CategoryArticles in newspapers / magazines

Drunken or ignorant American squid?

29/09/2005 0 By Rodrigo Cintra
Cultures have different stories, so that each individual immersed in a culture. presents its own perception of reality. It was immersed in this issue that anthropology emerged and developed, a science occupied with the study of diverse cultures. Although at the origin of this science, their scientists were convinced of their "superiority", over time they realized that cultural differences do not indicate evolution or any idea of ​​superiority.

from the european continent, origin of anthropology, this perspective on how to appreciate other peoples gained space and legitimacy. Among the main anthropologists who emerged at this stage, stands out the American Ruth Benedict, with your study The Chrysanthemum and the Sword, and who sought to understand the Japanese society of World War II. The purpose of the study was to provide the US government with information about Japanese society, in order to make decisions about how to conduct the outcome of the war.

Anthropology has undergone important changes since then, but it's still as valid as it was. Important concepts such as 'alterity'’ were coined and today the perception of other societies is increasingly sophisticated.
Evidently, it is not possible to believe that the development of anthropology is within the reach of all people. However, however much science is a subject for scientists, your conclusions and ideas are, to some extent, shared with society. Thus,

we should expect American society to be able to minimally apply the most basic knowledge of anthropology: recognition of cultural diversity and non-hierarchization of cultures. If this idea should not be rigorously applied in relation to society as a whole, at least it must be observed by the media..
The main American media are supported by journalists and other experts who certainly have a good professional qualification., so that at some point in their training they came into contact with anthropology. Thus, it is to be expected from these that, when commenting on international issues, be able to understand the reality they comment from their own perspectives and those of their object of study. However, these were not the characteristics presented by the important American daily The New York Times. In a recent article by Larry Rohter, entitled Brazilian Leader’s tippling becomes national concern (Brazilian leader's inclination becomes

national concern), we found strangers – to say the least – statements about president Lula.
Regardless of our partisan political affiliations and the appreciation we may have for our president, fact is that the comments are totally pointless. To begin with, the article insinuates that President Lula is having alcohol problems and that this has

affected your government. Added to this, the article seeks legitimacy for such claims in none other than Leonel Brizola – a politician worn out on himself and who for some time has been making somewhat “exotic” statements.
These comments are not enough, the article goes on commenting on the barbecues that take place in Alvorada with a certain frequency. A moment when you imply that the drink, in an idiomatic translation into Portuguese, "rolls loose” (“liquor flows freely”). for someone who doesn't

lives and doesn't even know Brazil, it won't be very difficult to reinforce the idea that we are a country in which people spend all day dancing samba and drinking.
This image is harmful in itself, but it responds to something even more serious and that permeates the entire matter. How loose in the argument, is the idea that Brazil is plunged into deep chaos, with party rulers. Right in the second paragraph,

as if to contextualize the comments that will be made, the idea is presented that the government is being beset by one crisis after another, from corruption scandal to failure of crucial social programs (“government has been assailed by one crisis afteranother, ranging from a corruption scandal to the failure of crucial social program”).
Therefore, in addition to the highly political character behind the article., we can see the journalist's total incompetence to understand the Brazilian cultural profile. If you missed anthropology classes or chose to ignore your lessons, We do not know, but we know that beer, caipirinha and barbecue are common in the lives of many Brazilians. The president, whatever he is, must maintain the respectability that the position demands., but that doesn't mean he shouldn't also do things that

we learn in our culture. As far as I know, alcoholic beverages are not prohibited for adults, and barbecues face no restrictions.
If not even Brazilians question the fact that President Lula drinks, why a journalist for a major newspaper like The New York Times should do it? American culture is much more concerned about what its prominent figures do than we are.

Brazilians (except for the case of artists). Projecting American moralism in the conduct of a Brazilian figure, besides totally inadequate, it is quite complicated as this figure is the most important representative of the Brazilian state.
If the author's main concern was to think about how one person's behavior influences the fate of many others, it would be more interesting to rethink the article that is presented right after the article on Lula. In the article “Bush Proposes a Plan to Help Castro's Opponents in Cuba” (

Brazilian, besides totally inadequate, it is quite complicated as this figure is the most important representative of the Brazilian State. If the author's main concern was to think about how one person's behavior influences the fate of many others, it would be more interesting to rethink the article that is presented right after the article on Lula. In the article “Bush Proposes a Plan to Help Castro's Opponents in Cuba” (Bush proposes a plan to aid opponents of Castro in Cuba), by Christopher Marquis, the announcement that President Bush made to “drastically increase money for Cubans critical of the president's government is pointed out.

Fidel Castro".
Regardless of our perception of the legitimacy of Fidel's government in Cuba, at least the Bush administration's way of acting should cause a certain surprise.. Instead of rethinking a blockade that has been limiting the quality of life of Cubans, the president proudly announces that he will spend resources to destabilize the Cuban government. This will represent a diversion from other international aid programs in the order of US$ 59 millions. Like this, if the concern is to analyze presidential behavior, should do this analysis for everyone, even for themselves. However, to reserve all American moralism for President Bush, leaving to President Lula all the Brazilian cordiality. Maybe the time has come to translate some seminal Brazilian books to

like this, Who knows, to teach a little more to people who think they are competent to carry out analyses..

The Debatedouro (ISSN 1678-6637)

47a edcãO – 16 from May of 2004 – Now III

About The Author

Post-doctorate in Territorial Competitiveness and Creative Industries, by Dinâmia - Center for the Study of Socioeconomic Change, of Sciences of the Institute of Labor and Enterprise (ISCTE, Lisboa, Portugal). PhD in International Relations from the University of Brasilia (2007); Master in Political Science from the University of São Paulo (2001); and a degree in International Relations from the Catholic University of São Paulo (1998). Academic Director of ESPM-SP graduation and Head of International Office.

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