Love It or Hate It

The Marmite Christmas lights in London (2012)
you either love them or hate them

What do you think of Marmite?  You either love it or hate it, or that’s what advertising would have us believe - it's good or bad, right or wrong, black or white.  Indeed, opinions do tend to be polarised – I know some people that would walk to the ends of the Earth for a jar of a yeasty spread, I have also heard it described ‘like licking a cat’s arse!’  I appear to be a marketer’s worst nightmare, as I’m sat firmly on the fence.  It’s ok… I wouldn’t buy it for myself, but if someone put it on my toast, I would eat it anyway.  So much for black or white. 

Which football team do you support?  If you know me, you know it's Aston Villa.  If you really know me, you'll probably add Atlético Paranaense.  With the exception of a minority of idiots, most people will accept that fact, maybe making a few jokes about Villa's current form, or maybe a friendly rivalry from fans of another team. 

Which is better, American Football or Rugby?  Rugby, obviously!

Ok, it's my opinion.  Personally I think it's more physically demanding and a more interesting game to watch.  You like American Football?  Fair enough, each to their own...

Do you like Brazil?  It's a simple enough question, one hypothetical person seeking the opinion of another.  But the opinion can stir up such feelings of anger, annoyance and spite, even when the answer is positive.  I have had many conversations with Brazilians when I have mentioned that I would like to live in Brazil, only to spark a long list of all the problems in Brazil.  They beg and plead, for the good of my soul, not to go to that hellish place. 

Scene from Cidade de Deus: does this
represent all of Brazilian life?

Of course this is a matter of perspective, if you have had a tough life, you probably won't look at your home with rose-tinted glasses, especially if leaving has led to improvements in your life.  If anything, good for you taking that big step to try to improve your life.  But consider, just for a second, that maybe there are better places.  Maybe it's not safe to walk the streets at night in your home town; but I can think of parts of San Francisco, San Jose, London, Birmingham, you name it that I wouldn't walk down.  But I can also think of parts of San Francisco, San Jose, London, Birmingham, you name it again, that I would walk down.  Maybe Rio de Janeiro is riddled with gun crime, but maybe there are other cities in Brazil.  If you have experienced violence in any of these places, you will probably have a poor opinion of them.  But really, I don't need to be convinced.  Every city has its safe areas and not-so-safe areas and you should always be vigilant.

Then we have the people.  I wrote an earlier post where I said that the Brazilian people are one of the best things about the country.  But then I hear Brazilians complaining that Brazilians are rude!  That's news to me!  Don't get me wrong, I have come across arseholes in Brazil, as I have in many countries around the world; I've said it before, nowhere is perfect.  But I have found Brazilians on the whole to be friendly, caring people who accept new people into their lives and welcome them as family.  So who exactly are these rude people?  Maybe, just maybe, this issue isn't black or white either.  Maybe there are shades of grey and you have encountered rude people.  But let me ask you; do you consider your family to be all rude?  Or your friends? Colleagues? Yourself?  Or maybe you should consider the implications of statements that "all Brazilians are rude."  Because I can tell you, with 100% certainty that not all Brazilians are rude.

A few days ago, I saw this video:

where Josh (the Brazilian Gringo) explains why he personally likes living in Brazil and why he prefers it to living in the USA.  He is careful to explain that they are his personal opinions on Brazil and America and he certainly does not over-praise one  or over-criticise the other.  But the anger expressed in comments and in replies to shares on other social media is shocking.  "You didn't say anything about..." or "you just talk about..." or "you clearly haven't experienced....", it goes on and on.  You are entitled to your opinion, but he is entitled to his.  He likes Brazil and likes to live there, what's wrong with that?  (I recommend people to watch the video, in which he answers a question that he is often asked "what are you doing in Brazil?")

While we're on the subject, I've noticed many of the people that heavily criticise Brazil and say "I'll never go back, even if you pay me" still decorate their houses in green and yellow and cheer for Brazil in the World Cup.  I guess the world isn't so black and white.

I love Brazil, I think I mentioned that, and I would like to live there one day too.  Not there; the violent country where nothing works, where the government is corrupt (and always will be), where everyone is rude and I would end up in poverty, but there: the Brazil were many people are helpful and friendly and outnumber the rude ones, where the government is corrupt (but people are protesting; they're realising that the government should work FOR them, not against them), where there is poverty, but the improving economy is bringing more and more people out of poverty and intop the middle classes, where beaurocracy will tie you up in knots (but I have lived in the UK and the USA; show me a country without needless beaurocracy and I'll show you a dreamland.) As one final point, I will say that I also love Britain.  It's my home and always will be, the people can be cold, but not everyone.  It rains all the time.  But not ALL the time.   The Government is weak and inefficient, the house prices are too high... It's not perfect, but nowhere is.  My point is I'm not comparing Brazil to anywhere else, I'm not transferring negative or positive feelings for my own country.  It's not black or white.

Love it or hate it, that's my opinion and you're welcome to agree or disagree with me.