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Brazil: Prejudice against Paraguay in the Media

Categories: Latin America, Brazil, Paraguay, Ethnicity & Race, International Relations, Media & Journalism, Politics, Protest, Sport, Women & Gender
[1]

"Brazilian TV report offending PARAGUAY!!" video uploaded to Youtube by DaniBoy78

A diplomatic incident between Brazil and Paraguay broke out in the same day that the latter was eliminated from the World Cup. In focus is a prejudiced video report about the participation of Paraguay in the Cup, which was broadcasted by a Brazilian television channel, Rede Globo's SporTV.

The controversial video can be watched at Youtube [1] [pt].

Paraguayan newspaper La Nación [2] [The Nation, es] soon reacted, claiming that the payed TV channel SporTV was biased in reporting on the Paraguayan team and the country itself. Cristina P. Rodrigues, from blog Somos andando [We Are Going, pt], wrote [3] about the incident, criticizing the alleged lack of quality in journalism promoted by Rede Globo:

O desrespeito vai além do futebol, segundo o jornal: “ironizan sobre nuestras comidas y nuestras costumbres”, em linguagem debochada. O único valor paraguaio apresentado pelo vídeo é Larissa Riquelme [4], a “novia del Mundial”. Além de agressivo com os paraguaios, o curta é machista. Desvaloriza todo um povo e todo um gênero. As mulheres são vistas como objetos.
A matéria se coloca ao lado de Dunga pela resistência aos abusos da Globo. E completa: “La Naranja Mecánica se encargó así de hacer justicia y dar una gran lección a quienes tienen en el corazón una rabia innecesaria hacia una nación pobre pero digna”.

The disrespect goes beyond football, according to the newspaper: “they mock about our food and our culture” in an unflattering language. The only Paraguayan value presented in the video is Larissa Riquelme [4], the “novia del Mundial” [Bride of the World Cup”]. Besides being aggressive with the Paraguayans, the short is sexist. It devalues an entire people and an entire genre. Women are seen as objects.
The piece places itself alongside Dunga for the resistance to the abuses of Globo: And resumes: “The Clockwork Orange, this way, has taken responsibility to do justice and give a great lesson to those who have in their hearts an unnecessary anger toward a poor but dignified nation

Ramonita Vera, the Paraguayan singer who was quoted in the original SporTV video, responded to the aggressions against her and her country [5], saying that SporTV forgot to mention the honor and humility that has led beautiful Paraguay to reach so far in the World Cup [es]:

Many Brazilian netcitizens started talking about it in Facebook and Twitter:

@renanhramos [6]: PQP falta de consideração com Paraguai pela Globo. Jogadores arrados em campo e ela desdenha cinicamente.

WTF lack of consideration for Paraguay by Globo. devasted players on the field and she disdains cynically.

@carineroos: [7] Infelizmente os estereotipos e preconceitos prevalecem quando falam em #PAR [8]. Mas e um pais impar que os sul americanos nao reconhecem

Unfortunately prevailing stereotypes and prejudices when talking on # PAR . But it is an unique country that South Americans do not recognize

Paulo Henrique Amorim, from Conversa Afiada [Sharp Conversation, pt] reflected about such diplomatic incident [9]:

A Globo fica arrumando encrenca com os nossos vizinhos em nome do Brasil.
A Globo é contra o Mercosul.
Assim como a Globo provoca intrigas e conflitos em suas PODRES novelas, quer fazer o mesmo nas relações com o Brasil.

Globo keeps arranging troubles with our neighbors on behalf of Brazil.
Globo is against Mercosul [10].
As the Globo provokes intrigue and conflict in its rotten soap operas, it wants to do the same concerning [international] relations with Brazil.

Commenting on a post on the subject by blog Esquerdopata [Leftopath, pt], Patricia showed her revolt [11]:

Nunca vi tanta ofensa fantasiada de jornalismo junto !! Liberdade de imprensa ou liberdade para jorrar preconceitos rídiculos ??

Never before have I seen such offense disguised as journalism! Press freedom or freedom to boost ridiculous prejudice?

Throughout the World Cup, Globo's position towards the Brazilian national team has sparked many discussions. The CALA BOCA TADEU SCHMIDT phenomenon [12] showed the world the discontent of the Brazilian people against its biggest TV network and, eventually many bloggers were complaining.

Luis Nassif, on his blog, criticized the media's position [13] [pt] claiming that it is unacceptable to disrespect those who fall:

Uma das características mais aviltantes da fase atual da mídia é a falta de respeito total pelos eventualmente derrotados. Em toda lógica guerreira, há a oportunidade do exercício da nobreza no vitorioso quando o adversário tomba. O respeito ao adversário caído é o momento em que o vitorioso cresce.

Nos últimos anos viu-se o contrário na mídia: o exercício permanente do macartismo, da perseguição, da vilanização dos adversários. Depois, a celebração orgiástica da vitória, o achincalhe do adversário caído. Lembra exércitos que, terminada a batalha, enviam soldados para liquidar com os moribundos.

A Globo se considerou vitoriosa com a derrota da Seleção.

One of the most demeaning feature of the current phase of the media is the complete lack of respect for those who eventually are defeated. In all warrior logic, there is the opportunity for exercising nobility in victory when the opponent falls. Respect for the fallen opponent is the moment when the victorious grows.

Recent years have seen the opposite in the media: the permanent exercise of McCarthyism, of persecution, of the vilification of opponents. Then the orgiastic celebration of victory, the spurn of the fallen opponent. It reminds those armies that after the battle send troops to slay the dying.

Globo considered itself successful with the defeat of the Team.

Globo issued [14] an apology to the media. On the matter, Antônio Mello, from Blog do Mello said [15] [pt]:

Foi uma desculpa muito da sem-vergonha (veja o vídeo lá [14]). Chegaram a dizer que não tinham intenção de ofender, quando era exatamente esse o núcleo da reporcagem racista, preconceituosa e repugnante feita contra o Paraguai e seu povo, que denunciamos aqui [16]. Mas, pelo menos, foi um pedido de desculpas. […]
Quando vão pedir desculpas por jogarem o povo brasileiro contra nossos vizinhos, falsificando notícias sobre os governos da Argentina, do Paraguai, da Bolívia, da Venezuela?

It was too much of a shameless apology (see the video there [14]). They even said that they had no offensive intention, when offense was exactly the core of  the racist filthy-report, biased and disgusting, made against Paraguay and its people, that we denounced here [16]. But at least it was an apology. […]
When will they [Globo] apologize for throwing the Brazilian people against our neighbors, falsifying reports on the governments of Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Venezuela?

Liz Cramer, the Paraguayan Ministry of Tourism, quoted [17] by Eduardo Guimarães from the blog Cidadania [Citizenship, pt], disdained Globo's apology:

Como profissionais do mundo da comunicação, com o poder de vossa rede e a imensa audiência que têm, vocês saberão entender que o pedido de desculpas não é suficiente. O impacto daquelas imagens é muito superior ao impacto de um pedido de desculpas com uma nota positiva.

As professionals in the communication world, with the power of your network and the huge audience you have, you will understand that this apology is not enough. The impact of those images is far superior to the impact of an apology on a positive note.
Read Paraguay: Prejudice in International Media During the World Cup [18]to know about Paraguayan reactions to the SporTV video