Read this and weep for Brazil.
October 21, 2018 4:12 PM Subscribe
Thy Will Be Done: Brasil’s Holy War.
A fifty year foreign battle to combat Catholic Liberation Theology in Brazil promises rich rewards for the vested interests which initiated it.
By this time next week the odds are that Brazil will have elected a fascist as President. Jair Bolsonaro, who has openly stated that the dictatorship’s mistake was to torture but not kill, and his volunteers envision a state of war for Brazil. That is the experiment they are hoping to deliver to the world.
The far-right Brazilian leader isn’t just another conservative populist. His propaganda campaign has taken a page straight from the Nazi playbook.
Brazil, a country where Order and Progress was Never a Civilian Slogan, Is Falling Under an Evil Political Spell.
For both evangelicals and ultra-conservative Catholics, Bolsonaro is the populist alternative.
The core of Bolsonarism is hatred of Brazil's organized working class, as incarnated in the PT and the image of Lula, who was recently visited in prison by Noam Chomsky.
Brazil is set to elect a fascist as president, and business is on board. It is our generation’s wake up call.
A fifty year foreign battle to combat Catholic Liberation Theology in Brazil promises rich rewards for the vested interests which initiated it.
By this time next week the odds are that Brazil will have elected a fascist as President. Jair Bolsonaro, who has openly stated that the dictatorship’s mistake was to torture but not kill, and his volunteers envision a state of war for Brazil. That is the experiment they are hoping to deliver to the world.
The far-right Brazilian leader isn’t just another conservative populist. His propaganda campaign has taken a page straight from the Nazi playbook.
Brazil, a country where Order and Progress was Never a Civilian Slogan, Is Falling Under an Evil Political Spell.
For both evangelicals and ultra-conservative Catholics, Bolsonaro is the populist alternative.
The core of Bolsonarism is hatred of Brazil's organized working class, as incarnated in the PT and the image of Lula, who was recently visited in prison by Noam Chomsky.
Brazil is set to elect a fascist as president, and business is on board. It is our generation’s wake up call.
How did Brazil get here? The Dig Radio Talks To Alfredo Saad-Filho, a Professor of Political Economy at SOAS University of London, explains the roots of right-wing reaction and left-wing collapse.
posted by The Whelk at 4:58 PM on October 21, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 4:58 PM on October 21, 2018 [4 favorites]
I'm only partway through the first article, and it has already gotten personal for me:
So weird to find out which parts of your upbringing were part of an orchestrated international campaign of the U.S. government.
(If you've used Perl, of course, you've also been touched by SIL, as Larry Wall's approach to it was shaped by what he learned at SIL.)
posted by clawsoon at 5:09 PM on October 21, 2018 [32 favorites]
It was triggered by the authors’ trip to Brazil in 1976 to investigate a mysterious missionary organization called the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL), also known as the Wycliffe Bible Translators, a Rockefeller & USAID funded organisation which had been translating the Bible into hundreds of indigenous languages in Central and South America.SIL/Wycliffe was a big thing in my Evangelical household growing up. We got a magazine from them. I'm pretty sure my parents sent money to them. The sister of my best friend married someone who worked there.
Wycliffe was founded by ultraconservative William Cameron Townsend who worked in tandem with Rockefeller and which the authors accuse of destroying indigenous peoples’ cultural values to abet penetration by U.S. businesses, employing a “virulent brand of Christian fundamentalism that used linguistics to undermine the social cohesion of indigenous communities and accelerate their assimilation into Western culture”. The authors discovered that SIL was effectively a scouting party that surveyed the Amazonian hinterlands for potential sources of opposition to natural resource exploitation such as cattle ranching, clear cutting and strip mining, among native populations. SIL had actively whitewashed massacres of Indigenous groups by Brazil’s Military Regime and even allowed its Jungle Aviation & Radio Service (JAARS) base in the Ecuadoran Amazon to be used by Green Berets who were combing the forest for signs of armed insurgency.
So weird to find out which parts of your upbringing were part of an orchestrated international campaign of the U.S. government.
(If you've used Perl, of course, you've also been touched by SIL, as Larry Wall's approach to it was shaped by what he learned at SIL.)
posted by clawsoon at 5:09 PM on October 21, 2018 [32 favorites]
Tens of thousands of innocent people are going to die, and millions will be cheering it. Then millions of innocents will die while billions cheer.
posted by aramaic at 5:12 PM on October 21, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by aramaic at 5:12 PM on October 21, 2018 [4 favorites]
Fuck.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 5:39 PM on October 21, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 5:39 PM on October 21, 2018 [6 favorites]
Pai, afasta de mim esse calice
De vinho tinto de sangue
posted by gusandrews at 5:46 PM on October 21, 2018 [3 favorites]
De vinho tinto de sangue
posted by gusandrews at 5:46 PM on October 21, 2018 [3 favorites]
The most depressing thing is how the inspiring #EleNao protests arguably pushed him even further into the lead by driving a backlash amongst anti-feminist women. Like if the Women's March had doubled Trump's popularity nationwide.
Well, on second thought the most depressing thing could be the brazen replay of America's 2016 social media bullshit, with wealthy backers illegally funneling millions of dollars of disgusting fake news into the country's most popular social media platforms.
No, actually the most depressing thing is how Bolsonaro has been openly endorsed by outlets like the WSJ editorial board, which soft-pedal his bloodthirsty fascism as "political incorrectness" that's totally justified by his deregulatory stances.
No, wait -- the actual most depressing thing is that he spells mortal danger to the health of the vital Amazon rainforest at a time when the future of the biosphere is already tipping quickly into disaster.
This is really just a downer all around, isn't it.
posted by Rhaomi at 6:33 PM on October 21, 2018 [44 favorites]
Well, on second thought the most depressing thing could be the brazen replay of America's 2016 social media bullshit, with wealthy backers illegally funneling millions of dollars of disgusting fake news into the country's most popular social media platforms.
No, actually the most depressing thing is how Bolsonaro has been openly endorsed by outlets like the WSJ editorial board, which soft-pedal his bloodthirsty fascism as "political incorrectness" that's totally justified by his deregulatory stances.
No, wait -- the actual most depressing thing is that he spells mortal danger to the health of the vital Amazon rainforest at a time when the future of the biosphere is already tipping quickly into disaster.
This is really just a downer all around, isn't it.
posted by Rhaomi at 6:33 PM on October 21, 2018 [44 favorites]
Oh, that is surreal and horrible, because I also know people working for Wycliffe. And I had mixed feelings before, but now all the stories I've heard have taken on a darker tone.
I hope the people of Brazil prevail despite this. I'm not naive enough to think it will happen without significant bloodshed.
posted by allium cepa at 6:57 PM on October 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
I hope the people of Brazil prevail despite this. I'm not naive enough to think it will happen without significant bloodshed.
posted by allium cepa at 6:57 PM on October 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
No, actually the most depressing thing is how Bolsonaro has been openly endorsed by outlets like the WSJ editorial board, which soft-pedal his bloodthirsty fascism as "political incorrectness" that's totally justified by his deregulatory stances.
Did the WSJ cheer on the Pinochet regime/Argentine junta/&c. as well back in the day, or is going full fascist new for them?
posted by acb at 6:57 PM on October 21, 2018
Did the WSJ cheer on the Pinochet regime/Argentine junta/&c. as well back in the day, or is going full fascist new for them?
posted by acb at 6:57 PM on October 21, 2018
WSJ :
Pinochet
...created an environment where democratic institutions would prevail...
...supported the free-market reforms that have made Chile prosperous and the envy of its neighbors...
...Civil liberties were lost and opponents tortured. But over time, with the return of private property, the rule of law and a freer economy, democratic institutions also returned. ...
Sickeningly predictable, but I'm probably part of the evil international left trying to smear the poor man.
posted by pompomtom at 7:19 PM on October 21, 2018 [25 favorites]
Pinochet
...created an environment where democratic institutions would prevail...
...supported the free-market reforms that have made Chile prosperous and the envy of its neighbors...
...Civil liberties were lost and opponents tortured. But over time, with the return of private property, the rule of law and a freer economy, democratic institutions also returned. ...
Sickeningly predictable, but I'm probably part of the evil international left trying to smear the poor man.
posted by pompomtom at 7:19 PM on October 21, 2018 [25 favorites]
(lovely use of the past exonerative tense there...)
posted by pompomtom at 7:20 PM on October 21, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by pompomtom at 7:20 PM on October 21, 2018 [17 favorites]
→ Wycliffe was a big thing in my Evangelical household growing up.
Mine too. My parents gave a crapload of cash to them, and a couple from our church went to be missionaries for Wycliffe. SIL are pretty much the only folks behind open fonts, too: many font libraries won't accept free fonts unless they are SIL-licensed.
But shit, Brazil's in the crapper with these hardliners.
posted by scruss at 7:20 PM on October 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
Mine too. My parents gave a crapload of cash to them, and a couple from our church went to be missionaries for Wycliffe. SIL are pretty much the only folks behind open fonts, too: many font libraries won't accept free fonts unless they are SIL-licensed.
But shit, Brazil's in the crapper with these hardliners.
posted by scruss at 7:20 PM on October 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
Did the WSJ cheer on the Pinochet regime/Argentine junta/&c. as well back in the day, or is going full fascist new for them?
I can't speak as to coverage at the time, but:
Chile's Pinochet Fought Marxist Violence - Oct. 30, 1998
Chilean Gen. Augusto Pinochet Ugarte neither sought power nor exercised it in a manner we normally associate with dictators.
Pinochet's Vindication - Jan 13, 2000
Indeed, if Gen. Pinochet's travails serve any purpose, they ought to remind us to think twice before committing ourselves to international conventions
Chile Was a Cold War Domino When Pinochet Took Over - Dec 8, 2000
Many condemn the brutality used to suppress the left after the military seized power in 1973. But many also recognize that Gen. Pinochet ultimately delivered economic freedom and democratic institutional renewal. Few in Chile regret that the general crushed Marxism and that they do not live like Cubans under vile repression.
The Pinochet Paradox - Dec 12, 2006
He took power in a coup in 1973, but ultimately he created an environment where democratic institutions would prevail. He is responsible for the death and torture that occurred on his watch, but had Salvador Allende succeeded in turning Chile into another Cuba, many more might have died.
Somehow I sort of doubt that they've only come around to this viewpoint in the last 20 years. On preview, pompomtom sums it up.
posted by sysinfo at 7:23 PM on October 21, 2018 [18 favorites]
I can't speak as to coverage at the time, but:
Chile's Pinochet Fought Marxist Violence - Oct. 30, 1998
Chilean Gen. Augusto Pinochet Ugarte neither sought power nor exercised it in a manner we normally associate with dictators.
Pinochet's Vindication - Jan 13, 2000
Indeed, if Gen. Pinochet's travails serve any purpose, they ought to remind us to think twice before committing ourselves to international conventions
Chile Was a Cold War Domino When Pinochet Took Over - Dec 8, 2000
Many condemn the brutality used to suppress the left after the military seized power in 1973. But many also recognize that Gen. Pinochet ultimately delivered economic freedom and democratic institutional renewal. Few in Chile regret that the general crushed Marxism and that they do not live like Cubans under vile repression.
The Pinochet Paradox - Dec 12, 2006
He took power in a coup in 1973, but ultimately he created an environment where democratic institutions would prevail. He is responsible for the death and torture that occurred on his watch, but had Salvador Allende succeeded in turning Chile into another Cuba, many more might have died.
Somehow I sort of doubt that they've only come around to this viewpoint in the last 20 years. On preview, pompomtom sums it up.
posted by sysinfo at 7:23 PM on October 21, 2018 [18 favorites]
Via Simon Romero ex NYT bureau chief in Rio..
Pay attention to what Brazil's Bolsonaro says. Pay attention to his choice of words. He is threatening an unprecedented CLEANSING of his opponents from Latin America's largest country
Translation of statement.
posted by adamvasco at 8:07 PM on October 21, 2018 [8 favorites]
Pay attention to what Brazil's Bolsonaro says. Pay attention to his choice of words. He is threatening an unprecedented CLEANSING of his opponents from Latin America's largest country
Translation of statement.
posted by adamvasco at 8:07 PM on October 21, 2018 [8 favorites]
I talked to a Brazillian passport holder living in America at the start of the week, and she expressed her sadness for this election. I sort of assumed that she'd vote PT in the runoff. She said she would likely vote whoever her uncle (who's she's closest to in terms of relatives still living there) told her to, but that she wanted to vote Bolsonaro partially out of a deep hatred for the corruption of the PT government. I asked her if she was worried about fascism, but she said that things have been so bad for so long that any change might be preferable. She is, ostensibly, a left leaning person in terms of American politics who is disgusted by trump.
This news is sad and nauseating, but that conversation did help me to realize how much a resurgent far right is in debt upon a centrist left that has been derelict in its responsibilities. Corpratism on the left wing paid off in the 90s - such as when Clinton was able to smile and take photo ops with Newt Gingrich and talk about the intellectually bankrupt concept of third wayism while gutting the social safety net - but it was a meaningless victory if its lead us to the global rise in fascism. The center left, in countries where the rule of democracy remains, need to get their head out of their ass and pursue actual, politically involved, leftism, or they're going to get picked off by a far right who are only interested in a democracy in terms of winning the final election in one.
posted by codacorolla at 8:38 PM on October 21, 2018 [32 favorites]
This news is sad and nauseating, but that conversation did help me to realize how much a resurgent far right is in debt upon a centrist left that has been derelict in its responsibilities. Corpratism on the left wing paid off in the 90s - such as when Clinton was able to smile and take photo ops with Newt Gingrich and talk about the intellectually bankrupt concept of third wayism while gutting the social safety net - but it was a meaningless victory if its lead us to the global rise in fascism. The center left, in countries where the rule of democracy remains, need to get their head out of their ass and pursue actual, politically involved, leftism, or they're going to get picked off by a far right who are only interested in a democracy in terms of winning the final election in one.
posted by codacorolla at 8:38 PM on October 21, 2018 [32 favorites]
In Jair Bolsonaro’s New Brazil, Far-Right Evangelical Billionaire Edir Macedo’s Media Empire Is Being Exploited to Investigate Journalists — Including The Intercept
FWIW
posted by chavenet at 4:30 AM on October 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
FWIW
posted by chavenet at 4:30 AM on October 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
53 percent of Brazilians, according to a recent poll, see police as “warriors of God whose task is to impose order”I've been thinking lately about how we have to reconstruct the whole of society from scratch in the minds of every new generation, and how fragile and incomplete that process necessarily is. Inject an authoritarian Christianity into childhoods and friendships. Take over the airwaves with anti-democratic sentiment. You will create a generation with attitudes like this one.
posted by clawsoon at 4:30 AM on October 22, 2018 [11 favorites]
I've been thinking lately about how we have to reconstruct the whole of society from scratch in the minds of every new generation, and how fragile and incomplete that process necessarily is.
Climate change has pretty much insured there is no time, even if it were possible. Maybe the new stone age will solve some of these problems, though.
posted by ryanshepard at 4:37 AM on October 22, 2018 [11 favorites]
Climate change has pretty much insured there is no time, even if it were possible. Maybe the new stone age will solve some of these problems, though.
posted by ryanshepard at 4:37 AM on October 22, 2018 [11 favorites]
In 1979, the first Santa Fe document advised the incoming Reagan administration that it had to do something decisive about the threat posed by Liberation Theology. The administration heeded the advice, and responded both militarily and ideologically.
Written confirmation of things you can only sense as a child; start seriously questioning as an adult; and then see clearly spelled out as what was in fact reality. I'll keep my comments brief since they're US-centric; but I too was raised in this. My parents joined fundamentalist evangelism in 1978. The rhetoric in the 80s was vicious. When I decided to study French – university being against church teachings for unmarried women (and even married women) – the only thing that anyone in those circles found positive about it was that I would be able to "save foreigners" and "educate lost souls", meaning do work for Wycliffe. It went very, very far; I was nearly sent to South America. Yeah, not too many French-speakers there... my curiosity had to besubjugated "put to the Lord's use", i.e. get me down there and put me with people who "needed saving." All the better in their eyes that some of my closest friends were Native American.
On their side it is just that rotten a hodgepodge of stereotypes, hubris, and blatant colonialism. It is real and we are all paying the price, but especially South America.
posted by fraula at 5:00 AM on October 22, 2018 [12 favorites]
Written confirmation of things you can only sense as a child; start seriously questioning as an adult; and then see clearly spelled out as what was in fact reality. I'll keep my comments brief since they're US-centric; but I too was raised in this. My parents joined fundamentalist evangelism in 1978. The rhetoric in the 80s was vicious. When I decided to study French – university being against church teachings for unmarried women (and even married women) – the only thing that anyone in those circles found positive about it was that I would be able to "save foreigners" and "educate lost souls", meaning do work for Wycliffe. It went very, very far; I was nearly sent to South America. Yeah, not too many French-speakers there... my curiosity had to be
On their side it is just that rotten a hodgepodge of stereotypes, hubris, and blatant colonialism. It is real and we are all paying the price, but especially South America.
posted by fraula at 5:00 AM on October 22, 2018 [12 favorites]
The WSJ editorial page has become "a different level of crazy" according to some WSJ veterans.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 5:46 AM on October 22, 2018
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 5:46 AM on October 22, 2018
Like if the Women's March had doubled Trump's popularity nationwide.
Well the hand-wavy "exoneration" of credibly accused sexual assaulter Bret Kavanaugh has driven Trumps approval numbers to the highest levels yet . . . so i think we might be talking about similar phenomena.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 6:19 AM on October 22, 2018
Well the hand-wavy "exoneration" of credibly accused sexual assaulter Bret Kavanaugh has driven Trumps approval numbers to the highest levels yet . . . so i think we might be talking about similar phenomena.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 6:19 AM on October 22, 2018
In the summer of 2016 I was talking with grumpybearbride about how Brexit and the rise of Duterte seemed to me to be signaling a global trend towards right-wing extremism. I never expected a neo-Pinochet to arise, though. We are way deeper in the shit than we realize.
posted by grumpybear69 at 7:20 AM on October 22, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by grumpybear69 at 7:20 AM on October 22, 2018 [8 favorites]
The squadron of ex-military men behind Bolsonaro's rise in Brazil.
posted by adamvasco at 6:14 AM on October 23, 2018
posted by adamvasco at 6:14 AM on October 23, 2018
This report says that this image showing Bolsonaro alongside others labeled as neo-fascists was unveiled at a recent Roger Waters concert and that "most of the audience were upper middle class people who vote for Bolsonaro and they were absolutely pissed. People booed him and even left the concert early."
posted by exogenous at 11:06 AM on October 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by exogenous at 11:06 AM on October 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
Thought this coverage of Roger Waters' pre-election Brazil tour on NPR was pretty good - they definitely didnt struggle to find his supporters among the crowd.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 11:54 AM on October 23, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 11:54 AM on October 23, 2018 [3 favorites]
Goddamn I love Roger Waters.
posted by grumpybear69 at 8:20 PM on October 23, 2018
posted by grumpybear69 at 8:20 PM on October 23, 2018
Brazil's election could usher in a new era of US-sponsored human rights abuse.
posted by adamvasco at 10:25 AM on October 27, 2018
posted by adamvasco at 10:25 AM on October 27, 2018
There are people voting for him whose family members were tortured. Brasil is going down a dark path.
posted by ersatz at 3:15 AM on October 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by ersatz at 3:15 AM on October 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
It's as if all the lights in Brazil went out.
#Resistência
They are dancing outside the Bolsonazi's house with cardboard cut out AK's and signs saying Ustra Vive. It's going to get rough.
posted by adamvasco at 4:36 PM on October 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
#Resistência
They are dancing outside the Bolsonazi's house with cardboard cut out AK's and signs saying Ustra Vive. It's going to get rough.
posted by adamvasco at 4:36 PM on October 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
More than 20 Brazilian universities were invaded by the military police in the past 2 days. They confiscated material on the history of fascism, interrupted classes due to 'ideological content', removed anti-fascist banners and posters claiming that it was electoral propaganda.
posted by homunculus at 6:53 PM on October 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 6:53 PM on October 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
> he spells mortal danger to the health of the vital Amazon rainforest at a time when the future of the biosphere is already tipping quickly into disaster.
In the Amazon rainforest, this tribe may just save the whole world: The Surui in Brazil are fending off illegal ranchers, gold miners and loggers. Their weapons: boots on the ground, satellite images and smartphones.
posted by homunculus at 7:00 PM on October 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
In the Amazon rainforest, this tribe may just save the whole world: The Surui in Brazil are fending off illegal ranchers, gold miners and loggers. Their weapons: boots on the ground, satellite images and smartphones.
posted by homunculus at 7:00 PM on October 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
This is such a terrifying gut punch. I'm so concerned for all my friends in Brazil.
posted by umbú at 7:11 PM on October 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by umbú at 7:11 PM on October 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
#Resistência
On Twitter, the trending hashtag #EleNaoEMeuPresidente ("He is not my president") also echoes the response to Trump's election.
And Trump just made a congratulatory telephone call to Bolsonaro, which he described as "obviously a very friendly contact".
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:11 AM on October 29, 2018
On Twitter, the trending hashtag #EleNaoEMeuPresidente ("He is not my president") also echoes the response to Trump's election.
And Trump just made a congratulatory telephone call to Bolsonaro, which he described as "obviously a very friendly contact".
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:11 AM on October 29, 2018
So....someone who knows more about Brazil: It - and while I don't want to be too dark about this I am deeply frightened - looks like Bolsanaro literally ran on "my government will encourage the majority to murder the minority out of hand and there will be no repercussions". Am I misinterpreting this? This seems like a Rwanda genocide about to happen. Is this what is going to happen?
posted by Frowner at 7:11 AM on October 29, 2018
posted by Frowner at 7:11 AM on October 29, 2018
I am also curious about that, Frowner.
Another thing I'm curious about but couldn't find on my own: are there any demographics on the exit polls? I keep seeing lots of young twenty- and thirty-somethings in support of Bolsonaro in news articles, but I don't know if they're cherry-picked or not.
If it is indeed so that the young people are in support of this, then things are going to get very bad there very fast.
posted by ragtag at 7:20 AM on October 29, 2018
Another thing I'm curious about but couldn't find on my own: are there any demographics on the exit polls? I keep seeing lots of young twenty- and thirty-somethings in support of Bolsonaro in news articles, but I don't know if they're cherry-picked or not.
If it is indeed so that the young people are in support of this, then things are going to get very bad there very fast.
posted by ragtag at 7:20 AM on October 29, 2018
I'm not from brazil, but looking at BOPE, the current galvanization of the right by temer's cronies and O Globo, things will get very dark indeed. As posted above, ideological supression is already on the way, and there have been reports of violence against anyone showing haddad colors.
Also, this is a cherrypicked demographic, but I regularly play videogames on brazilian servers, and the youth there is overwhelmingly pro-Bolsonaro.
I'm extremely worried and hopeless. I fear for my friends in brazil, the LGBTQ community, who is going to take the brunt of the first hits, and from the inevitable bleedout of evangelical right wing bullshit that's already dripping into argentina. I feel so lost.
posted by _Synesthesia_ at 7:28 AM on October 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
Also, this is a cherrypicked demographic, but I regularly play videogames on brazilian servers, and the youth there is overwhelmingly pro-Bolsonaro.
I'm extremely worried and hopeless. I fear for my friends in brazil, the LGBTQ community, who is going to take the brunt of the first hits, and from the inevitable bleedout of evangelical right wing bullshit that's already dripping into argentina. I feel so lost.
posted by _Synesthesia_ at 7:28 AM on October 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
I am NOT UP on my Brazilian media. Here's some from routine sources:
What Jair Bolsonaro’s Unfortunate Brazilian Victory Means, Ian Welsh
links to
Jair Bolsonaro and the threat to democracy in Brazil, Conor Foley
posted by the man of twists and turns at 8:05 AM on October 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
What Jair Bolsonaro’s Unfortunate Brazilian Victory Means, Ian Welsh
links to
Jair Bolsonaro and the threat to democracy in Brazil, Conor Foley
posted by the man of twists and turns at 8:05 AM on October 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
Ok I will try and give some insight. There is a a lot going on as you can imagine.
As I was wandering home from the bakery last evening thinking dark thoughts a young woman came down the street sobbing her heart out. She had a Haddad 13 sticker on and as we were passing I said Resistência, Luta e muita força and she grabbed me and hugged me, sniffed, smiled weakly and went on.
There is a lot of fear and the thugs have already kicked a few heads in but we sense that will be nothing compared to the slow closing of the vice of fascism.
The pushback will be enormous. My younger activist friends are very worried about the "collateral damage" that will occur in the favelas and will keep a sharp watch for any direct targetting especially of PSOL members who are loathed here in Rio by the Bolsonazis.
Witzel the new governor of RJ has already stated he wants the military intervention to continue
A 27 year old Bolsonazi congresswoman from SC in the south has issued a calling on students to denounce their professors if they state any opposing views to the Bolsonazi win.
The shit that _Synesthesia_ linked to was a troop movement in Niteroi last night. Rio is still under Military occupation as from last March / April. I like to think it was a coincidence but I think it was planned just to show what could happen.
The problem is that impeaching the Bolsonazi leaves us with Mourão and a dictadura.
There seems to be no discourse. The hate from the right is high. The governor of São Paulo has basically justified extra juridical killings by saying that the state will finance the highest paid lawyers available to defend and police who kill someone.
Trump has already promised economic and military relations. Its going to be a rough four years to the next elections if there are any. 4 years is a long time in Politics. Human rights will be trampled on.
The rich will get richer. Much richer and the poor and the marginalized ...well the Bolsonazi doesn't give a shit about them and most of the 29 million pulled out of poverty between 2003 and 2011 will slide right back there and the middle class 40 million who are mainly responsible for this disaster will soon be less well off.
The real winners apart from agribiz are the Evangelicals. I am extemely interested in what his very nasty sons get up to. I am somehow reminded of the two offspring of a recent middle east despot.
For intelligent insight far brighter than myself outside of MSM here is a list Most of course is Portuguese language. More international non white voices are needed.
I need a couple more days to absorb all of what is happening and likely to happen. I am not optimistic.
posted by adamvasco at 10:30 AM on October 29, 2018 [13 favorites]
As I was wandering home from the bakery last evening thinking dark thoughts a young woman came down the street sobbing her heart out. She had a Haddad 13 sticker on and as we were passing I said Resistência, Luta e muita força and she grabbed me and hugged me, sniffed, smiled weakly and went on.
There is a lot of fear and the thugs have already kicked a few heads in but we sense that will be nothing compared to the slow closing of the vice of fascism.
The pushback will be enormous. My younger activist friends are very worried about the "collateral damage" that will occur in the favelas and will keep a sharp watch for any direct targetting especially of PSOL members who are loathed here in Rio by the Bolsonazis.
Witzel the new governor of RJ has already stated he wants the military intervention to continue
A 27 year old Bolsonazi congresswoman from SC in the south has issued a calling on students to denounce their professors if they state any opposing views to the Bolsonazi win.
The shit that _Synesthesia_ linked to was a troop movement in Niteroi last night. Rio is still under Military occupation as from last March / April. I like to think it was a coincidence but I think it was planned just to show what could happen.
The problem is that impeaching the Bolsonazi leaves us with Mourão and a dictadura.
There seems to be no discourse. The hate from the right is high. The governor of São Paulo has basically justified extra juridical killings by saying that the state will finance the highest paid lawyers available to defend and police who kill someone.
Trump has already promised economic and military relations. Its going to be a rough four years to the next elections if there are any. 4 years is a long time in Politics. Human rights will be trampled on.
The rich will get richer. Much richer and the poor and the marginalized ...well the Bolsonazi doesn't give a shit about them and most of the 29 million pulled out of poverty between 2003 and 2011 will slide right back there and the middle class 40 million who are mainly responsible for this disaster will soon be less well off.
The real winners apart from agribiz are the Evangelicals. I am extemely interested in what his very nasty sons get up to. I am somehow reminded of the two offspring of a recent middle east despot.
For intelligent insight far brighter than myself outside of MSM here is a list Most of course is Portuguese language. More international non white voices are needed.
I need a couple more days to absorb all of what is happening and likely to happen. I am not optimistic.
posted by adamvasco at 10:30 AM on October 29, 2018 [13 favorites]
Democracy Now: Glenn Greenwald on Bolsonaro: Brazil Has Elected “Most Extremist Leader in the Democratic World”
posted by homunculus at 10:56 AM on October 29, 2018
posted by homunculus at 10:56 AM on October 29, 2018
On mainstream media and political satire shows-
Daniel Trilling: "I was struck by this detail in the story of Bolsonaro’s rise."
posted by Apocryphon at 7:01 PM on October 29, 2018
Daniel Trilling: "I was struck by this detail in the story of Bolsonaro’s rise."
posted by Apocryphon at 7:01 PM on October 29, 2018
The Nation, Nov. 22, 2016: "How Obama’s Normalization of the Brazil Coup Prefigured Trumpism"
posted by Apocryphon at 8:48 PM on October 29, 2018
posted by Apocryphon at 8:48 PM on October 29, 2018
How False News Haunted the Brazilian Elections: Misinformation and social networks have sullied the country’s politics since at least 2010. This time, it was worse than ever.
posted by homunculus at 7:15 PM on October 30, 2018
posted by homunculus at 7:15 PM on October 30, 2018
As Bolsonaro Threatens to Criminalize Protests, a New Resistance Movement Is Emerging in Brazil
posted by homunculus at 1:48 PM on October 31, 2018
posted by homunculus at 1:48 PM on October 31, 2018
And the shit gets deeper.
Sergio Moro of Lava Jato fame who only two years ago said he would never enter politics is now Minister of Justice which will encompass the justice portfolio and public security. This is seen in many quarters as payback for sending Lula to jail.
posted by adamvasco at 8:18 AM on November 1, 2018
Sergio Moro of Lava Jato fame who only two years ago said he would never enter politics is now Minister of Justice which will encompass the justice portfolio and public security. This is seen in many quarters as payback for sending Lula to jail.
posted by adamvasco at 8:18 AM on November 1, 2018
Note that Moro was the judge who sent Lula to jail, not a prosecutor or other more overtly political figure.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 10:03 AM on November 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 10:03 AM on November 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
Brazil exported US13.6 billion to Middle East in 2017 and now this.
President-elect Jair Bolsonaro has told an Israeli newspaper he intends to defy the Palestinians and most of the world by moving his country's embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Is this another payback? Seems a bit expensive.
But the Bolsonazi definitely wants to move closer to Trump, and his Fox equivalent Rede Record owned by Edir Macedo will be thrilled.
Many of the more fanatical Bolsonazi supporters have the Israeli flag on their twitter handle next to the Brazilian flag and finger guns.
posted by adamvasco at 10:08 AM on November 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
President-elect Jair Bolsonaro has told an Israeli newspaper he intends to defy the Palestinians and most of the world by moving his country's embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Is this another payback? Seems a bit expensive.
But the Bolsonazi definitely wants to move closer to Trump, and his Fox equivalent Rede Record owned by Edir Macedo will be thrilled.
Many of the more fanatical Bolsonazi supporters have the Israeli flag on their twitter handle next to the Brazilian flag and finger guns.
posted by adamvasco at 10:08 AM on November 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
Can Brazil’s Democracy Withstand Jair Bolsonaro?, Vincent Bevins, The Atlantic
Carlos Alberto da Silva opposes Jair Bolsonaro’s plan to arm Brazil’s citizenry, the way he degrades women and gays, and his aggressive defense of the country’s last dictatorship. But da Silva, a textile-delivery worker in Rio de Janeiro, still voted for him on Sunday.posted by the man of twists and turns at 11:22 AM on November 2, 2018
“I don’t think he’s great, but I want to see if he can change things, because we have to do something about security and about education and the economy,” said the 48-year old da Silva, voting in a run-down school in the poor, violent Complexo da Maré network of favela slums. “If he tries to install a dictatorship, the Senate and everyone else would stop him, right?”
What a wonderful point in history to throw the dice on creating a dictatorship, now that all of the technological stuff in Nineteen Eighty-Four is real.
posted by XMLicious at 11:58 AM on November 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by XMLicious at 11:58 AM on November 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
Did WhatsApp help Bolsonaro win the Brazilian presidency?
Just a reminder that WhatsApp is owned by FB so more Zuckerberg shit.
posted by adamvasco at 1:50 PM on November 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Just a reminder that WhatsApp is owned by FB so more Zuckerberg shit.
posted by adamvasco at 1:50 PM on November 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
According to @aosfatos misinformation was shared at least 3.84 million times on Twitter + Facebook in the lead-up to Brazil's election.
posted by adamvasco at 3:06 PM on November 2, 2018
posted by adamvasco at 3:06 PM on November 2, 2018
The Guarantor. The rise and controversies of the economist Paulo Guedes, the ultraliberal who has entered into a marriage of convenience with Jair Bolsonaro.
posted by adamvasco at 3:26 PM on November 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by adamvasco at 3:26 PM on November 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
The Nation: Education Is in the Crosshairs in Bolsonaro’s Brazil
The president-elect seeks to ban from the classroom political opinions, debates, and any issues that could be construed as leftist.
Round up from last week (Self link).
posted by adamvasco at 10:28 AM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
The president-elect seeks to ban from the classroom political opinions, debates, and any issues that could be construed as leftist.
Round up from last week (Self link).
posted by adamvasco at 10:28 AM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
« Older Love. Always. | Is there a such thing as ballet that doesn't hurt... Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by ryanshepard at 4:47 PM on October 21, 2018 [14 favorites]