#3 "M" for Mourinho

I can't stress enough the importance of the role Portugal played in History and its influence in the world. Despite all of this, Portugal is still pretty much the remote relative that we all heard about, but never met. Part of the explanation for such, is that we hardly publicize or gloat about our own good stuff, "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" The remaining part of the explanation, evidently, is that other countries take credit for stuff we did (eg. “Port Wine” made in Spain, discovery of Australia, etc.). We have a clear marketing issue to sort out.

So when you think of Portugal, what do you immediately think of? Wine, sunny beaches, the mean, lean, winning machine, called José Mourinho?

Although C. Ronaldo is tenderly nicknamed by the Portuguese "soccer" fans as "boy-wonder", the Portuguese manager once again takes a title - the 3rd wonder of Portugal is in fact, the 1st wonder out of Portuguese football. Not so much because of his undeniable trainer skills, but because he is probably the only Portuguese man who publicly defends his own and gloats to the verge of madness about his conquests and those of his group.

Granted, he often lacks sportsmanship and blabbers too much; but it's exactly that which makes him so different from his countrymen, therefore, such a damn good model for his nation - a marketing genius! Not a bad leader of man, and a damn excellent coach too...

#2 Wonder @@ That

The 7 Wonders of Portugal according to Bloguistan are served to you in no particular order; however, wonder number two always comes first on my Wonder scale...
Meet Marisa Cruz - the best thing that happened to lucky Footballer João Pinto, himself a serious candidate to be one of the "wonders of Portugal" for infamously punching a referee in Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup. Now, at age 36, he's playing for FC Braga and to everybody's wonder, is in fact, Mr. Marisa Cruz.

#1 First Portuguese Sports Car

As promised, here is Wonder number one:

Vinci Gt, the first ever sports car completely made in Portugal, except for the motor.
The people who crafted the car, probably felt it would sell better worldwide if it had a familiar, international name - like "Vinci".

I have only the utmost respect and admiration for the Renaissance genius, probably the greatest genius ever, but just perhaps, "Gama" would be a good name too - not only is known internationally as well, it also has "Da" before the name...

No wonder then, that the world thinks our navigators are Spanish, Italian, etc.
Fears that consumers abroad would frown at a Portuguese made car, are justified. The car failed to start during its official presentation... making Da Vinci look bad.
But when it runs, that puppy can really go: 300 km/ph of pure vinci...

Even 7

‘Tis the day of druids and dwarves – the mythical 07.07.07 is upon us.

Quite appropriately, a symbolic election of the NEW 7 WONDERS is tacking place in Lisbon on this day, month and year. Just before the official ceremony begins, the election of the 7 “wonders of Portugal” is the consolation prize Portugal awards itself for missing out on the real big nominations…

Questionably, none of our many “wonders” qualified to be in the posh final list, so Bloguistan will soon post its very own list...

Now, seriously, what can compare to the ancient pyramids of Egypt, anyway? I'm a bit of a traditionalist, so only the original 7 wonders will do for me...

I feel that the only wonder to come out of this election, where anyone could vote online as many times as wished, the only big surprise is if Bush doesn’t claim this election too.

U S o B - United States of Bloguistan

Europeans are yet far from ready to live as one in a U.S. of Europe, and I doubt if ever will...

There are just too many differences, local and regional interests, petty quarrels, abundance of languages, and centuries of resentments separating the diverse peoples of the "old continent"...
It can work at some levels, eg. currency, economics, etc. - due to common markets and the globalization the Portuguese started (read on); but beyond these common points of international intersection, it will be difficult to implement union. The largest conflicts the world has seen have arised from several attempts at the unification of Europe. Even if this time a more tactful approach will be used, will not be easy and resistance will ensue.

Arguably the most important factor for European unification, has to be an "European Identity". Europeans need to feel Europeans, first and foremost, and be proud of it. Like, I guess, most Americans feel American through and through, and only then New Yorkers, or Hawaiians, etc. - with possibly the exception of Texans...
How many Europeans love Europe, as a cultural, geo-political diverse "entity"? Its old cities, lakes, mountains, brands of beer, gastronomy, sporting events, art, mix of sex prudery and promiscuity, etc.- from the warm shores of Portugal to the cold forests of Russia...

One of the most European countries of them all, I dare say, is one of the oldest as well: Portugal - and I will readily explain why, after a little introduction.
Portugal is not as homogeneous in population as you might believe. Its territory has been a "melting pot" since the last glaciation, and many different people have chipped in, through the ages, at some point.

In the age of Discoveries (from 15th century on), the Portuguese, already has an individual nation, have followed the example of Alexander, being the first country to eagerly mingle with people of all continents and considering them "Europeans", creating a mixed nobility in India and incorporating the "native" or mixed Africans, Asians and Amero-brazilians in religious orders, the military, etc., as citizens of own right, of which there are many examples in history.

However, Portugal has proved to be the most genuinely loyal and unselfish European country, by adhering, at all times, to the most eminently European cultural and religious pillars – the Greco-roman culture and the Juish-christian traditions.

While medieval super-powers like Venice were selling out to the Otoman Empire which controlled the spice commerce and used its exorbitant revenue to fund their conquest of Eastern Europe, the Portuguese are owed kudos for having open a new route to the spices and fighting off the Muslim hold of commerce between Asia and Europe – thus much contributing to halt the expansion of the Otomans to the west and initiating the current western “supremacy”. And what could be more European than "crusades"?

Unlike most European States that jumped in the world navigation wagon, lead by the Portuguese, we were driven not merely by economical profit, but also to spread the faith and civilization - which we made the point of sharing with non-europeans, sometimes against their liking … but many accepted the gift of Europesation gladly. And we were also happy to meet them, and their women, being the Portuguese the first Europeans in Japan, Australia and Southwest Asia (and in America, not counting the Vikings, that probably never had much inclination to know the squaws, in the biblical way)...

Thus, Portugal has been at all times a good “son” of Europe, although not such a good “father” to other nations that has founded or helped found…

So, at the end of the day, you gotta love Europe, as much as we do, to make it work…. and speaking of good "son", we should have our allowance raised...

The Ultimate Insult

Conan O’Brien, you tall, ginger, repressed, TV-comedy-chat show host!

I can’t believe you haven’t viciously insulted my country in front of a live audience and the all world, in “Conan O’Brien Hates My Homeland”!

Unless you intentionally spared mighty PISS of Bloguistan, you have affronted this noble and unique nation, by not utterly trashing it, as you have done to other noteworthy countries like the Marshall Islands or Togo.

I frankly do not know what is worst. To be forgotten and left out, it is a grave insult, because you are implying that this country is so unknown and meaningless, it is not worth offending… then again, your writers might just be so Geopolitically challenged that they have never heard of tiny but influential Bloguistan… we discovered you, maybe it’s about time you discover us… Conan's still welcome, anyway, anytime.

Ps - For further reading, see bellow post "Dude that's our country"

ET PLURIBUS UNUM

It's been a while since I last pointed out a less favorable trait of the my people. Not to loose practice, I will resume badmouthing the Poortuguese today, right after I finish with the English.

No really, I do have to hand it to the English – in spite of everything, they do have many qualities. One that I most admire, is how close they stick together and support each other – especially when they’re in a foreign land… wasted, passed out in their own puke, at the verge of an alcoholic induced coma, their just about sober mates will not give up on them, although they barely keep their own shorts above the crack of their arses…

It’s indeed remarkable, how they stand up for each other, in the good times and in the bad times. They are a gregarious lot. Pubs, societies, resorts, hooligans… the English relish the chance to go out in packs.

Italians are known to support their own, as well. The Poortuguese, however, show very poor unity with their fellow countrymen, at home or abroad. That is something quite peculiar, in a people that are basically just one people, sharing one language and one culture…

Alas, it’s mostly “every man for him self”. True friendships are rare, despite all the warm handshakes and pats on the back. People are seen for they value, as in “what can you do for me?” or “I’ll scratch your back, you scratch mine” etc. Often, this quickly turns to back stabbing, rug pulling and other nasty treachery moves.

I reckon this is still pretty much a tribal country. People more quickly hold allegiance to self or local interests than to the commonwealth…

It’s really a shame, for the only time in history that we were as one, that’s when we went and influenced the world and mankind...

"The Special One"

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS GIRL? Vanished May 3rd 2007, while on holiday.

I have some reservations about using my usual sarcasm in this post. We all feel for Madeleine and her family; and with all our hearts we wish that the little girl is returned safe and sound to her parents - she is indeed the special one here.

However, I have to set the record straight in what regards the over-the-top criticism the British Media has been spewing out, over the way the investigation is being conducted, so far...

Let me start by reversing the game: a Portuguese child vanishes in the UK - would anyone dare to say that child would get the same attention, the same media frenzy, the same scramble by the British authorities? Honestly? Not even near.
And what if the Portuguese Police or Portuguese media wanted to tell your people how to run the investigations?

Just like when England lost to Portugal in the World Cup Germany'07, the British tabloids rushed to find an escape-goat, they are out again looking for someone to blame...
From their "British superiority" they look down, yet again, to the tanned southerners who are lucky to live in a "warm" climate, otherwise they'd surely die, if food didn't grow in the trees... This "superiority" complex, this arrogance... where have we heard this before? Oh right, "The Special One", Jose Mourinho, the tabloids favorite target... "We know best, we do it better"... look who's the "special one" now...

We are all frustrated by the lack of immediate results from the investigation, and although there is always something that could have been done differently, it is insulting the way critics have been pouring down like Portugal is Britain's colony!!!
Things work differently around here, and that doesn't necessarily mean "worst"! Just accept that people and an investigation are more important than selling newspapers! Portugal is only the unfortunate background to this Bristish crime and drama; furthermore, Scotland Yard has many things not to be proud of (who's forgotten about the Brazilian lad shot last year, in Oval tube?)...

Many people in Portugal believe that the "secrecy of justice" rule (which prevents too much information from being revealed to the public before the end of the investigation) is archaic and should be used sparingly; I agree, but the tantrums British media have displayed, are unacceptable.

Many people in Portugal also believe that, to leave very young children on their own, when they could have free babysitting, it is a crime, and actually so does the law – many people even called that, 3^rd world behavior...

Yes, Portuguese Police may be less “experienced” in some sort of crimes that are rare here (thank God), but to even suggest that they are less capable, it is the same as to suggest that British parents are less able parents…

Dude, That's Our Country

Ok now, all of you foreigners with two living brain-cells who keep getting mighty Portugal confused with shanty Spain, read the following and find out the difference between the two countries - an account made by a foreigner who visited an old Portuguese town, Olivença, occupied by Spain with the help of Napoleon's army, since the early 19th century; a situation akin to Gibraltar...

"Wandering around the old part of the town, what strikes me is how much cleaner and tidier Olivenza is compared with most Spanish towns. Then there is the noise - or lack of it. Walk through any town in Spain any time out of siesta hour and the decibel level can leave you wincing. In Olivenza people speak quietly - like the Portuguese, in fact. The past has left other positive traces. I have never seen a Spanish bakery with such a wide variety of pastries and marzipans as the one just off the Plaza de España. And the restaurants serving Olivenza's 11,000 population have plenty of Portuguese dishes on offer - notably cod, which is as close as food comes to being a religious offering in western Iberia". by Anthony Jefferies

THE TELEGRAPH, 19-Aug-2006

Land of Confusion

Democracy and Freedom. It’s like broccoli and spinach. They’re good for you, but not everybody wants them. On the other hand, tobacco - it’s harmful, but many people don’t care. That's the beauty of Freedom and Democracy.

Many Americans have questioned themselves as why some people (namely in Iraq and Afghanistan) don’t seem to greet democracy and liberty with open arms, but rather with bullets and explosive belts.
Even if this western gift would not be wrapped in violence and coming from the hands of the “infidels”, many people in the Islamic countries would still not accept the offer of democracy and freedom lightly. Many aspects of their tradition and religion are at odds with democracy and liberty, and people could not be expected to change so considerably, from night to day. After all, in Christian Europe, this change took some 500 years to mature! That’s what good-intentioned Americans didn’t understand. Maybe if they’d pay more attention to other cultures and other countries, they could learn that democracy and liberty are not among the highest priorities everywhere in the world. It’s probably shocking to find it out like that, but when people don’t have security, food, money or a home, most likely they don’t have education either; so that’s probably why they don’t think democracy and freedom can help them to put food on the table and a roof over their heads. Then again, some people may have very little or just enough to get by, and still live happily in a state shy of democracy (and vice versa). Because whatever you selling, they ain't buying. Also, the way you come literally knocking down their doors, along with their houses, without being invited and merely supported on poor excuses, that may also inhibit the locals to adopt your democratic ways...