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Date Posted: 01:29:47 07/30/03 Wed
Author: Maria Raquel Bambirra
Subject: US foreign policy!
In reply to: Vera Menezes 's message, "Semana 13" on 17:56:35 07/28/03 Mon

Olá, pessoal!

Vou tentar discutir as metáforas propostas por Lakoff para guerra, usando uma transcrição feita por mim de um pronunciamento do Presidente Bush quando das demonstrações anti-guerra que se espalhavam rapidamente por todo o país e que ele precisava deter, e também através de um e-mail que me foi mandado por um amigo americano muito querido. O texto do e-mail é autêntico, não é jornalístico, e nem traz o discurso direto dos congressistas ou do Presidente Bush ou de qualquer autoridade. Trata-se de uma crítica "bem-humorada" (palavras do meu amigo), sobre a política externa de Bush. Trata-se de um pai explicando a seu filho as in-coerências da guerra do Iraque. O texto está "correndo" solto na web, compartilhado por milhares de americanos, que na verdade nunca concordaram com a invasão do Afeganistão e muito menos do Iraque. Pelo que percebo não são poucos... O povo Americano menos alienado sabe que Bush é um ditador movido por questões diversas às oficiais, e inclusive por razões de interesse pessoal, que forçou toda uma nação não só a pagar pela iniciativa belicosa, mas principalmente a se manifestar a favor do conflito. Isso é sério e fere o espírito Americano de que seu país é livre, sem censura de qualquer natureza, democrático e cunhado pelos reais interesses do povo Americano. O povo está sentindo-se traído pelo Presidente, de certa forma. E limitado por demais em sua liberdade inclusive de ir e vir, com medo de andar de avião, de não portar uma máscara anti-gás, com medo de estar morando ao lado do inimigo "infiltrado" na gente comum... Uma loucura!

Começo com minha transcrição:
O Presidente Bush falou para a nação às 7 da noite (hora do jantar; lembro as colegas que os Americanos jantam às 6:30 normalmente e que sempre o fazem assistindo TV. Pela CNN, assisti aquele homem falar à Nação e ao mundo o que passo a relatar, usando a voz dele, no entanto com minhas palavras, uma vez que traduzi a fala: O terrorismo (VILÃO) tem vários tentáculos e eles estão por toda a parte. Deus proteje o povo Americano (POVO ESCOLHIDO - HERÓI) e a prova disso é o fato de que ele é próspero e sempre obtem sucesso em suas empreitadas. (PARTE DO DISCURSO RELIGIOSO QUE JUSTIFICA O LUCRO E A AMBIÇÃO, E DO DISCURSO NACIONALISTA QUE É INCUTIDO NA CABEÇA DO AMERICANO, AINDA QUANDO CRIANÇA, NA ESCOLA, E REFORÇADO PELA FAMÍLIA E POR INÚMEROS ATOS CÍVICOS AO LONGO DO ANO - Usado porque já faz parte da estruturação metafórica da cognição do Americano, então o convencimento é imediato, inconsciente.) Mas por isso mesmo os Estados Unidos têm uma missão, um dever para com Deus, (GUERRA SANTA - cruzadas!) de reparar o mal e libertar as nações oprimidas pelo terror, pelo ódio, pelo mal (VÍTIMAS). É sabido que uma guerra traz perdas irreparáveis (RACIONALISMO - provoca distanciamento emocional, avalia custos e lucros (matemática da guerra), decide da motivação para se iniciar ou se continuar uma guerra - Desmembramentos do pesnamento de Clausewitz). Mas os Estados Unidos só são a Nação soberana que domina o panorama mundial na atualidade (HERÓIS/RECOMPENSADOS/RECONHECIDOS) porque nunca se acovardou diante do inimigo, fosse ele qual fosse. Agora, a história mais uma vez está chamando os Estados Unidos à guerra contra o mal (ente abstrato, que esconde a real motivação da invasão do Iraque). E, mesmo sabendo que derramaremos o nosso próprio sangue em solo inimigo, vamos atender o nosso chamado, com dignidade heroísmo, honrando a nossa bandeira e os nossos pais, dando exemplos aos nossos filhos (NOVAMENTE O DISCURSO NACIONALISTA AMERICANO). Os Estados Unidos da America estão em guerra. Isso significa que o povo Americano está em guerra (POVO É NAÇÃO, E NESTE CONTEXTO, O CONCEITO DE NAÇÃO FOI IGUALADO AO DE ESTADO, por pura conveniência ideológica). Quem é contra a guerra, é contra os Estados Unidos, e conseqüentemente contra o povo Americano. Não há meio-termo na guerra; ninguém pode posicionar-se com neutralidade. Quem não está a favor dos Estados Unidos e do povo Americano, está contra ele. Tive notícias (tive notícias é ótimo, não gente?) de que alguns grupos (TERMO BÉLICO - soldados armados para um combate) estão-se mobilizando (TERMO BÉLICO) em passeatas e demonstrações em cidades como Nova Iorque e São Francisco, Los Angeles e Chicago (ou seja, de ponta a ponta do país!). No entanto, alerto a cada um de meu povo Americano (QUEM AVISA AMIGO É! - HERÓI): o inimigo atualmente tem tentáculos espalhados pelo mundo todo, inclusive dentro dos Estados Unidos, infelizmente. Cabe a cada um de vocês a resistência (TERMO BÉLICO - o cidadão comum é soldado?). Não se deixem levar pela sutileza, pela sedução do inimigo (O INIMIGO É "CUNNING")! Para o próprio bem de vocês, a partir de hoje, as autoridades Americanas (SOLDADOS/AGENTES DO BEM) têm minha autorização para dar voz de prisão (NUM ESTADO DEMOCRÁTICO DE DIREITO, SÒ VAI PRESO QUEM COMETE CRIME E É JULGADO E CONDENADO POR ELE, MESMO ASSIM DEPOIS DE A SENTENÇA TRANSITAR EM JULGADO, O QUE SIGNIFICA QUE CONTRA ELA NÃO CABE MAIS QUALQUER RECURSO) a qualquer pessoa que se manifeste publicamente contra a guerra (INIMIGO DISFARÇADO ENTRE CIDADÃOS DE BOA VONTADE). Porque esta pessoa já pode estar sob o jugo do inimigo, e mesmo sendo Americano, será considerado inimigo dos Estados Unidos da América (AQUI PESA O TAMANHO DO NOME DO PAÍS - MORE IS BETTER) e tratado como tal. É como punir o filho que insiste em fazer o mal-feito, depois de todo o empenho dos pais em explicar-lhe como deve ou não agir.


Passo agora para o e-mail:

US FOREIGN POLICY

Q: Dad, Why did we have to attack Iraq?

A: Because they had weapons of mass destruction.

Q: But the inspectors didn't find any weapons of mass destruction.

A: That's because the Iraqis were hiding them. (O INIMIGO É TRAIÇOEIRO)

Q: And that's why we invaded Iraq?

A: Yep. Invasions always work better than inspections.

Q: But after we invaded them, we STILL didn't find any weapons of mass destruction, did we?

A: That's because the weapons are so well hidden. Don't worry, we'll find something, probably right before the 2004 election. (WAR IS POLITICS, BUSINESS)

Q: Why did Iraq want all those weapons of mass destruction?

A: To use them in a war, silly. (CONSTRUINDO O CARÁTER DO INIMIGO)

Q: I'm confused. If they had all those weapons that they planned to use in a war, then why didn't they use any of those weapons when we went to war with them?

A: Well, obviously they didn't want anyone to know they had those weapons, so they chose to die by the thousands rather than defend themselves.

Q: That doesn't make sense. Why would they choose to die if they had all those big weapons with which they could have fought back? (HIDDEN STRATEGIES?)

A: It's a different culture. It's not supposed to make sense. (THE ENEMY IS IRRATIONAL - dialogue is impossible)

Q: I don't know about you, but I don't think they had any of those weapons our government said they did.

A: Well, you know, it doesn't matter whether or not they had those weapons. We had another good reason to invade them anyway.

Q: And what was that?

A: Even if Iraq didn't have weapons of mass destruction, Saddam Hussein was a cruel dictator (VILLAIN), which is another good reason to invade another country.

Q: Why? What does a cruel dictator do that makes it OK to invade his country?

A: Well, for one thing, he tortured his own people.

Q: Kind of like what they do in China?

A: Don't go comparing China to Iraq. China is a good economic competitor, where millions of people work for slave wages in sweatshops to make U.S. corporations richer. (WAR IS BUSINESS - MATHEMATICIAN OF WAR SUMS UP ITS PROFITS)

Q: So if a country lets its people be exploited for American corporate gain, it's a good country, even if that country tortures people?

A: Right.

Q: Why were people in Iraq being tortured?

A: For political crimes, mostly, like criticizing the government. People who criticized the government in Iraq were sent to prison and tortured.

Q: Isn't that exactly what happens in China?

A: I told you, China is different.

Q: What's the difference between China and Iraq?

A: Well, for one thing, Iraq was ruled by the Ba'ath party (ENEMY IS EVIL AND IRRATIONAL, LIKE A MONSTER OR DEVIL. THERE IS NO NEGOTIATION POSSIBLE), while China is Communist.

Q: Didn't you once tell me Communists were bad?

A: No, just Cuban Communists are bad. (COVENIENT DISCOURSE)

Q: How are the Cuban Communists bad?

A: Well, for one thing, people who criticize the government in Cuba are sent to prison and tortured.

Q: Like in Iraq?

A: Exactly.

Q: And like in China, too?

A: I told you, China's a good economic competitor. Cuba, on the other hand, is not. (CUBA DOES NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THE US)

Q: How come Cuba isn't a good economic competitor?

A: Well, you see, back in the early 1960s, our government passed some laws that made it illegal for Americans to trade or do any business with Cuba until they stopped being Communists and started being capitalists like us.

Q: But if we got rid of those laws, opened up trade with Cuba, and started doing business with them, wouldn't that help the Cubans become capitalists?

A: Don't be a smart-ass.

Q: I didn't think I was being one.

A: Well, anyway, they also don't have freedom of religion in Cuba. (THE HERO MUST FREE VICTIMS)

Q: Kind of like China and the Falun Gong movement?

A: I told you, stop saying bad things about China. Anyway, Saddam Hussein came to power through a military coup, so he's not really a legitimate leader anyway. (BUSH'S VICTORY ON THE BALLOTS IS QUESTIONED TILL TODAY!)

Q: What's a military coup?

A: That's when a military general takes over the government of a country by force, instead of holding free elections like we do in the United States. (AUTORITARISM IS AN ENEMY OF FREEDOM AND MUST BE STOPPED) (HOW DEMOCRATIC IS BUSH?)

Q: Didn't the ruler of Pakistan come to power by a military coup?

A: You mean General Pervez Musharraf? Uh, yeah, he did, but Pakistan is our friend.

Q: Why is Pakistan our friend if their leader is illegitimate?

A: I never said Pervez Musharraf was illegitimate.

Q: Didn't you just say a military general who comes to power by forcibly overthrowing the legitimate government of a nation is an illegitimate leader?

A: Only Saddam Hussein. Pervez Musharraf is our friend, because he helped us invade Afghanistan. (NATIOS FOR OR AGAINST THE US WAR ARE RESPECTIVELY NATURAL FRIENDS OR ENEMIES)

Q: Why did we invade Afghanistan?

A: Because of what they did to us on September 11th. (THE NATIONALIST DISCOURSE + THE SOLE FACT THAT THE AMERICAN MONEY METAPHOR REPRESENTED BY THE TWIN TOWERS WAS PHYSICALLY DESTROYED - there could never be any more serious offense to the country as a whole!)

Q: But what did Afghanistan do to us on September 11th?

A: Well, on September 11th, nineteen men ? fifteen of them Saudi Arabians ? hijacked four airplanes and flew three of them into buildings, killing over 3,000 Americans.

Q: So, how did Afghanistan figure into all that?

A: Afghanistan was where those bad men trained (VILLAINS), under the oppressive rule of the Taliban. (AUTORITARISM IS AGAINST FREEDOM)

Q: Aren't the Taliban those bad radical Islamics who chopped off people's heads and hands? (TALIBANS ARE MONSTERS)

A: Yes, that's exactly who they were. Not only did they chop off people's heads and hands, but they oppressed women, too.

Q: Didn't the Bush administration give the Taliban 43 million dollars back in May of 2001?

A: Yes, but that money was a reward because they did such a good job fighting drugs.

Q: Fighting drugs?

A: Yes, the Taliban were very helpful in stopping people from growing opium poppies.

Q: How did they do such a good job?

A: Simple. If people were caught growing opium poppies, the Taliban would have their hands and heads cut off.

Q: So, when the Taliban cut off people's heads and hands for growing flowers, that was OK, but not if they cut people's heads and hands off for other reasons?

A: Yes. It's OK with us if radical Islamic fundamentalists cut off people's hands for growing flowers, but it's cruel if they cut off people's hands for stealing bread.

Q: Don't they also cut off people's hands and heads in Saudi Arabia?

A: That's different. Afghanistan was ruled by a tyrannical
patriarchy that oppressed women and forced them to wear burqas whenever they were in public, with death by stoning as the penalty for women who did not comply. (AFGHANISTAN IS THE VILLAIN, AND THE WOMEN WHO DID NOT COMPLY ARE THE WRONGDOERS)

Q: Don't Saudi women have to wear burqas in public, too?

A: No, Saudi women merely wear a traditional Islamic body covering.

Q: What's the difference?

A: The traditional Islamic covering worn by Saudi women is a modest yet fashionable garment that covers all of a woman's body except for her eyes and fingers. The burqa, on the other hand, is an evil tool (VILLAINS ARE DEVILISH ONES)
of patriarchal oppression that covers all of a woman's body except for her eyes and fingers.

Q: It sounds like the same thing with a different name.

A: Now, don't go comparing Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia. The Saudis are our friends. (FOR OR AGAINST IDEOLOGY AGAIN, DEFINING FRIENDS OR ENEMIES)

Q: But I thought you said 15 of the 19 hijackers on September 11th were from Saudi Arabia.

A: Yes, but they trained in Afghanistan.

Q: Who trained them?

A: Osama bin Laden. (THE DEVIL HIMSELF! AMERICAN ENEMY #1! IRRATIONAL EVIL MONSTER)

Q: Was he from Afghanistan?

A: Uh, no, he was from Saudi Arabia too. But he was a bad man, a very bad man.

Q: I seem to recall he was our friend once.

A: Only when we helped him and the mujahadeen repel the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan back in the 1980s.

Q: Who are the Soviets? Was that the Evil Communist Empire Ronald Reagan talked about?

A: There are no more Soviets. The Soviet Union broke up in 1990 or thereabouts, and now they have elections and capitalism like us. We call them Russians now. (BUSINESS/PROFITS/FRIENDS)

Q: So the Soviets ? I mean, the Russians ? are now our friends?

A: Well, not really. You see, they were our friends for many years after they stopped being Soviets, but then they decided not to support our invasion of Iraq, so we're mad at them now. We're also mad at the French and the Germans because they didn't help us invade Iraq either. (FOR Vs AGAINST)

Q: So the French and Germans are evil, too?

A: Not exactly evil, but just bad enough that we had to rename French fries and French toast to Freedom Fries and Freedom Toast.

Q: Do we always rename foods whenever another country doesn't do what we want them to do?

A: No, we just do that to our friends. Our enemies, we invade.

Q: But wasn't Iraq one of our friends back in the 1980s?

A: Well, yeah. For a while.

Q: Was Saddam Hussein ruler of Iraq back then?

A: Yes, but at the time he was fighting against Iran, which made him our friend, temporarily.

Q: Why did that make him our friend?

A: Because at that time, Iran was our enemy.

Q: Isn't that when he gassed the Kurds?

A: Yeah, but since he was fighting against Iran at the time, we looked the other way, to show him we were his friend.

Q: So anyone who fights against one of our enemies automatically becomes our friend?

A: Most of the time, yes.

Q: And anyone who fights against one of our friends is automatically an enemy?

A: Sometimes that's true, too. However, if American corporations can profit by selling weapons to both sides at the same time, all the better. (WAR IS BUSINESS)

Q: Why?

A: Because war is good for the economy, which means war is good for America. Also, since God is on America's side, anyone who opposes war is a godless unAmerican Communist. Do you understand now why we attacked Iraq? (GOD IS THE VICTIM, THE US THE HERO, AND IRAQ THE VILLAIN)

Q: I think so. We attacked them because God wanted us to, right?

A: Yes.

Q: But how did we know God wanted us to attack Iraq?

A: Well, you see, God personally speaks to George W. Bush and tells him what to do.

Q: So basically, what you're saying is that we attacked Iraq because George W. Bush hears voices in his head?

A. Yes! You finally understand how the world works. Now close your eyes, make yourself comfortable, and go to sleep.

(TRUTH IS A RELATIVE CONCEPT MANIPULATED IN FAVOR OF CONVENIENCE AND ALSO OF WHAT IT INTENDS TO HIDE)

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