brazil and the US: not quite a carnival...
other than the recent story of the impending expulsion from brazil of new york times bureau chief in rio de janeiro larry rohter for reporting in a story published last sunday that president lula da silva has a drinking problem i haven't been following the brazilian headlines too closely. any strain in diplomatic relations is usually only noticeable upon examining each country's travel/visa requirements... i hadn't been unaware of brazilian feeling regarding the US and british attack, invasion and continued occupation of iraq, but a drawing i viewed recently in a new phlog on the internet provides sad and worrisome commentary on how we've been unable to improve how we are perceived by some overseas.have a look at the drawing here.
note: president lula da silva said monday this week that the nyt article represented «a malicious assault on the institution of the presidency» and ordered tuesday that mr rohter's visa be revoked (which i consider absolutely unacceptable and an infringement upon freedom). this provoked a strong reaction led by press associations, legal and judicial groups and opposition politicians. an editorial in brazil's leading newspaper, o estado de são paulo, called the president's action a «monumental stupidity». while rohter stated he had not meant any harm and was sorry for any embarrassment he did not apologise (as reported by wire services and media around the world) not did the nyt retract the article. nonetheless the government of brazil has dropped its threat to expel mr rohter.
