Jesus Christ or Bolsonaro?

The presidential race has already begun, and 2018 promises to be a heated year. Alliances are already being forged, and don't expect common sense or logic in the partnerships that will form. Today I learned that federal deputy Jair Bolsonaro declared that he is seeking the support of pastor Silas Malafaia to reach the presidency. According to an article published in the newspaper Extra, the ideological myth of the desperate says that he has maintained a friendship with Malafaia for ten years, whom he described as an exceptional guy.

But why is the support of an evangelical pastor so important for a presidential candidate? Especially a candidate who declares himself in favor of the death penalty and torture, thoughts that should not be shared by Christians. Silas Malafaia has already signaled that he sympathizes with JB's ideas, even though they are the opposite of the teachings of JC, whom he swears to follow and obey. And woe to anyone who doubts and dares to touch this anointed one of the Lord. We already know that Dom Silas changes his opinion and sides according to the offering deposited in his account. Don't be surprised if, instead of the Bible, Malafaia starts recommending the reading of "Mein Kampf" to his faithful, promising a pure, blessed, prosperous Brazil, free from the leftist race, to those who vote for Bolsonaro for president.

The congressman claims: "If we close ranks with the evangelicals, my candidacy gains strength," which leads me to believe that he intends to use the religious segment as an anabolic steroid to boost his meager chances of reaching the presidency. It's worth remembering that Bolsonaro was baptized by Pastor Everaldo in the waters of the Jordan River (Saint John the Baptist must be going crazy in his tomb), in a kind of political-religious initiation, aiming to enthrone in the political-Christian ideology of the faithful a new Messiah who, in the name of God, will liberate the country from all evil and restore order, morality, and good customs. And isn't it true that the Captain's middle name is Messiah? In this case, any resemblance is purely coincidental. I keep trying to imagine what Jesus Christ must think of all this.

It's also worth remembering, or perhaps it's better not to remember, that the likely vice-presidential candidate on Bolsonaro's ticket is Congressman and pastor Marco Feliciano, recently accused of rape by a young follower of his. Nothing was proven against the pastor, and the young woman who accused him ended up being labeled crazy and a myth-maniac. Myth? Mania? But if someone with a mania for creating myths is sick... Well! Let's leave that aside! In the same Extra article, Bolsonaro says he will only not make bargains to have the support of Malafaia and the evangelicals, and he anticipated that he will not give up having a 4-star General in the Ministry of Defense and someone conservative to take care of culture and education. A censor, perhaps?

Bolsonaro simply didn't outline the profile of who will assume the roles of executioner and torturer in his possible future government. There will be no shortage of contenders for the position, and we have many competent and eager "good citizens" to perform such functions. They just need an opportunity. Perhaps even some "Christian anointed by God" will be chosen to occupy one of these positions. The truth is that the Bolsonaro government could be either a watershed moment or simply embarking on already navigated waters, whose shipwreck is as certain as his non-election.

Of course, we shouldn't underestimate his candidacy. It's undeniable that his supporters are numerous. The Campinas assassin was one of them. But at this point, do we really need a mentality like Jair Bolsonaro's? Will the culture of hate, the remake of "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth," and the reinvention of torture bring back the peace, justice, and social equality we so desperately need? Will the curtailment of citizens' freedom of expression, due to the vanity and boastfulness of a dictator, lead us back to growth or set us back ten steps on the path to achieving popular gains?

The fascists' power project has the support of some religions and their media leaders. Eager for glory and power, and anxious to transform Brazil into a nation of dumbed-down, subservient, and tithing sheep, they alienate their followers and make them believe that God is behind their choices. But if you consider yourself a true Christian, you will never vote for Bolsonaro or anyone else who has the support of this treacherous and manipulative group of faith-mongers, who distort biblical teachings for their own benefit and attribute to themselves an anointing that God did not and never will bestow upon them.

Bolsonaro, in addition to glorifying torture and instituting the death penalty, advocates arming society, ending affirmative action policies, and promoting a false meritocracy. The same meritocracy that led his three sons to follow the same political career as their father, without him having any influence on their election. Without him, they would have been elected anyway, solely through their own merit. I know. A good part of our society is still lacking heroes and dependent on someone to guide them. Even if that someone leads them to a precipice, where freedom, tolerance, respect for differences, equality, and empathy for the limitations and difficulties of others are sacrificed.

The Bible says that in the end times the love of many will grow cold, but I pray that it does not grow so cold as to be guided by Silas Malafaia and elect Bolsonaro president.

The last thing we want and deserve is for the apocalypse to start here.

Amen?