Evening star., 1962-09-13

of national consensus about
Fourth Of several articIes on Brozii.
~~---~-
where Brazil is or where it is
headed. Everyone walls about
the need for social and eco
'nomic reforms, but no respon-
rsible leader or group has yet
provided any compelling plan
of democratic action for achiev-
ing them.
This void and the wild con-
fusion it generates provides the
perfect opening for the Com
.munists. AS a party they are
not important. Indeed, they
are outlawed from running
candidates as such. But this
sillegality has become a blessing
IN disguise.
= Reds CamOufIage Selves
Communist easily camouflage
themselves and their ends in
the quite respectable slogans of
nationaliSrn. And they are fur
ther helped by ultra -conserva-
.tives who paste the label of
Communist or leftist on any,
one with unorthodox social or
economic ideas.
"The word Communist is
Thrown around so loosely here
That it is hard to say who is
and who is not" said Gilberto
Freyre, respected sociologist of
Northeast Brazil. during a long
talk at his home outside Recife.
And it is in the 500, 900
SQUARE miles of Brazil jutting
out into the Atlantic that this
vast confusion of ideas is hav-
ing a devastating impact. The
% million people living in
northeast Brazil - about 80
per cent of Brazils total popu-
lation-are the most poverty
stricken in the country. The
steady pressure Of mass mis-
cry and the concurrent break
down of the patriarchal land
owning system give a back
drop of turbulence to all de-
bate about correcting the ills
of the area.
Controversial Mayor
Much Of the controversy now
swirls around Miguel Arraes,
mayor of Recife, largest city
in the northeast. Because of
a split In the conservative OPP
position, he is almost certain
to be elected governor of the
key state of Pernambuco in
the October z elections. This
office will bring him even
greater powers because of the
current disarray in the Gen.
trail Brazilian government.
From the moment you enter
Recife you meet a large body
of quite respectable opinion
including that Of longtime
American MISUNDERSTANDING
Miguel Arraes is a Communist.
He is said to maintain close
contacts with Communist lead
ers in Rio de Janeiro. But he.
himself. says he is a Socialist.
and no one yet has been able
to prove otherwise.
On the face of it. the man
is not the controversial type.
He is q quiet well-mannered
politician who has proved him.
self a capable administrator in
Recife. He has begun many
social projects in the over
crowded city, and at the same
time maintained good rela-
tions with businessmen.
Foes Say He Is waiting"
On the other hand, he has
also been instrumental in turn
ing leading trade unions over
to Communist control. There
are those Of his opponents who
believe he is only waiting to
reach the top Of the governors
ladder before showing his real
stripes.
An example Of the suspicion
is the division over the Move
ment Of Popular Culture (MC?l
are its Portuguese initials) |
sponsored by Mr.. Arraes. This
organization, mostly of volun-
teer students and teachers. is
spurring an intensive campaign
against mass illiteracy. By
loud-speaker radio, by visual
aid techniQues, by simple pri-
mers, the MOP is teaching some
10000 adults and $4,000 chill
dren of the 'mocambo" slums
to read and write.
The opposition to Mr.. Arraes
claims the whole movement is
riddled with Communists, and
that the thrust of this "popu-
lar education" is perniciously
political.
"Of course, we have Com
munists here-juSt like we have
Catholics" answered Prof.
Paulo Freiere, one of the MOP
leaders. But it only a ques-
ton of minor divergence of
personal theology. We all work
well side by side because we
have the common aim of edu-
eating these people in the real
ity of Brazil"
Shows Primer
He brought out their simple
primer to show how that real
ity" is taught. The front cover
has moving photograph of a
big stubby-haired Negro pain
fully working out his first
ciphers.
Look at the first lesson"
said Prof. Freire. Does it
sound Communist" He opened
the book to the first page. In
large letters. the sentence read.