We will not be a mere gathering of social climbers.

A country is not defined and asserts itself before the world solely by the size of its territory and its natural resources. But also, and primarily, by the union of diverse peoples, from different social classes, races, religions, and ethnicities in pursuit of development and the common good. A country that aspires to be prosperous and developed; that serves as a leader and paradigm for all of Latin America; that claims a seat on the UN Security Council; that is the seventh largest economy in the world, cannot behave as a mere "gathering of opportunists." But this lesson, this basic premise, it seems, a significant part of our elite has not yet learned.

And I'm not just talking about the recent episode of the unbelievable insults directed at the President of the Republic. Although, I'm sure, many of our young people didn't fight against a military dictatorship, weren't tortured in its dark dungeons, didn't take to the streets for "Direct Elections Now!" to witness the shame of their first female president, elected by an absolute majority of Brazilians, being booed in such a vile and sordid way. This president, who, when young, bravely and courageously faced the pain and ignominy of oppression, arbitrariness, and torture. And she didn't deserve, in any way, to hear those filthy words from that chorus of infamous people.

I'm talking about an elite that only behaves inappropriately amidst the anonymity of a crowd in football stadiums. But, and especially, outside of them. 

An elite who, in their hedonistic gatherings on gourmet balconies in sumptuous apartments overlooking oceanfront avenues, snort pure cocaine from silver trays with gold straws; drink Cristal champagne (around R$1.600,00 a bottle) and amuse themselves by spitting or throwing fresh eggs at the unsuspecting poor people passing by on the sidewalk below. Or who, in the silence and anonymity of the early morning hours, spray water from fire extinguishers on beggars in the gutters of big city streets.

An elite that, falsely moralistic and hypocritical, condemns politicians and corruption, but which, despite not seeing its true image in the fogged mirrors of its suites with plush carpets, is itself corrupt and corrupting. And which is composed of individuals who commit in their daily lives, some without even realizing it, but others without shame or embarrassment, small and large offenses, crimes and, above all, acts of corruption and villainy.

The question arises: is it viable and possible to build a great country despite an elite of this nature?

Yes, I hasten to answer you before discouragement overwhelms you. Not only is it feasible and possible, but it is our unavoidable destiny. 

Not only because we would never hand over our destiny and the future of Brazil to people of that ilk, but also because we are no longer the slaves of yesteryear, huddled together, hidden and humiliated in the slave quarters – as evidenced by the strength of social movements, recent strikes, and workers' organizations today. Because we have long been masters of our own destiny and we will not hand over our future to "rich girls" and "playboys."  

Fortunately for us, these despicable but noisy (and ruinous) people represent only a part of our elite – but, thankfully, not all of our elite. For our elite includes decent, hardworking, educated, humane, cultured people who are genuinely concerned about the direction of the country. And, above all, they are committed to building a less unjust and unequal nation. Indeed, this is our true elite.

These people from the other group, the "pseudo-elite," I'm sure, are just the so-called "emerging" or "newly rich"; those who have lost themselves in their shamelessness and ignorance, in their lack of scruples, in their arriviste frenzy for more and more money, in their excessive/excessive effort to climb the social pyramid, in the foolish pursuit of fool's gold, of the wealth of the poor in spirit.

And these lost souls want to drag us down with them to the bottom of the pit of their sterile, ordinary, meaningless, despicable little lives.