Filho de puta by Teodoro Petkoff in Tal Cual
When Lula won the election in Brazil there was a great stop book with the title O Filho do Brasil, which means son of Brazil. More recently, and based on that book, there was a movie with the same title and the same theme: the career of the kid from the Brazilian Northeast, who from the misery became the president of his country, through years of hard struggle and sacrifice especially during the time of military dictatorships.
But when this amateur reporter hears him these days philosophizing about “justice” on Cuban and Cuban political prisoners, what I feel like telling him, is that he is indeed, a filho de puta (a son of a bitch). I care little that he has had a great presidency, his popularity is enormous, which has combined the macroeconomic sense Cardoso with his own social sensitivity, to significantly improve the plight of their poorer compatriots.
I give a damn that he is part of a modern left, very different from this scam, supposedly leftist, that Chacumbele has installed here.
What he said about political prisoners in Cuba, comparing them with ordinary criminals, prisoners in Brazilian jails, is despicable and inexcusable, it makes me lose all the respect I had for him. You can share or not the ultimate resort of a hunger strike, but what can not be done and Lula did, is to trash the immense sacrifice of those who, faced with a dictatorship like Cuba, almost resort to suicide to assert their rights. Because a hunger strike in Cuba is to face the real danger of a brave death. It’s like having done a hunger strike in Hitler’s time. If Lula does not have the moral and political courage to claim a civilized and humane behavior of the Cuban government, which would be appropriate, as a decent and self- respected left should, he could have at least had the shame of staying silent.
The Devil's Excrement 
March 21, 2010 at 4:00 pm
The subject is fully clear but why does the text lack clarity? But in general your blog is great.
March 16, 2010 at 11:29 am
Como Venezolanos nos da mucha rabia que nadie venga a nuestro “rescate”. Lula un consentido de los politicos del mundo, se perfila como el mayor lider del tercer mundo. Sin embargo, cuando se trata de Cuba y Venezuela, parece que el pragmatismo/real politic es lo que impera. En Cuba fue a buscar negocios en gas y otros temas, por lo que no viajo para realizar juicios morales, y por supuesto se resbalo con ese comentario de los presos. En Venezuela Odebrecht tiene grandes contratos por lo que abiertamente no criticara al gobierno autocratico que tenemos. Espero que tome nota de esta actitud inmoral e hipocrita, y que en privado critique a Chambelele y al dictador Cubano. Mis mayores respetos a los presos cubanos.
March 16, 2010 at 10:10 am
He should not be called a “Filho de Puta”
He should be likened, morally, and right in his face, with the apologists for Franco, Salazar and Pinochet. That would hurt him for sure, personally.
March 15, 2010 at 8:22 pm
Brazil has 200 Million population Mexico well over 100 Million. Countries this size including the US have massive bureaucratic governments that don’t move just because even if the President makes a policy statement, cadena or even an off hand remark while on the piss! Lula talking like a Banana Republic Leader. How sad?
March 15, 2010 at 6:15 pm
To Tony do Rio:
Well, I was traying to say that he didn’t change the constitution or the legal system, to get re-election, like HC.
If is legal the re-election in 2014 and has popularity, Why not?.
I don’t like much Uribe neither Lule, but HC is last thing than anything.
March 15, 2010 at 5:50 pm
Antonio,
You got one very wrong: the d@mn mollusk hopes to be back by 2014!
He knows well that a consecutive third term would be unacceptable for most Brazilians so he concocts this plan of launching an empty suit like Dilma for the presidency. He thinks he can easily control her, politically, in the case she wins. If she loses he starts his 2014 campaign immediately, making sure that his party and affiliates will raise more than enough trouble to screw up Serra’s government, were he to win.
Anyway, please don’t believe that Lula thinks this is his last year as president. The guy is just like HC…
Best regards,
Tony do Rio
March 15, 2010 at 4:25 pm
Guillermo:
It is not just those that are in Cuban prisons; the bloggers, for example, amongst many of whom were ABLE to obtain refuge outside of Cuba, in the U.S. or Europe, but chose to stay in their homeland and fight. Case in point: Guillermo “Coco” Farinas, who received a firm offer of asylum from Spain, but declined.
March 15, 2010 at 3:11 pm
Que bien lo dijo Petkoff.
March 15, 2010 at 2:08 pm
Lo diré en español. De acuedo con Teodoro.
Estoy de acuerdo, que Lula pudo haber terminado su presidencia como un “estadista”.
Por lo menos, más bien que mal, no calló en la tentación de forzar la reelección.
Desgraciadamente puso la torta (la ca_ó) al final.
March 15, 2010 at 10:42 am
Hey… don’t fell so bad. Like they say: Money is King. So is the creed of all presidents, save a few exceptions that died tragically before their time.
Moreover, the only worthy cuban citizens still in existance are on the jails of Cuba because: who among you would believe that the so called Cuban Resistance in US will expatriate themselves from such a high-grade living status as the one they enjoy in America? Rather, they will, as our dear opossition leaders, make marches, statements and all kinds of beautiful displays of “democratic concerns” over the fellow countrymen… of course, from the confort of their own chunk of the american dream….
Who said something about being hypocritical?