ELEIÇÕES:destaque internacional

Destaque Internacional - International Highligts - Year XII - No. 310 - Madrid - San José de Costa Rica - Santiago de Chile, October 12, 2010 - Javier González, Coordinator (you can send your valuable opinion to caballeroalvarado2006 @ yahoo.es and / or any other request, including "Remove" option)

Brazil: Presidential Elections, Abortion and the Tip of the Iceberg

The abortion issue is crucial and well worth the current Brazilian debate; however, it's only the tip of a dangerous iceberg, namely the National Human Rights Plan (PNDH), which is being fostered by Brazil's "moderate" President Lula, a law bill that deeply affects core values such as family, private property, religious freedom and freedom of the press - to mention but some.

Aside from an active anti-abortion and anti-socialist minority, vast portions of the Brazilian public have so far remained nonchalant and unwary towards the PNDH.

Nevertheless, an excellent "psycho-ammunition" has been handed out on a silver platter by the ruling-party candidate and her mentor President Lula - a golden opportunity for the opponent candidate to awake the indolent.

1. On this upcoming October 31, the second round of the presidential elections will take place in gigantic Brazil. There is an understandable expectation throughout the Americas regarding the electoral outcome, as the current pro-Chavist, pro-Cuban and pro-Iranian foreign policy of the present government headed by Mr. Lula da Silva will be either consolidated if the ruling-party candidate Dilma Rousself wins the runoff, or replaced by a center-oriented policy with closer ties with the United States, Colombia, Chile, Peru, and Honduras, in case of a victory by the opponent candidate, José Serra.

2. Ms. Rousseff fell short of obtaining a first-round victory by nearly three percent of the votes. It was too late when the leftist candidate took notice of an extremely committed anti-abortion minority, whose action upon a careless and anesthetized anti-abortion majority took away votes from her by only three percent - enough to stop the government candidate from winning the election in the first round. Ever since detecting it, candidate Rousseff has concentrated her verbal artillery in discrediting and discouraging this active minority.

3. The abortion issue presents a disadvantage for Ms. Rousseff, since she is now declaring herself against it, while having taken clear stances in its favor not so long ago, and candidate Serra is thus pointing out Rousseff's contradiction in this specific topic. Nevertheless, there remains a puzzle question for those opposing President Lula, i.e., how to shake the widespread indifference of many Brazilian voters who are naturally controversy-averse and hence would rather keep enjoying the economic stability which hitherto has prevailed in Brazil.

4. In fact, the abortion issue is of an utmost importance because it threatens the right to life of millions of unborn children, yet it is but the tip of a much more dangerous iceberg - the so-called National Human Rights Plan (PNDH).

5. Proposed by President Lula at the end of 2009, the PNDH is a project that should it become law and put into effect, it will disfigure the entire Brazilian society, not only in terms of the right to life, but also in so far as it violates the monogamic family, the religious freedom, the freedom of press, the private property and the social harmony. Actually, the PNDH fosters the so-called "homosexual marriage", and favors legal measures that will restrain the free practice of religion and the exercise of free speech. Moreover, it proposes a "land reform" essentially socialist, which may jeopardize Brazil's present economic stability, besides supporting other discriminatory measures that may poison the peaceful social interaction so much cherished by Brazilians.

6. Candidate Rousseff claims she is being calumniated through Internet campaigns - an allegation which she now exploits to portray herself as an innocent victim. No doubt, calumny and defamation are indeed censurable from every moral perspective. At present, however, in addition to being morally censurable, they may favor Ms. Rousseff, since they give her an excuse to tarnish as calumniators all those who earnestly oppose Mr. Lula da Silva's government with proof-based arguments and Christian principles.

Neither candidate Roussef nor her mentor President Lula may plead being "calumniated" for being criticized due to their support to the PNDH, as both are truly among the main proponents of such a project, which is a written document - a regrettable reality that is being published on the government's official web sites. It would be plainly absurd do deny therefore the PNDH's existence and to attribute its content to "calumnies" of the opposition.

The PNDH is a disastrous program both spiritually and politically, as well as socially. It contains many shockingly blatant defects, errors and horrors, thus providing the opposition with a real turning point to be used as a debate weapon that could compel the government candidate to define herself in very embarrassing issues.

The opposition candidate Serra should not waste this wonderful opportunity.

7. It is true that Serra has questioned candidate Roussef about her pro-abortion stances. However, in regards to other no less harmful topics of the PNDH, Serra has so far lost this golden opportunity to force the leftist candidate to take a definite stand before the public.

8. For the sake of Brazil, let's hope that the opposition candidate may start calling a spade a spade in this final stretch. Indeed, if he really wants to win this fight, he ought to grab the bull by the horns and no longer waste this opportunity to corner the leftist candidate into definition. Finally, let's also hope that the indifferent and even anesthetized portions of the Brazilian public may at last become more concerned about issues that today may seem far-away and irrelevant, yet tomorrow may drastically change their lives and their dear ones.