By JEAN PIERRE CHAUVIN*
Tiririca was wrong and he knew it: it got worse than it was. And much worse. The day will not be long before a significant portion of congressmen will defend the end of the secular state.
Brazilian common sense is well acquainted with clichés that denote a certain compulsory optimism. Sayings such as “it’s better to drip than to lack”; “it doesn’t get any worse than it is”; or “it can’t get any worse than it is” – this one, transformed into slogan by a PR candidate a few years ago – express a superficial, perhaps naive, way of foreseeing the dire consequences of uncertain choices.
Whether due to frivolity or disillusionment with the national scenario, the fact is that we have become accustomed to living with candidates without any social, cultural or political relevance, projected by certain party legends (and financed by big businessmen), with the aim of obtaining votes thanks to their exposure in the so-called mainstream media.
Irresponsible votes for figures of this ilk have already brought dire consequences, both locally and federally. It would be unnecessary to recall the grotesque speech of unspeakable beings who mocked death; denied science; created a list of enemies (contrary to fake patriotism); made pacts with criminal factions; offended people (already victims of various prejudices); encouraged physical and symbolic violence; organized hate-producing machines; spread fake news; participated in corruption schemes on all scales (from corruption scams to embezzlement of jewelry); privatized profitable companies, etc.
A candidate running for mayor of the capital of São Paulo this year is reprising some of the strategies of the far right by slandering and disseminating pseudo-information, without any verifiable data. As if the unfounded attacks on his opponents by this occasional candidate, full of clichés from the universe, were not enough. coaching, part of the corporate press acts in a similar direction by softening the responsibilities of the former president and those who treat him as a “leader” or “boss”.
Despite this, at this moment, sixteen percent of the people interviewed in São Paulo declare support for the guy. How can anyone take seriously the lies spread by a guy who is being criminally investigated (due to his baseless statements) by the Public Prosecutor's Office? How can anyone believe that Bolsonaro's cronies, like him, act “against the system”?
Tiririca was wrong and he knew it: things are worse than they were. And much worse. The day will soon come when a significant portion of congressmen will defend the end of the secular state and will accept the delirious speeches of pseudo-religious people who live at the expense of the good faith of their followers.
*Jean Pierre Chauvin Professor of Brazilian Culture and Literature at the School of Communication and Arts at USP. Author, among other books by Seven Speeches: essays on discursive typologies. [https://amzn.to/4bMj39i]
the earth is round there is thanks to our readers and supporters.
Help us keep this idea going.
CONTRIBUTE
