Wednesday, April 26: Handling School Violence
Brazil is learning from the mistakes our politicians continue to make
Earlier this month, on April 5, a Brazilian man killed four children in a daycare center in a violent act that shocked the nation. Since then, authorities have rounded up around 300 adults and minors across the country who are accused of spreading hate speech or stoking school violence.
While this legal crackdown risks turning into potential judicial overreach, it underlines the difference in response between a country that wants to avoid future tragedy and a country that’s made it part of everyday life. Brazil’s all-hands effort to stamp out the emerging trend of school attacks stands in stark contrast to the US, where these attacks have grown more frequent and deadlier over a longer period.
Actions taken in the US, as well as the wide variety of actions that haven’t been adopted, are helping guide the Brazilian response. Because that’s what this country has become, an example for other countries on how not to handle catastrophe.
“We have learned from the successes and the mistakes of other countries, especially the United States.”
Renan Theodoro, researcher with Center for the Study of Violence at the University of Sao Paulo
Brazil has seen almost two dozen attacks or violent episodes in schools since 2000, with half of them coming in the last 12 months, including the shocking daycare center attack April 5. Meanwhile, the US has had too many school shootings to count since 2000, I truly can’t fathom how Brazil could do a worse job handling this than what we’re doing/not doing on this side.
Side Items
RIP Harry Belafonte: The civil rights icon, singer, and actor passed yesterday at the age of 96. Belafonte not only participated in protest marches and benefit concerts, but he helped organize and finance them. He worked closely with his friend Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., often intervening on his behalf with both politicians and fellow entertainers and helping him financially. According to MLK’s children, he went so far as to pay for their babysitter while their mother attended their father’s funeral. He risked his fame, his life and his livelihood and set high standards for younger celebrities of color. His best known song may be the iconic Banana Boat Song, but my personal favorite will always be his performance of Malaika (My Angel) with African legend Miriam Makeba
Sad Favre: Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Faye Peterson denied former NFL quarterback/jeans advocate Brett Favre’s attempt to dismiss civil charges against him.Peterson also blocked Favre’s request for a hearing on his motion, saying it was unnecessary and calling his legal arguments “unpersuasive and inapplicable.” This judge basically saw that Favre was annoyed that people were calling him a thief and she said…but you kinda are though… The Mississippi Department of Human Services is currently targeting 47 defendants who it says fraudulently transferred nearly $80 million in funds from the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, or TANF