Comments - Latest Popular Stories, Instablogs Community by Celsoldc

Madhuri Katti

Madhuri Katti — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Thanks for another insightful post,Celso. World needs more sociologists like you who look deeper into the darker side of the issues...

I guess human beings have an inherent streak to discriminate and feel one-up and better...hence all the oppression and exploitation in this world

In Brazil the prejudice is socio-economic but in countries like India there are added factors of caste and religion as well.

So its hatred that wins hands down everywhere!

Celso Camargo

Celso Camargo — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Thanks! Again!

I guess one difference between India and Brazil is that In Brazil exists a non-official caste system, and in India it is.

Grace Calderon

Grace Calderon — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

More and more, I’d like to go to Sao Paulo soon! The beaches are breathtaking. Alas, I can only go to where the poor go... LOL

Thanks for showing us the picture behind the picture of Brazil, Celso.

I suppose the country’s economic diagram is still pyramidical, with the few rich at the small tip of the pyramid.

Yes, the rich will always insist on the right to exclusivity. They feel it’s their birthright or that privilege which comes with the security of fat bank accounts.

What I am amazed with is the fact that, in Brazil, the poor do not seem to repel much this phenomenon of exclusivity. Hence, the perpetuation of social apartheid.

This kind of economic divide happens everywhere, but it is only when the oppressed and downtrodden merely accept their fate that the situation grows into apartheid proportions.

I can only speak for the Philippines. Here, though the economic divide is more than palpable and will surely never vanish, the poor do not take it sitting down.

Celso Camargo

Celso Camargo — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

That is one of the major characteristics of Brazilian society. The most popular seem not to import all this is happening in our society.

The revolutions that have happened here rarely have been initiated by the poorest.

And on the pyramid, the situation here is this: 1% of the population holds 50 of wealth.

Grace Calderon

Grace Calderon — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

I truly feel sad for Brazil, Celso. But here in the Philippines, the poor can actually hobnob and mingle freely with the rich - anywhere.

The rich who remain snobbish and oppressive are written about and attacked in the press! And the rich do not like to be written about in bad light! LOL

There are much more freedom and mechanisms of freedom by which to repel the abuses of the rich over here.

Heck, we toppled a 21-year US-backed dictatorship by sheer will of PEOPLE POWER!

Madhuri Katti

Madhuri Katti — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Grace,

Poor can be amazingly resilient in some countries. They just accept the status thrust upon them and they don’t assert against such discrimination. I often wonder how do few rich get such a power to exclude the majority?

Grace Calderon

Grace Calderon — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

By the power of GUNS, GOONS, and GOLD, Madhuri!

Celso Camargo

Celso Camargo — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

In Brazil most of people wants that the government do everything. It’s a damn culture based on patrimonialism and welfarism and will take maybe 100 years to change that.

Grace Calderon

Grace Calderon — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Yes, I think that’s IT, Celso. Maybe, in Brazil, the poor are not motivated enough to repel and revolt and make an uprising. Not that they feel resigned to their helplessness, but because they are not motivated enough.

And you know what the culprit is when it comes to this attitude? Guess!!

Celso Camargo

Celso Camargo — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Hmmmmm Grace, do you want to see me thinking? Love, God (all 300), ME? Just kidding, but not so much!

Grace Calderon

Grace Calderon — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Can be all of those.

The culprit is the lethal combination of colonialism and religion.

This religious colonialism mentality makes one staid, bored, resigned to the fact, unmoved, and contented at accepting one’s reality.

And you know why?

Because God said so!

Celso Camargo

Celso Camargo — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Amen, sister!

But colonialism is one of the most important factor, as you pointed very well. First, the Portuguese and than the British and American imperialism.

The funny thing is that now, Brazil, though have friendly relationships with these countries, is not a country which follows their leadership.

So, this independent way that Brazil chose to follow, may be an indicative that things can really change in here. Of course that will not be easy, but it can happens.

Grace Calderon

Grace Calderon — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Yes, it’s bound to happen. There will always be a counterforce. Pssst... wasn’t Che a Marxist? Hehe... (nudge, nudge, wink, wink)

LOL

Celso Camargo

Celso Camargo — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Nowadays, Che and Cher are becoming the same thing: mummies from the past!

Did you like Mount Phyton?

Grace Calderon

Grace Calderon — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

By comparison over here, 1% of population holds 99% of wealth. But there is a thriving middle class that is educated. And there seems to be a level playing field when it comes to education and skills capability.

The poor cannot really, by themselves, topple the prevailing social order. It is the educated and skilled middle class that initiates a revolution, with the help of the poor by sheer volume.

Celso Camargo

Celso Camargo — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

This is really something! When the middle class cares about the country, they can make real changes. This kind of mentality here is just beginning. :(

Grace Calderon

Grace Calderon — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

And on this note, let me add another example. It is also the stark absence of an educated middle class that makes Afghanistan the way it is right now and for many years now, and for many more years to come.

The divide is so wide between the powerful and powerless. There is no bridge between the two whatsoever.

Grace Calderon

Grace Calderon — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Well, there now, you’ve found your calling, Che! LOL

Madhuri Katti

Madhuri Katti — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

But Grace, thanks to consumerism, middle class is too busy adding personal assets and becoming neo-rich. They are getting trapped in credit woes as well. It’ll take some time even for skilled and educated middle class to get away from such trappings and initiate a change!

Celso Camargo

Celso Camargo — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The Brazilian middle class is too busy shopping in malls!

Grace Calderon

Grace Calderon — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

You’re right, Madhuri. The middle class is bound to fit the mold of the rich sooner or later down the road.

But there will still be a few among the middle class shoppers whose feet will get tired shopping, will come home, think while in their dark bedrooms, and come to the conclusion that consumerist spending can be boring eventually.

And these might, just might, think of the status of those who cannot even enter the malls, much less shop.

Ramesh Balam

Ramesh Balam — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Who is the bitch in the article?

Grace Calderon

Grace Calderon — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Ok, Ok, Ramesh, I’ll claim it for now. LOL

Celso Camargo

Celso Camargo — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

If someone that don’t ”belong” to an specific beach. The poor in Maresias, for instance, or the rich in Praia Grande.

Ramesh Balam

Ramesh Balam — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Thanks Grace. Please do not accept the unacceptable. I am sure no one in his senses would ever call you as such.

Jaiyant Cavale

Jaiyant Cavale — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Celso! I”m coming to Brazil and visiting all the beaches! And the ones for the poor just like Grace would.. It is indeed perverse to stop people from visiting beaches that are there for everyone to use.. I’ll tell you what happens here.. Most of the beautiful beaches are bought by resorts and 5 star hotels and the common man and the dogs (you find a lot of canines on indian beaches) go to the dirtier ones. Segregation in the Indian society is starker but is very different because there are so few Rich people. And here, the class is not determined by money but by various other factors too. A really poor person can look down upon someone rich and treat him like a slave.. And that happens here..

Celso Camargo

Celso Camargo — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Hehehehe! I doubt you could get to stay in one of the poor’s beaches, unless you want to take some Brazilian parasites home, like ”geographic bug”!

Jayashree

Jayashree — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Hmpfs. You can all go to the poor man’s beach. I’m going to the richest of the richest. Hey Celso, what about nude beaches? Any segregation there, too? Like maybe hot guys up north and ugly guys down south?

Ramesh Balam

Ramesh Balam — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

I have seen a beach for nudes in Goa. I don’t know whether that still exists or not.

Celso Camargo

Celso Camargo — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

There are nude beaches, but I never went to one of those. But I guess they cannot discriminate people because of the size of...you can imagine!

Jayashree

Jayashree — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

LOL! Welcome back, Celso!

Chandni

Chandni — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

In India too we have many, many beautiful beaches and there are hundreds of secret beaches in the country that are not known or visited by tourists. Such places are any lover’s fantasy. Try visiting a few of those remote coastal villages and you would know what I am trying to say.

Ramesh Balam

Ramesh Balam — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Lovers may kiss or fondle at any place. Some try sex, if you mean that. Incidently, those beaches are called virgin beaches.

Neha

Neha — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

My uncle worked in the Military Engineering Services and was posted in a military base in a place called Gopalpur-on-Sea in Orissa. It was a beautiful place to be. After my 10th boards, I once visited the place and my cousin who was the same age as me rode me to a nearby village some 7ks from the place which was already a tourist attraction. It had one lovely small beach that had no visitors. Looked like paradise to me.

Vijay

Vijay — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

”Virgin” beaches,is it a proper word for such beaches where all kind of sexual activities,frat parties goes on uniteruptedly.

Oscar

Oscar — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Dammit Celso,

I’ve been struggling, really searching for who I truely am.. I was looking more towards a modern day, educated Divine Mexican Warrior, but the truth has been told.. I am nothing more than a lowly Brazilian Farofeiro trapped in a Mexican god-like body...Thanks for bursting my bubble, Compadre. Power to the people.

Celso Camargo

Celso Camargo — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

LOL! ”Mexican god-like body”? You are so modest! LOL!