Two days ago started in Brasil the Pan-American Olympic games. If there is one thing in this country that moves this population towards a fever of patriotism, it's called sport. I of course refuse to go with that flow. This country and its people have serious problems in a 24/7 basis; problems that should touch everyone in a sane and healthy patriotism happen everyday but this same people prefer to ignore them most of the year.
The media also helps a lot. The country's biggest TV company, Globo, part of the government's opposition, creates an aura of self-importance that makes my teeth screech beyond my bruxism. Not that a nation should not be proud of itself through sporting activities, but in Brasil this is the main if not only thing that makes we move our lazy asses from one seat to another on the couch in front of the TV set.
Okay, I'm not reviling on the importance of sport in our lives; but you know the panis et circenses premise. The same media that shouts an arrogant and exaggerated sense of patriotism during sport competitions, claiming that this is the one thing we should be proud of in this country, is the same media that gives disconnected and manipulated informations, make fuss over rumors and unimportant stuff and of course judge news about the country's development unnecessary.
But I do not blame the media only; the media would be shit if the people stood up and raised its own voice. And by people I don't necessarily include those living in favelas or in inhuman living conditions; those are too worried about their stomachs to actually pay attention on such things. What pisses me off is the putrid middle class, that thinks itself so very important, main opinion maker of this country, but isn't capable of looking an inch beyond their noses. These people boo the country's president during the Pan American opening cerimony; these people beat up maids on the streets claiming they're prostitutes [as if prostitutes deserved to be spanked]; they also defend their criminal children by saying "they're promising kids that should not be in jail" [!!!]; they burn indians on the streets because they think he is just a beggar...
I honestly refuse to have my way of thinking connected to that, I'd rather be the most of non-patriots than to be included in the same place of those. I'd rather be an outsider.
[Song: Rhapsody In Blue - George Gershwin]
2 comments:
Yay you're bitter!
Well pup, you know I agree with you on this, but I've come to realize that even corrupted sport patriotism is better than no patriotism at all.
We can't deny the people a little bit of faith.
Amen! I think you're absolutely right, and i agree completely with everything you said, especially because i see the same thing happening everytime football takes ahold of the whole population. It's terrible.
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