Democracy Vs Pseudo-Democracy

Democracy = a form of government in which power is held by the people, under a free electoral system.

From the Greek δημοκρατία  (demokratia); δήμος (demos)= people and κράτος (kratos) = rule, strength. 

It is said that there are many definitions of democracy (I suppose in a diplomatic attempt to justify the twists and turns in the democracy of some cultures) however there are two principles that are common to any definition:

1. All members of society have equal access to power. 
2. All members of society enjoy universally recognised freedoms and liberties.

In theory, this looks good, proper, decent...however how often is this really implemented & exercised?

The people have the right to have equal access to power. Well, this can only occur when the people have equal access to equal education of quality, information, opportunities and health care. 

If a government fails in providing its people (the power house of any country, and literally its main shareholder) with the basics so that it can better decide on how its nation should be ran, administrated, managed, governed, and protected; and so that it can aspire to one day serve its fellow citizens...then that government ignores the true meaning of demokratia. When a government chooses to forget that its job is to serve, to defend the interests of its nation, of its land; its main shareholder has not only the right but also the obligation to bring down this selfish, despicable, shameful, corrupt and democratic-agnostic pseudo-government. 

The people have the right to enjoy universal freedoms & liberties. Yes, it does but it doesn’t always. Sadly we look around only to realise that freedom & liberty are often two neglected concepts:

Case I: the government obliterates the notion that exists to serve and protect, thus beginning to exploit, abuse & attack the people; betray its trust; and, in some cases, annihilate the highest form of freedom through censorship and embellished dictatorship.

Case II: the people itself obliterates the fact that with freedom and liberty come responsibility, sacrifice, duty to the nation, service, commitment, common good and vigilance. 

True freedom and liberty require knowledge. An individual, a people, that doesn’t have it, is never free; living thus subjugated to manipulation and deceit. 

It is the duty of the knowledgeable to ensure that its fellow citizens have real access to the freedom and liberty. 

Democracy is the most beautiful political form of governance I have ever had the pleasure to read about. Its spirit is equalitarian yet respecting individuality and progress. 

However it is not fully implemented...not yet. It is a word we like to blow in the wind, spit on the ground and dream about; for as long as there is one member of our society who doesn’t have access to education, information, health care, universally recognised freedoms and liberties (the very core of demokratia), then democracy has failed; proving therefore that we live in a pseudo-democracy. 

For another democratic viewpoint please read LS' article: Here.

Analysing Eve

What on earth went through Eve’s mind?
God was very clear when He ordered Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit of the tree sitting right in the middle of the Eden (that delightful, delicious, appealing tree...a true temptation). However she wanted to know, she decided that Adam and she deserved to know more, to acquire scientific knowledge...

Sometimes I try to put myself in Eve’s shoes: there she was, in the middle of paradise with no clothes on (ok, forget for a second that the Biblical nudity may represent innocence of mind, total openness, no taboos, no malice); unshaved legs and armpits; no manicure kit; no shoes (good grief!); and stuck to a guy (who, according to the evolutionists) was ugly as hell – what a turn off.
Before such vicissitudes she had to do something; so she began to gaze at the tempting tree...

Eve manipulated the serpent...
The dialogue between the two is rather odd...the woman is approached by the creature that asks her (as if wanting to confirm) what God had ordered. Now, this caught Eve’s attention, for she might have been questioning the commandment for quite a while; so she “confirms” it to the snake; that immediately set its plot in motion (not knowing that fair Eve had already set hers in motion first): “You shall not surely die”
Upon listening to these words, the woman received the confirmation she expected...they won’t die in physical terms, but if God had said that they’d die...He must have meant “change”...the change she needed and wanted. She begins to think about the future (after all, somebody has to): if she has the guts to take the fruit off the tree, have a taste of it and then share it with her man...imagine the knowledge they’d acquire to invent things...her eyes shone before such possibility.
It took her a second to complete her strategy...then she made the serpent feel important. The latter filled with vanity utters the words that doomed its species for eternity “for God knows that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as God, knowing good and evil”...
This was how Eve got rid of her intellectual adversary...

The woman ate the fruit. She offered it to her man, who also ate it. God (Who was disappointed at the fact that Eve had not disappointed Him) sent them forth of the Garden of Eden; thus condemning them to hard work, and pain, that set off their creative flow.

Like Fernando Pessoa wrote (in the poem “Prince Harry ”):

“God wills, man dreams, the task is born”

Image: The Garden of Eden by Jacopo Bassano

Musical Video: "Morna" by Tito Paris

We have experienced funáná, batuku; and this week I will introduce you to another traditional Cape Verdean musical genre: the morna. 

Morna is traditionally played with acoustic instruments; and it reflects the reality of the people of Cape Verde (being thus the genre that most defines the Cape Verdeans). It is the national symbol of the archipelago (just like Fado is Portugal's national symbol; in fact there are some similarities between the two genres since the both sing the pain of departure). 

The theme of Morna songs are usually emigration, the return, saudade, love for the nation, the sea etc. 

For a more in depth reading, please click here.

This week I will introduce you to Tito Paris (another Cape Verdean artist), singing a morna entitled "Morna". The lyrics is not available on the web, so unfortunately I won't be able to share it with you.

Nevertheless I invite you to drink this soothing song...

Wisdom Understanding Knowledge

“How blessed is the man who finds wisdom” (Proverbs 3:13)

The image we have of a wise person is: a calm and patient being, capable of offering solutions (inspired by something that transcends us) to problems. And then, when we do not see the reflection of ourselves in this image, we make it seem like wisdom is exclusive to a very few; when it isn’t.

Wisdom is at the reach of everyone: it’s for free. All we have to do is to want to find it, then want to keep it, then want to apply it in life, and finally want to share it with others.

The question that Humanity should ask itself is: if it is for free and all we have to do is want it, then why is it so difficult to be wise?

Because in an era of consumerism what is for free seems to be considered cheap and of poor quality; and apparently people prefer to want to live a life of over-debt, stress, void and chaos…all the things that wisdom does not provide.

When Men become wise, their life is invaded by organization, method, calm, order, and fulfilment…

What is wisdom, then? It is to observe life and drink it. 

“For if you cry for understanding, lift your voice for discernment” (Proverbs 2:3)...

...you will be able to understand life.

It is not enough to observe & intake our existence (wisdom), it is vital that we fully comprehend it if we are to keep some level of sanity and succeed in fulfilling our mission.

Our brain must grasp and assimilate every single detail pertaining to existence and, to our personal universe...otherwise understanding life becomes impossible.

“And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge (...)” (Exodus 31: 3)

Knowledge is the key for everything. The more we know the more we understand; the more we understand the quicker we attain wisdom. 

Now, there are a few ways of acquiring knowledge on earth (academically, empirically & spiritually), however what they have in common is the danger lurking when we fail to know how to deal with the acquired knowledge: ruin of the Self.

If we go bankrupt in dealing with too much academic knowledge, we incur the risk of becoming serial killers (we know so much that we become vain, start despising and loathing others & experimenting evil); if we fail dealing with too much empirical knowledge, we take the risk of transforming ourselves into arrogant anti-scholars and vain know-it-all; if we are insolvent in dealing with excessive spiritual knowledge we will end up crossing the border of darkness, vainly believe that we are the new messiah and accuse other spiritual groups of being false (showing, thus, a total lack of understanding).

By neglecting the way we deal with knowledge, we invite vanity to take over and shun understanding and wisdom.

Wisdom without understanding and knowledge is useless. What’s the point of observing life if we don’t understand it and ignore its essence?

Understanding without wisdom and knowledge is impossible. If one doesn’t observe life and ignores it, what’s there to be understood?

Knowledge without wisdom and understanding is sheer arrogance and corruption.

Concatenating wisdom, understanding and knowledge is the key to a healthy existence. 

Image: Jews by Rembrandt

Video: Introduction to the Batuku

You have been introduced, in last week's article, to funáná. This week I will introduce you to another traditional Cape Verdean musical genre: Batuque. 

The Batuque (or Batuku in Creole; played by women [the Batukaderas], who clap hands or slap a cloth) is the oldest musical genre that stems from the African continent. The Portuguese administration, and the Church, were heavily against the Batuque because it was considered sinful or even too "African". This antagonism lasted until the fascist era in Portugal (during the 50's it  nearly "died"). 

During the 90's the Batuku experienced a re-birth...but enough of talking...just experience this genre by visualising the video below: 

The Lusosphere: Cape Verde

The caravel has left Lisbon to discover new land...the Infante Henrique, Duke of Viseu, bears the ambition of expanding the Portuguese Kingdom throughout the seas…

1456: 12 uninhabited islands are discovered (5 by the Italian Antonio da Noli and 7 by the Portuguese Diogo Gomes and Diogo Afonso – all working for the Portuguese throne). This archipelago was baptized “Cape Verde” (formed by the following Islands: Brava, Fogo, Santiago, Maio, Boa Vista, São Nicolau, São Vicente, Santo Antão, Santa Luzia, Ilhéu Branco e Ilhéu Grande).

In the following centuries, the strategic location of Cape Verde, contributed immensely not only to its economic development (since it supplied ships with goods and all slaves going to Vera Cruz, the Caribbean and south of the United States were fetched here); but also to Brazil’s colonisation process and economic history (several animal and plant species introduced in the new colony had come from the archipelago).

1650: Cape Verde becomes the administrator of the Portuguese territory of Guinea.

1817: The opening of the first public primary school, in Praia city (Santiago Island).

1831-1833: Period of hunger, resulting in the death of thousands of people. International help arrived from the United States, since Portugal was going through a civil war (1828-1834).

1838: The British install, in Mindelo (São Vicente Island), a coal deposit (due to steam boats). New periods of hunger, that provoked a mass emigration of Cape Verdeans.

1876: Abolition of the slave trade. The interest for the islands decreased until the 20th century, after the WWII.

Cape Verde achieved its independence in the 5th of July, 1975 (after the Portuguese revolution of 1974).

The majority of Cape Verdeans is mulatto (since they are a mix of the descendants of slaves and their Portuguese masters). 

The language spoken in this country is the crioulo of Portuguese lexical basis (since it preserved some lexical, phonological and semantic roots of the Portuguese spoken during the 16th and 17th centuries).

The traditional music of the archipelago stems from European musical elements (mainly from Portugal); and its genres are: batuque, koladera, funáná, morna (which is similar to fado) and tabanca.

We shall start by funáná: the video below introduces you to Gilyto, singing "Larga", where he encourages us never to quit on our ambitions, to believe in ourselves and to have faith in God (the chorus "Cá bu larga" = don't quit). 

I must warn you that the rythm of this song is contagious...so have fun!

Next Port: Guinea-Bissau

Translation: "My Baby" by Denis Graça

Cabo-Love: a fusion of Coladera and Zouk

My Baby

Ma baby

Dexan contôb e dexan mostrôb

porqué qu'n t'amôb

é bô boca e bô corpo

é q ta fazén sabe

estôd ma bô fazen senti o qué que é amor

só por isso 'm ta espera nô ta f'ca sempre djunte

nha kuzinha

nha sabinha

nha b'nitinha

ca bô muda

[Refrão]

ma baby

bô pureza e natureza

fazen apaixona (ma baby)

nada e ninguén

Ca ta consigui fazen pára (ma baby)

ma baby

bô pureza e natureza

fazen apaixona (ma baby)

nada e ninguén

Ca ta consigui fazen pára

na bô corpo 'm crê náda

e na bôs ois afoga

'm kris certeza

e bô dan certeza e sinceridade

nha kuzinha bô é

nha b'nitinha bô é

pa bo 'm ta subi qualquer montanha

se bo ... tiver la

ma né tud dia q bô ta ama

e nô sabe que vida é um só

dexan ser feliz agora com um qualquer

ma bo é qu'n crê dá fim

[Refrão - 2 vezes]

my baby

bô é ...

bô é ...

bô é ...

... my baby

moda bô ...

moda bô ...

... é só bo

baby

ca tem ninguén sima bô (my baby)

não não não não não não...

nha kuzinha

nha b'nitinha

[Refrão]

my baby ...

nha kuzinha ...

----------------------

My Baby

My Baby

Let me tell and show you

The reason why I love you;

Your mouth and body

Let me know that we are one,

But you show me what is love

And so I hope we'll be together

Forever

My shorty

My sweet-heart

My beauty

Don't ever change

[Chorus]

My baby

Your purity and nature

I fell in love with

My baby

Nothing nor anyone

Can tear us apart

My baby

My baby

Your purity and nature

I fell in love with

My baby

Nothing nor anyone

Can tear us apart

My baby

I want to swim in your body

Drown in your eyes,

I wanted to be sure

And me you reassured

To me honesty you offered

You are my shorty

You are my beauty

For you I'll climb any mountain

If you...are up there...

It's not everyday you find a love like this,

And we know that we only live once,

I could be happy with someone else

But it's with you I want my days to end

[Chorus 2x]

my baby

You are...

You are...

You are...

... my baby

Cause you...

Cause you ...

... You are the only one

Baby

There's no one like you (my baby)

No no no no no no...

My shorty

My beauty

[Chorus]

my baby ...

My shorty

Translated by Max Coutinho