Member-only story
We never let go of anyone’s hand
This is the first week of a new year, full of hope for better days, after the historic inauguration of Brazil's new president. Out comes intolerance, fascism, and usurpation and in comes the reconstruction of a country in a state of scorched earth. Destroyed to the rim of the most important matters. A disastrous administration was expected given the previous president’s 28-year record as Rio’s council member and as a federal representative, but it was much worst than we could imagine. And it was aggravated by the pandemic and its genocidal management by him. We all lost during these four years.
Despite this, some Brazilians insist on rejecting Lula or supporting the previous president. I don’t quite understand that given the darkness of hate, bigotry, and contempt we’ve lived through in the last four years. At least on a personal level, we should aim to be better and more every day. What was done by the president and his team, what was presented as “government” is unacceptable in any scenario, to say the minimum. A society should not aim for less than what it deserves: to be happy, productive, and tolerant of who and what is different, to be inclusive, with good educational and social markers, and the prospect of a better future for everyone, not just the richest 1%. Society is made by all its members, not just to produce for this 1%.
