Welcome to the Congo

[Mennisco]

An anecdotal report of huge empirical significance: I have a friend who is staying in Canada for 6 months, he's from Brazil, Rio more specifically. He says he misses it but he's saddened at how dangerous it has become. He claims that if you're a foreigner you're not in polite company, far too potentially, way too often.

[tafnut]

From today's NYTiimes:

Borders Responds To Charge of Racism:

The Borders bookstore chain in Britain moved copies of “Tintin in the Congo,” a 1930-31 Tintin story, from its children’s section to its adult shelves after the Commission for Racial Equality, a watchdog organization, complained that it “beggared belief” that the store continues to sell the book, Agence France-Presse reported. “This book contains imagery and words of hideous racial prejudice, where the ‘savage natives’ look like monkeys and talk like imbeciles,”

All the more reason to sell it - as an object lesson. The same goes for Uncle Remus stories and Black Sambo stories. Excellent educational opportunities all.

[Conor Dary]

From today's NYTiimes:

Borders Responds To Charge of Racism:

The Borders bookstore chain in Britain moved copies of “Tintin in the Congo,” a 1930-31 Tintin story, from its children’s section to its adult shelves after the Commission for Racial Equality, a watchdog organization, complained that it “beggared belief” that the store continues to sell the book, Agence France-Presse reported. “This book contains imagery and words of hideous racial prejudice, where the ‘savage natives’ look like monkeys and talk like imbeciles,” a spokeswoman said. In response, a spokesman for the store said: “Naturally, some of the thousands of books and music selections we carry could be considered controversial or objectionable depending on individual political views, tastes and interests. However, Borders stands by its commitment to let customers make the choice. After consideration of this title, we have instructed all stores to move it to the adult graphic-novels section.”

[Tristan]

Maybe we should invade Brazil. That should keep those Congonese happy.

oh yeah, the other (current) US invasion of a foreign country is going really well, mr. cheney.

[TrakFan]

Maybe we should invade Brazil. That should keep those Congonese happy.

Congolese

[richxx87]

Well, the DO both have really big tropical rainforests, so that's gotta count for something in his defense.

AND, if we are to believe scientists that specialize in plate tectonics, Brazil and the Congo we're physically connected a few years ago.

[prongs]

"Americans are full of prejudices," said Alessandra Teixeira, a 29-year-old model. "Everything for them is bad, and they make it worse."

The above statement is so rich in irony. You feel insulted about being compared to Congo ? Arent you being prejudiced against the Congo ? Seems to me like a classic case of the pot and the kettle.

[quote:m5v5wdut]Rio Mayor Cesar Maia told CBN Radio that Brazilians are understandably sensitive about being compared to much less developed countries —

[/quote:m5v5wdut]your post is also full of irony, the whole pot/kettle black line made me laugh.

[kamikaze7]

"Americans are full of prejudices," said Alessandra Teixeira, a 29-year-old model. "Everything for them is bad, and they make it worse."

The above statement is so rich in irony. You feel insulted about being compared to Congo ? Arent you being prejudiced against the Congo ? Seems to me like a classic case of the pot and the kettle.

Rio Mayor Cesar Maia told CBN Radio that Brazilians are understandably sensitive about being compared to much less developed countries —

[Conor Dary]

I heard that the US team at the Pan Am Juniors was quite disruptive at the hotel and not popular with the Brazillians. Fortunately the US staff cracked down on the athletes failry quickly but a poor intial impression was made.

Maybe we should invade Brazil. That should keep those Congonese happy.

[mojo]

I heard that the US team at the Pan Am Juniors was quite disruptive at the hotel and not popular with the Brazillians. Fortunately the US staff cracked down on the athletes failry quickly but a poor intial impression was made.

[Tristan]

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/ ... s-USOC.php

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/10/sport ... panam.html