzer
Boston, Massachusetts
I don't believe there is a direct relationship between education and corruption. ("The Art of Stealing," March). The United States is an "educated" nation, but corruption is rampant in several levels of government. Let's just take a look at President Clinton and several cases of Senators and Representatives whose stories have been reported by the press.
Ten years ago I saw a politician killing himself on live TV so he wouldn't live with the shame of being considered a corrupt. The big difference between the US and Brazil is that here in the States corruption has been perfected to an art.
Luís Rodrigues
Via Internet
I am preparing a reader for use in classrooms teaching Brazilian studies. May I excerpt and reprint a selection of no more than five pages from your article on Education in Brazil?
Dr. R. Levine
University of Miami
Coral Gables, Florida
After months of negligence I am finally renewing my subscription to Brazzil. I also use the opportunity to send the magazine as a gift to some friends and to congratulate you for the quality of Brazzil. I will continue recommending it to friends and people who show interest in Brazil.
Beto Borges
Rainforest Action Network
San Francisco, California
Can you please remove my personal ad from Brazzil? I now have a relationship thanks to your magazine. [Happy face.]
Peter Eliason
La Mesa, California
Oops! I forgot to renew my favorite magazine. Please find enclosed my check for another two years. Keep up the good work.
Ilma Heaven
Washington, New Jersey
I just want to say thanks to Bruce Gilman for the excellent article on one of my favorite sambistas, Martinho da Vila ("Too Tasty Martinho," March). There were numerous things I did not know about him and it was great to read about someone I like a lot. Glad to hear from folks who like the "real sambistas". I've often wished I could somehow let my favorite artists know how much I appreciate their efforts, since their music continues to give me so much pleasure.
Toninho
San Francisco, California
I am looking for information concerning the situation of the street children in Brazil. I am a student at the University of Washington and I am writing my thesis on the street children of Brazil and how this situation is portrayed in the Brazilian versus the international media. If your magazine has published any articles on the subject please let me know.
Nicoll Quinn
Kirkland, Washington
Congratulations to the publishers of Brazzil for outputting quality articles. The information given in your March issue's "Simply Brazil" article can be confirmed by everything I learned in the Luso-Brazilian history class that I am taking at C. S. U. Fullerton. I am now convinced that your articles may provide correct information. Thus, I am able to read them with more confidence.
P.S.: If it hadn't been for the naked pictures on page six, I would have shown the magazine to my professor.
Ademar Nunes, Jr.
Fullerton, California
Via Internet
Congratulations! I thought you might like to know that your WEB site was judged one of the world's important financial WEB sites in the new book Investing Online just published by Financial Times Pitman Publishing of London. Only 1,000 sites were selected for inclusion in the book. The same information can also be found at http://www.global-investor.com
Stephen Eckett
London, England
Via Internet
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