The day Chico Buarque became Geni
Perplexed by the composer's support for Genoino, caught between reflection and condemnation, readers choose the easy path of avoiding obstacles; signatories to the show of support surpass 7.
By João Peres, from Current Brazil Network
Rarely does a piece of news, lost in this world of information overload, cause such perplexity. The information from Rebuildables that the Composer and writer Chico Buarque has signed a petition in defense of Congressman José Genoino., defendant in Criminal Action 470, the mensalão scandal, exposed on the internet a torrent of feelings that speak volumes about how Brazilians view politicians and distrust the functioning of democratic institutions – and consequently, democracy itself.
Among the nearly 300 comments made up to yesterday regarding the report by RebuildablesIgnoring comments published on other pages, insults dominate, followed by praise for the singer's attitude. The negative comments are the subject worthy of analysis. One might imagine that Chico Buarque's stance would lead to a simple, banal reflection: if he is supporting Genoino, wouldn't it be good for me to try to understand why?
The purpose of the list organized by the congressman's friends is none other than this: to show that, given the social support he enjoys in the face of the accusations against him, the former president of the PT (Workers' Party) perhaps should have received different treatment from the Supreme Federal Court (STF). Since it is too late to overturn the conviction, at least in its entirety, it represents, in the view of these supporters, a redress for someone who received an unjust sentence and whose honor needs to be restored.
Between reflection and lynching, one takes the easy path of carrying stones in one's hands.
The comments begin with bewilderment: "That's impossible... A guy with Chico's intellect wouldn't do something so stupid..."
They're turning the composer into a victim of misinformation: "Hey Chico, even you fell for this. I hope your reputation for being a 'jinx' is true. Seriously!"
They resort to defamation: "Scoundrel. His father founded the PT, his sister held a position... among other things. The fake left that thrived during the dictatorship."
They arrive at the best "I knew it all along" ever heard: "Of course! He was one of the supporters of that bunch. I used to like Chico a lot. I don't like him anymore."
They offer a sociological explanation: "The guy is talented, but his bourgeois blood definitely speaks louder at times like these. No disappointment!"
And they appeal to anthropology and biology: “Great composer, but terrible human being. I already knew this side of him when he opposed the dictatorship back then. We got rid of the dictatorship and gained José Dirceu, Dilma, Lula, Delubio, José Genoino, etc.... In other words, we traded six for fifteen dozen.”
When observing behavior displayed on social media, it's always good to be cautious, but in this case, conversations at the bar, during Sunday lunch, and on the bus show that the comments made in this microcosm are not isolated to the rest of the world. The tendency to generalize politics – or rather, politicians – as professional opportunists, incapable of engaging with reality and insensitive, has been debated for some time now. While this view isn't without merit, the extrapolation of this view is the problem, with a direct impact on our democratic life.
It's no surprise that there's been a backlash, because the comments about the composer's position do nothing more than reproduce the common sense accumulated over decades, and now made instantly public by the internet. It's easier to go with the herd than to stop and think.
What Chico did was lend his prestige to promote an invitation to his admirers: let's reflect on whether so-called "public opinion" is being fair to the congressman? The pro-Genoino list has supporters such as the writer Fernando Morais, the filmmaker Toni Venturi, and the psychoanalyst Maria Rita Kehl. Too far to the left? Let's mention Nelson Jobim, former minister of the Supreme Federal Court and of the FHC and Lula governments.
Incidentally, the letter titled "We are here" has surpassed 7 signatures, including those of journalist Juca Kfouri and singer Beth Carvalho.
These are calls for reflection. It's not necessary to agree with the supporters of the Workers' Party congressman, but it's not constructive, personally or socially, to tear up the invitation without reading it. It takes work, it's true, to form a solid and consistent opinion, and sometimes it's necessary to lose friendships to defend it – just ask Chico. But it's better for democracy than common sense. The aversion to political life, the common sense, is what facilitates its hijacking by a few economic groups that manage to dictate orders in the country and the world.
This leads to a larger issue, which is the vulnerability of our democracy. A population that blindly believes in a narrative without questioning it is a population that is easy to dominate. Just as Chico Buarque's admirer shouldn't blindly trust what he says, neither should they accept as unquestionable truth what is broadcast by a network that supported a coup and a dictatorship, that manipulated a presidential election, and that has since destabilized countless others, without even getting into the economic sphere, the June protests, and social rights.
Chico pays the price for being well-adjusted: he's made to take a beating, he's good at spitting, but he doesn't give his prestige to just anyone, damn Chico. Faced with perplexity, it's easier to blame the other than to try to understand if we are wrong or not. What worries us is not this Geni of ours, hardened by life, rich and reputable – and who won't die from a social media lynching. What worries us is knowing that every day thousands of Genis suffer from this line of intolerance towards others, so natural in Brazilian society: atheists, prostitutes, prisoners, gays, etc. The path where the stones remain on the ground is arduous. But it's better for everyone.