Yesterday, Menon used the neighboring column to compare Abel Ferreira and Palmeiras to Jair Bolsonaro. Yup. That happened.
I usually keep to myself opinions about texts with which I disagree, after all, everyone has their own opinion and mine being different doesn’t make my colleague’s wrong – one of the great advantages of living under a democracy, by the way.
But there are limits. Menon argued that Abel and Palmeiras should not only complain about the arbitration against the club (which has been tragic), after all the problem is widespread. That problem includes players, versed in the school of simulation. That the “Against all and against all” is a disservice to the cause.
So far, so good. Even though Abel has already spoken numerous times about refereeing as a whole, even though he criticizes even the players themselves (and is deeply criticized for that), even though “Against everything and against everyone” is a motivation strategy for his team, which is, in the end, what is up to you.
How we leave this argument to compare Portuguese with “that candidate who, after being elected seven times by the electronic ballot box, now, when he has a tough election ahead, puts the system in doubt” is what I cannot grasp.
To match this president’s strategy, with everything that is known about him, and Abel Ferreira’s speech, endorsed by Palmeiras, about arbitration. “Dangerous narrative.”
To put in the same basket this president, with everything that is known about him, an entire institution and a professional who has never given any indication of being a bad person. Just for disagreeing with the way they deal with a system that does have problems. Many. Problems that Menon himself admits: referees, athletes, coaches.
Imagine if I, here, disagreeing with Menon’s speech, said: the journalist, like Jair, employs a dangerous narrative. The narrative of equating anyone he disagrees with with this president, with everything that is known about him.
I doubt that the parallel seemed fair to him. Why would not it be. Because parallels with this president, and all that is known about him, should be reserved for a few. Gradually able to live up to this hideous analogy. Able to achieve Jair’s feats.
Fortunately, this is not the case for Abel Ferreira. Not even Palmeiras. Nor from Menon. Nor of the vast majority of us, who continue to value and fight for our weakened democracy, despite so many dangerous narratives.