Ex falso sequitur quodlibet

From falsehood, anything follows. This is the well-known "Lex Clavius" of syllogistic logic. When any of the premises is false, the conclusion can be either false or true. This creates indecisive reasoning. A senseless conundrum, even if based on legitimate reasoning. For example, "all Chinese speak French and Macron is Chinese, therefore, Macron speaks French." Here, we clearly have two false premises leading to a true conclusion. But in "all French speak Chinese and Macron is French, therefore, Macron speaks Chinese," we already have one false premise and one true premise leading to a false conclusion.

Based on false premises, the Bolsonaro government is leaving the country adrift. One might occasionally draw correct conclusions from political action, but these do not undo the flaws in the foundations upon which they are built. Take, for example, the decision to deny military action against Venezuela, as would be to the liking of the Trumpist idiots who govern the USA. Even if correct, it is much more a realistic stance in the face of the weaknesses of our armed forces than a solid strategic construction. Let there be no doubt that, if they had the necessary armament and training, our forces would have engaged in the adventure of aggression. The false premises are precisely the assessment of the "illegitimacy" of Maduro's elected government and the idea that serving American interests in the region would benefit Brazil. These absurdities remain intact, regardless of whether foreign policy is conducted by General Mourão or by Ernesto-the-Flat-Earther.

The Bolsonaro government's stockpile of nonsense is far from exhausted, and we, discerning Brazilians, will not do ourselves any good if, at every glimmer of apparent rationality amidst the whirlwind of fascist drivel, we delude ourselves with the possibility of success for this or that Bolsonaro supporter or pro-Bolsonaro actor. To think that replacing Bolsonaro with Mourão would improve things, because the latter displays a less simplistic discourse than his boss and his entourage, is a dangerous chimera. The premises of the general's actions are the same as those of the prematurely retired captain. They are false and artificial. Both were elected through the same stratagem of hatred for politics and blatant lies. The general, like Marshal Hindenburg, served to legitimize Jair Messias, our own Adolf Hitler.

That being said, it is up to us, without illusions or wishful thinking, to chart the path by which we will escape the predicament in which democracy has found itself, by yielding to the reactionary forces of centuries-old patrimonialism in order to guarantee governability. Our premises must be true. Their construction requires the necessary rupture in the political fabric to dissect not only the alliances with backwardness, but also political hatred.

The demonstrations of solidarity in grief over President Lula are a good indication of how things are over. Those who tried to inject more hatred have been discredited. Lula attended his grandson's funeral and emerged stronger. He was sovereign. The sincere support he received exposed the deceitful judicial campaign that imprisoned him. The tranquility of the expressions of affection around him showed civility and respect for democratic legality, unlike the charade staged by Sérgio Moro's ministry, which assigned an active Bolsonaro supporter to escort President Lula. The fascist government lost and looked ridiculous, because at no point was the size of the repressive apparatus mounted around the peaceful leader justified during such a tragic moment.

The time has come for us to mobilize for Lula's release, the only national figure capable of confronting the institutionalized nonsense fueled by lies and hatred. We must demonstrate, through concrete action before the Supreme Federal Court (STF), with the leadership of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB), the support of influential jurists throughout Brazil, in undoing the injustice that victimized Lula. By restoring the truth about the pettiness of the judicial coup orchestrated by the then-little judge and now little minister Sérgio Moro, we will dismantle the false premises that brought Bolsonaro to power and allow us to see light at the end of the tunnel, putting the country's democratization back on the right path.