Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Why go there?

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The last straw
Sometimes it takes something simple and seemingly insignificant to cause an outburst of anger, dissatisfaction, despair, exasperation and aggression.

 
 
Recurrent social problems that are never dealt with by the authorities add to this mounting disapproval until it can no longer be contained:
 
  1. poor living conditions
  2. deficient health services
  3. incompetent educational systems
  4. increasing local, state and federal taxes
  5. shameless corruption and fraud
  6. an existential shortage of doctors and medical professionals
  7. a growing number of run-down buildings and areas
 
  • What do we say in the light of these absurdities?
  • Enough is enough!
    Enough of this shameless behavior
    Enough is enough!
    We've had enough of this!

    If things were not already chaotic, the fact that politicians seem to be able to get away with murder.

    Their shamelessness is enough to make anybody's blood boil 

    When we learn of their outrageous acts, we just hit the  roof. (we got really angry)

    The intention is not to be negative or pessimistic but there are several adjectives we can use
    to talk negatively about public spaces:
    1. ever-worsening
    2. decaying
    3. poor
    4. no-go
    5. dilapidated
    6. overcrowded
    7. run-down


    Some public spaces:
    1. buildings
    2. neighborhoods
    3. areas
    4. centers
    5. communities
    6. streets
    7. cities


    One particular space that usually sparks negative associations is a shanty town or slum, a.k.a. favela in Brazil.

    Cramped, dirty, noisy, overcrowded, smelly, unsafe, leaky pipes, faulty wiring. Just a few words that might come to mind.

    So the question is why would someone from a developed country want to visit a favela?

    Why go to a place that rises up around a posh area in Ipanema where middle-class locals would never dare to go?

    Why pay to visit a place that looks like a daunting impregnable fortress?

    Many people, government and press, believe they are making progress: historic buildings are being revitalized, hospitals are being refurbished, schools are being built, and public parks are being put up.
       
    The answers to these questions are yet to be found.  

     

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