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April 20, 2004
Brazil
In psychological terms, says Gil, the problem with puritans is that they have to repress the "shadow" (in Jungian terminology), or project it elsewhere. They have to find an enemy to become the repository of all evil.
The real danger comes when one lot of puritans come up against another even more illiberal group, such as extreme Muslims. I told Gil of a surreal conversation I had with a wannabe suicide bomber in Yemen, who told me with absolute seriousness that if he could behave himself on earth or preferably be a martyr, he could look forward to an eternity of non-stop sex with virgins and as much drink and drugs as he could manage. As he had a Kalashnikov I wasn't going to argue. It did occur to me that here was a man who could really use a week at the Rio Carnival.
Telegraph | Arts | First person singular: the connection between Brazil and Janet's nipple
(also see "We liked Brazil before it was cool..." at WorldChanging for some of the fascinating political decisions Brazil's new government is making)
Posted by thdyck on April 20, 2004
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