The Twenty Greatest...."

A few years ago, in 2000, I think, Isto é magazine sponsored a project to determine the greatest Brazilians of the twentieth century. The results were specific for different sectors (politics, science, art, etc...) and were determined by a panel of experts in each area. The original ranking can be found here: http://www.terra.com.br/istoe/biblioteca/brasileiro/ciencia/indice.htm

Isto é magazine is an excellent weekly periodical, maybe a little deeper and serious than its rival, Veja magazine. I have to admit that in general, about 70% to 80% of the people selected in each category are not bad choices, but in all modesty I think I can do better. The original results and comments from the magazine are on the left while my corrected list is on the right side with my comments. Be aware that the criteria I am using for my ranking is overall influence and impact, not whether a person is good and/or bad. Another thing: I will let my personal preferences and prejudices affect my choices, but not in the ranking -- only in the comments on the right side. Oh yes, as stated before, to follow this page you need to have a fairly deep knowledge of Brazil.

Later... I have added two more lists at the end of this page: Happy Brazilians and the 10 most corrupt.

Greatest leaders and Statesmen

Isto é magazine list
1) JUSCELINO KUBITSCHEK - Pioneer of Brazilian industrialization.
2) GETÚLIO VARGAS - Led the nation into the industrial era
3) ULYSSES GUIMARÃES - Mr Direct Elections
4) TANCREDO NEVES - Guaranteed democratic transition
5) LUIZ CARLOS PRESTES - O Knight of Hope
6) BETINHO - Mobilized the nation in the fight against misery
7) CÂNDIDO RONDON - Braved the frontier but respected the Indians
8) BARÃO DO RIO BRANCO - Redrew the map without firing even one shot
9) JÂNIO QUADROS - Rapid rise of a moralist
10) JOÃO GOULART - Overthrown in 1964, didn't resist to avoid bloodshed
11) FERNANDO HENRIQUE CARDOSO - Beat inflation and got re-elected
12) MIGUEL ARRAES - A legend in the backlands of the Northeast
13) LEONEL BRIZOLA - Commanded civil resistance in 1961
14) CASTELLO BRANCO - First president of the military regime
15) TEOTÔNIO VILELA - Minstrel of Alagoas
16) BRIGADEIRO EDUARDO GOMES - Hero of the "Upraising of the 18" in the fortress
17) LUIZ INÁCIO LULA DA SILVA - Main labor union leader, three times candidate for president
18) OSWALDO ARANHA - the "soul" of the 1930 revolution
19) CAMPOS SALES - Sanitized public finances at the beginning of the century
20) RODRIGUES ALVES - Got rid of Yellow Fever
 My new, improved list
1) GETÚLIO VARGAS - Revolutionary, fascist, president, dictator, and communist idol - Brasil's equivalent to Franklin Roosevelt. Getulio did it all. There is no question that he is number 1. Suicide.
2) ULYSSES GUIMARÃES - For over 30 years, as generals and "presidents" came and went, Old Ulysses was there. Steady but no sense of humor. Tragic death.
3) LUIZ INÁCIO LULA DA SILVA - Labor union leader and president on the 4th try. Patient and honest I believe. A true man of the people. Lets hope he keeps radicals at bay and changes the 'system'.
4) LUIZ CARLOS PRESTES - Long time, long-lived head of Brazilian communists. Made a 'great march' that rivaled Maos. Used to annoy his Brazilian comrades, singing the internazionale in Russian. I saw him once as an old man in Rio in the 1980s. Oh yes, he was on the KGB payroll. Between Prestes and humanity give me Olga.
5) JUSCELINO KUBITSCHEK - The 1950's were his. He built Brasilia and brought the automobile industry to Brazil. The last of the old-style (pre 1964) politicians. Tragic death.
6) BETINHO - I was surprised to see him on this list, but since there is no list for humanitarians, it is fitting he should be here. He and his brothers were tragically stricken with AIDS. Out of respect, I leave him here.
7) BARÃO DO RIO BRANCO - Somebody from earlier in the century. Good sense and great political skills. A true diplomat. Expanded Brazilian border by charm and brains.
8) CARLOS LACERDA - How could they have forgotten a troublemaker like Lacerda?
9) TANCREDO NEVES - Why not? A good guy, worked quietly for democracy. Tragic death, another.
10) CÂNDIDO RONDON - I have only heard good things about this explorer.
11) CASTELLO BRANCO - One of many Generals. He though he acted in the best interests of the nation, little did he know... Tragic death.
12) EDUARDO GOMES - Revolutionary and almost president. "Brigadeiro" candy named after him.
13) JOÃO GOULART - Not a smart guy; made a mess and then made the wrong friends. Yes, he tried to resist, but saw it was hopeless.
14) JÂNIO QUADROS - A nut! Think Groucho Marx, but without the humor. The 1964 coup was all Quadro's fault. He made Goulart president.
15) TEOTÔNIO VILELA - Representing all the powerful, but feudal "Coronals" of the Northeast
16) FERNANDO HENRIQUE CARDOSO - The last 10 years of the century were his. A moderate, and indecisive
17) GENERAL GOLBERY (DO COUTO E SILVA) - The brains behind the military regime. He decided who was a player and who was not. Head of the Intelligence Agency
18) LEONEL BRIZOLA - The last caudilho. Sao Paulo did not like him, which made him a loser. Famous for "brother-in-law is not family", referring to Goulart.
19) OSWALDO ARANHA - Smart guy, the brains behind Getulio. Also president of the UN.
20) CAMPOS SALES - One of the more notable presidents at the beginning of the 20th century. Was actually elected. Most of those guys are just street names now (Rodrigues Alves,Afonso Pena, Nilo Peçanha, Delfim Moreira, Epitácio Pessoa, Washington Luis, etc...) Streets, all of them.

Sports

Isto é magazine list
1) AYRTON SENNA - Three times champion of Formula 1; a myth of race car driving all over the world. Considered the best driver of all times
2) PELÉ - Never has there been a soccer player like him. One of the most popular sports figures of the planet, he even caused warring nations to declare a truce to be him play
3) GARRINCHA - The angel with the crooked legs that enchanted stadiums
4) OSCAR SCHMIDT - World record holder with 41 thousand points
5) MARIA ESTHER BUENO - The lady of Brazilian tennis
6) ÉDER JOFRE - The first name in Brazilian boxing
7) EMERSON FITTIPALDI - Champion on all race tracks
8) HORTÊNCIA - Queen of basketball, commanded the Brazilian victory in Australia, 1994
9) ZICO - A crack player of the post-Pele era
10) JOÃO DO PULO - One of the most versatile track athletes
11) ADHEMAR FERREIRA DA SILVA - Only Brazilian with two Olympic gold medals
12) JOAQUIM CRUZ - Gold in the 800 meters in the Los Angeles Olympics
13) PAULA - The Americans call her Magic Paula
14) NELSON PIQUET - First to win a triple Formula 1 championship
15) GUSTAVO BORGES - Won the silver medals in the 100m in Barcelona and in the 200m in Atlanta, where he got the bronze in the 100m free style
16) GUGA - The best ranked Brazilian tennis player
17) ZAGALLO - The only one to win four World Cups
18) LEÔNIDAS - High scorer at the beginning of the century, invented the "bicycle" kick
19) AURÉLIO MIGUEL - First Olympic gold medal in Judo
20) RONALDINHO - Principle soccer star of the 1990s
 My new, improved list
1) PELÉ - 1000 plus goals. Probably the greatest athlete ever, of the world's most popular sport. To put him into second place in this category is a bad joke.
2) GARRINCHA - Only one word: incredible. In 1962 he won the World Cup almost by himself. Garrincha was, however, basically a moron with an IQ of 70, but he was a genius with his feet.
3) JAIRZINHO and all the members of the 1970 team (Rivelino, Tostao, Gerson, etc...). The best team, ever. Never again will we see so much talent on a field.
4) VAVA and all the 1958 team (Zito, Nilton Santos, Zozimo, Pepe, etc...)
5) LEÔNIDAS - Classic player and father of the Brazilian Football tradition.
6) EMERSON FITTIPALDI - Champion on all race tracks. Better then Senna? Well Emerson is alive. If he hadn't raced against Jackie Stewart, he would have won 10-12 more GPs.
7) AYRTON SENNA - Three times champion of Formula 1; a myth of race car driving all over the world. Considered the best driver of all times until his last race. Sad.
8) ÉDER JOFRE - The first name in Brazilian boxing. Small but powerful and determined.
9) MARIA ESTHER BUENO - The First Lady of Brazilian tennis. In the 60s it was Ester and Eder, Eder and Ester.
10) ADHEMAR FERREIRA DA SILVA - Only Brazilian with two Olympic gold medals
11) HORTÊNCIA - Miss energy! Queen of basketball, commanded the Brazilian victory in Australia, 1994
12) PAULA - The Americans called her Magic Paula. At age 14 she was on the national team.
13) ZICO - So-so and somewhat irregular. The problem is that we expected another Pele
14) NELSON PIQUET - First to win a triple Formula 1 championship. Maybe Jose Carlos Pace name would be here too, except for a fatal plane ride.
15) ADEMIR DA GUIA - Like father, like son. Quiet unrecognized competence at Palmeiras for two decades.
16) ROSA BRANCA - The father of Brazilian basketball.
17) GUSTAVO BORGES - Won the silver medals in the 100m in Barcelona and in the 200m in Atlanta, where he got the bronze in the 100m free style
18) GUGA - The best (and only?) ranked Brazilian tennis player
19) OSCAR "Holy Hand" SCHMIDT - World record holder with 41 thousand points; Brazil's Michael Jordan
20) ZAGALLO - The only one to win four World Cups, just plain lucky in my opinion, but that's better than nothing.
I probably should have put Ronaldo and maybe even Romario on the list, somewhere, but...

Music

This is going to be the hardest category; too many choices and only 20 names...
Isto é magazine ranking
1) CHICO BUARQUE -Author of A Banda e Apesar de Você, one of the most exuberant poets of Brazilian Popular Music. (MPB)
2) TOM JOBIM - Best internationally known Brazilian composer
3) VINÍCIUS DE MORAES - A poet that enhanced popular music
4) MILTON NASCIMENTO - An accomplished voice, consecrated around the world.
5) CAETANO VELOSO - Inventor of tropicália; incomparable lyrics
6) VILLA-LOBOS - Most important Brazilian classical composer
7) LUIZ GONZAGA - The king of Baião (a kind of ballad)
8) ELIS REGINA - A singer with impeccable technique
9) NOEL ROSA - One of the greatest sambistas of Rio de Janeiro
10) GILBERTO GIL - First class singer and instrumentalist
11) PIXINGUINHA - Absolute master of the choro, a slow melancholic jazz
12) ROBERTO CARLOS - The most popular singer
13) ARI BARROSO - A pioneer and innovator, he created a new kind of samba
14) DORIVAL CAYMMI - Portrayed the lives of the fishermen in Bahia
15) JOÃO GILBERTO - Invented a new way of singing and playing the guitar
16) PAULINHO DA VIOLA - A noble representative of Rio's samba
17) CARTOLA - One of the great names in the history of samba
18) LUPICÍNIO RODRIGUES - The master of the dor-de-cotovelo (broken heart)
19) CHIQUINHA GONZAGA - Combined the classical with the popular
20) CARMEN MIRANDA - The most successful Brazilian artist abroad.
 My corrected ranking
1) CHICO BUARQUE - By far the greatest Brazilian composer and one of the best in the world. Period. Also good friend of Fidel. So it's like this: Brazilian Generals torturing people is bad. Cuban Generalissimo torturing people is good. Fidel, can I have another cookie. Yes, Chico, have another one. Chico, mi grande amigo, did I ever tell you about those librarians we arrested? They squealed like 'porcos' when we questioned them about their subversive activities.
2) TOM JOBIM - One word: class. Jobim was the Mozart of Brazilian music. His songs are timeless, the melodies flow by themselves through our minds.
3) MILTON NASCIMENTO - There is no better song in the world than Travessia. Nascimento's work is a journey into the human soul.
4) LUIZ GONZAGA - Asa Branca should be played everyday in Brasilia at the beginning of each legislative session. Maybe that would make the damn politicos a little more human. I wonder.
5) CARMEN MIRANDA - From hat maker to Hollywood, there has never been another Brazilian like Carmen. Based upon her vocal work at Atlantida, she deserves to be at the top of any list.
6) ELIS REGINA - 100% voice and feeling. Elis was probably the greatest Brazilian female vocalist ever. Fim de papo!
7) ARI BARROSO - The Brazilian "Hammerstein". His tunes are all classic. Why do you think the name of this site is BrazilBrazil?
8) VINÍCIUS DE MORAES - the result of mixing a couple of beers, a guitar and inspiration. His songs are quiet reflections of Brazilian hopes and dreams.
9) ROBERTO CARLOS - OK, OK. Often underrated, but a true romantic. Millions of women love this guy. He sings to all and each of them. It is all in the details.
10) JOÃO GILBERTO - As they say in Brazil: tecnica! To Gilberto playing music is a science, but the sound is art.
11) NOEL ROSA - I used to drive through Vila Isabel and think about his music and the sidewalks rolled by. The fading voice of a Rio de Janeiro that is long gone.
12) CAETANO VELOSO - An interesting person, full of conflicts. Caetano is at his best when expressing the inconsistencies of life in Brazil. He basically invented tropicália, a mixture of "Brasil maravilha" and "Brazil merda". I will probably get into trouble for that! Hum, maybe I prefer his sister, Maria Bethania.
13) PIXINGUINHA - I like choro, but only in small doses. After six hours of samba, ten minutes of choro, preferaby on the flute, will bring you back to earth.
14) GILBERTO GIL - 49% singer, 51% politician. I was going to kick him off the list, but then again, he is 1 of the 4 "sacred monsters" of Brazilian Popular Music (MPB), along with Chico, Milton and Caetano.
15) VILLA-LOBOS - Brazil's man in the classical world. Think orchestras and opera. A tropical Verdi, with Guarani indians instead Israelites (Nabucco) or clowns (Rigolleto). Those days are gone! Speaking of operas, I highly recommend Chico's Opera do Malandro.
16) RAUL SEIXAS - A new name, not on the Isto é list, but one that must be here. Raul was a master of rythm and sound, the "Johnny Cash" of Brazil. There are few works better songs than the masculine, reflective sound of O Trem.
17) PAULINHO DA VIOLA - Consistent, steady, and very uniform. This is both a virtue and vice. Sometimes boring.
18) CARTOLA - A legend in his own time. For about 60 years Cartola and his nose were a major influence on the evolution of samba
19) ELBA RAMALHO - Oh yes, the Ramalho family. The voice of the modern Nordestina woman. Elba may be a lot of things, but boring isn't one of them.
20) MARTINHO DA VILA - In recognition of his early work. An expression of the joy of samba in the common people. Life will get better.
Sorry Dorival, you should be here, too, but I ran out of numbers...

The Scenic Arts, Actors and actresses

Isto é list
1) FERNANDA MONTENEGRO - The Great Lady of Brazilian cinema and theatre
2) PAULO AUTRAN - Brazil's most important living actor
3) GRANDE OTELO - Consecrated in the "B movies", he was adopted by the "New Cinema" movement.
4) MARÍLIA PÊRA - Daughter, granddaughter and niece of actors, she went on stage for the first time at age 6
5) NELSON RODRIGUES - The pornographic angel of the Brazilian theatre
6) OSCARITO - The greatest comedian of our times.
7) DIAS GOMES - Award winning author/writer for TV and theatre
8) BIBI FERREIRA - Fiery actress
9) GIANFRANCESCO GUARNIERI - Actor and playwright of the resistance (against the government)
10) GLAUBER ROCHA - Leader of the "New Cinema" movement, rebellious and talented
11) CACILDA BECKER - Paradigm of the actress; she died on stage.
12) DERCY GONÇALVES - The queen of debased humor
13) PAULO JOSÉ - One of the most well known actors
14) PROCÓPIO FERREIRA - A sacred monster of Brazilian theatre
15) ZIEMBINSKI - The Pole (from Poland) that revolucionized our stage
16) MARIA CLARA MACHADO - The greatest name in children's theatre
17) PLÍNIO MARCOS - The wizard (witch?) of the "outlaw" theatre
18) SÉRGIO CARDOSO - An actor that will never be forgotten by the public
19) NELSON PEREIRA DOS SANTOS - One of the pioneers of the "Cinema Novo"
20) ANTUNES FILHO - Creative and restless theatre director
 My improved ranking
1) FERNANDA MONTENEGRO - The Greatest Lady of Brazilian cinema and theatre. I have no problem with this choice.
2) PAULO AUTRAN - Brazil's most important dramatic actor. Think Laurence Olivier. In fact I have no problem with the first four choices.
3) GRANDE OTELO - Consecrated in the "B movies", he was adopted by the "New Cinema" movement. Who would have thought a funny little black guy would make it to the top? A legend in his own time. For some reason Grande Otelo reminds me of a young, dark Micky Rooney, without the silly romance. Maybe Buckwheat would be a better comparison. 100% mischief.
4) MARÍLIA PÊRA - Daughter, granddaughter and niece of actors, she went on stage for the first time at age 6. I first saw her on the soap "Uma rosa com amor". Marilia is the Brazilian Ann Bancroft - Here's to you, Mrs Pera.
5) OSCARITO - The greatest comedian in the history of Brazilian movies.
6) DIAS GOMES - Award winning author/writer for TV and theatre. His novelas are probably the best ever written.
7) The FERREIRAs - PROCOPIO, the 'sacred monster' of Brazilian theatre for 60 years and his daughter, BIBI (Edith Piaf II). Both were talented, outspoken and over the top entertainers.
8) JOSE WILKER - Versatile and creative. His performance in Bye-Bye Brasil was great in the best Brazilian movie, ever. As with so many good Brazilian actors, his work is limited by the need to conform to the "global" mentality of the TV soaps. The fact is that, unlike Europe and the US, even the most famous and best actors end up doing 10 cents roles on TV Globo. That is pathetic!
9) MARIA CLARA MACHADO - The greatest name in children's theatre. I can agree with that.
10) SÉRGIO CARDOSO - An actor that will never be forgotten by the public. Well the women certainly loved him.
11) GIANFRANCESCO GUARNIERI - Talented actor and playwright. Know for his opposition to the Generals and support of left-wing causes, good and bad.
12) GLORIA MENEZES - A very long career at the top, in both movies and TV, way back to her role in Pagador de Promessas. Brazil's Sofia Loren.
13) LIMA BARRETO - For his work in O Cangaceiro. If for no other reason than the scene of the old lady spinning and singing "Mulher Rendeira"
14) MILTON GONCALVES - Probably the best Afro-Brazilian actor. I put him here in recognition of a lifetime of achievement, in spite of the odds. A Sidney Potier type person.
15) CACILDA BECKER - Bold, fearless and outspoken. One of the Great Dames of the Brazilian stage. Think Katherine Hepburn, kind of. She was an inspiration to a whole generation of actors.
16) NELSON RODRIGUES - Pornographic? "Perverted" would be a better word. Nelson Rodrigues is what happens when you take Freud seriously. Only work I liked was "Beijo no Asfalto", an interesting psychological study.
17) GLAUBER ROCHA - I have a relative named after this man, but unlike my nephew, Glauber Rocha was slightly mad. A genius? I don't know, but certainly different. Interesting ideas, but often unwatchable.
18) PLÍNIO MARCOS - Like Darth Vader, Plinio went over to the "dark side". The only good thing is that if your are mad at someone, you can always open any page of his work at random and start reading, knowing that the appropriate (and obscene) words would be spoken.
19) ZIEMBINSKI - It always seemed to me he was always playing the same role, over and over. Who would have thought that a white wedding dress and bridal veil could do so much?
20) CLAUDIA ALENCAR - Brains and dramatic talent, although under appreciated. Also the only actress I know personally.
There are so many others I would have liked to include: Juca de Oliveira, P. Gracindo, Lima Duarte, Betty Faria, and even Mazzaroppi, not to mention Joey Grey, an extra in about a million movies. Having Dercy Goncalves in the initial list was another bad joke. Imagine an 80 year old plastified topless woman leading a parade. Intragavel!

Literature

Original Isto é list
1) MACHADO DE ASSIS - Irony and humor that transcends the ages
2) CARLOS DRUMMOND DE ANDRADE - The principle poet of the century
3) MONTEIRO LOBATO - Ahead of his time, revolutionized children's literature, as well patriot struggles, such as for nationalizing oil.
4) JORGE AMADO - One of the most popular writers in the country
5) ÉRICO VERÍSSIMO - The author of O tempo e o vento (The Time and the Wind)
6) GUIMARÃES ROSA - A bridge between the old and new Brazil
7) GRACILIANO RAMOS - A master of the fugal writing style
8) CECÍLIA MEIRELES - A spiritualist poet
9) RACHEL DE QUEIROZ - First woman to get a chair in the Brazilian Academy of Letters (ABL). Wrote about problems of the Northeast, such as drought and misery
10) EUCLIDES DA CUNHA - The reporter that narrated the Canudos War
11) VINÍCIUS DE MORAES - Lyric poet of human sentiment
12) CLARICE LISPECTOR - A writer of extreme and superficial feelings
13) MANUEL BANDEIRA - A precursor to modern poetry
14) MÁRIO DE ANDRADE - Founder of Brazilian Modernism
15) NELSON RODRIGUES - A damned and passionate writer
16) JOÃO CABRAL DE MELO NETO - Brainy poet and critic of injustice
17) JOSÉ LINS DO REGO - One of the main regional authors
18) GILBERTO FREYRE - Creator of the concept of racial mixing
19) MÁRIO QUINTANA - An angel disguised as a poet
20) DARCY RIBEIRO - Writer, anthropologist and politician
 My corrected list
1) JORGE AMADO - The most popular Brazilian writer - ever. It was very common to see people reading his books in buses or just sitting in a park. I forgive him his long, wet kiss with Stalin. Unlike Chico, he regretted his association with murderers and torturers.
2) MACHADO DE ASSIS - A mestiço (mixed blood), he did everything: poetry, essays, chronicles, romances, and even theatre.
3) CARLOS DRUMMOND DE ANDRADE - Highly rated by critics, but probably too deep for most people, including me.
4) MONTEIRO LOBATO - From brutal reality (Urupes, about hardships in rural Brazil) to the children's books (the Yellow Woodpecker farm) Lobato was always creative and colorful. A Brazilian Hans Christian Andersen.
5) EUCLIDES DA CUNHA - One of my favorites. His Os Sertões (Rebellion in the Backlands) about a revolt in the northeast (Canudos) is one of the greatest stories of Brazil. Known for his dry, precise language. Think Sinclair Lewis.
6) MÁRIO DE ANDRADE - I spent half of Ginasio wondering about this guy and his work Macunaima, a strange fantasy about Brazil. I prefer Pagu to Mario.
7) ÉRICO VERÍSSIMO - A Classic author, a little too heavy on the words for my taste. A James Joyce figure, but not that heavy.
8) JOAO GUIMARAES ROSA - His most famous work is Grande Sertão Veredas (translated into English as The Devil to Pay in the Backlands). I made the mistake of choosing him for a book report in ginasio school. Why use 100 words when you can use 1500 to say the same thing?
9) GRACILIANO RAMOS - I like his work, and of course, Vidas Secas, is an eternal classic. Did they really have to eat the dog? or was it the parrot?
10) CLARICE LISPECTOR - Jewish-Ukranian-Brazilian writer. Her story about Macabeia, the happy sweet simple-minded hick moron from the backlands, is the epidimy of brutal urban realism. No smoking in bed!
11) GILBERTO FREYRE - His ideas are out of fashion, but for 50 years his theory of the "three sad races" ruled Brazilian sociology.
12) RACHEL DE QUEIROZ - Yep, she was nice and a good writer. As stated, she was the first woman into the ABL (Brazilian Academy of Letters). I worked next to the ABL building in Rio for over 10 years and how I despised those guys: a bunch of mediocre writers (including Jose Sarney) sitting around a table drinking tea. Mauricio de Souza (a cartoonist) had more talent than half of them, put together.
13) VINÍCIUS DE MORAES - Althouh mostly know for his music (bossa nova) and beer drinking, I will leave him here because of Orfeu da Conceição (probably best known because of the movie version, Orpheu Negro).
14) MANUEL BANDEIRA - Known for his use of proverbs and popular expressions. The common man's poet, I think.
15) CECÍLIA MEIRELES - Her poetry is too vague and out of touch for me. Oh yes, they call it 'spiritual'
16) NELSON RODRIGUES - Very influential and ahead of his time. Was writing garbage (for the most part) before it became fashionable 30 years later.
17) JOÃO CABRAL DE MELO NETO - I like this guy. Cabral knows how to use words, even if very biased about the ones he uses.
18) JOSÉ LINS DO REGO - I like his works. There are sweet and simple. You will not confuse him with Lispector.
19) MÁRIO QUINTANA - A very well known poet, and to me, in some ways, the reincarnation of Olavo Bilac.
20) PAULO COELHO - A very popular modern writer. One of the reasons he is here is so I can have the pleasure of kicking DARCY RIBEIRO off the list! Although Ribeiro's O que Faz Brasil Brasil (What makes Brazil, Brazil?) is a pretty good book.

I would like to remember Castro Alves, the greatest Brazilian writer ever. Think Edgar Allen Poe. He lived before the 20th Century so he doesn't qualify for this list, else he would certainly be Numero Um.

Religion

The original Isto é list
1) IRMÃ DULCE - A monumental work built with humility.
2) DOM HELDER CAMARA - a long battle for social justice.
3) CHICO XAVIER - The first name in spiritism in Brazil.
4) DOM PAULO EVARISTO - An example of honor and courage.
5) FREI DAMIÃO - He walked the wilderness for over 60 years.
6) PADRE CÍCERO - The great myth of popular religiousness.
7) MADRE PAULINA - In both the city and the jungle, a model of altruism.
8) LEONARDO BOFF - Ideologue of Liberation Theology, he challenged the hierarchy of the church.
9) FREI BETTO - Political and religious militancy.
10) PADRE MARCELO ROSSI - Pop idol of Catholicism
11) MÃE MENININHA - Spiritual guide of Bahia af all the Saints.
12) DOM ALOISIO LORSCHEIDER - Only Brazilian to be considered for Pope.
13) DOM PEDRO CASALDÁLIGA - Love for the 'excluded'.
14) ALZIRO ZARUR - Founded the LBV
15) DOM LUCAS MOREIRA NEVES - A leader of bishops all over the planet.
16) DOM EUGENIO SALES - Faithful to the dogma and doctrine of the Vatican.
17) DOM LUCIANO DE ALMEIDA - Balance and moderation.
18) HENRY SOBEL - The voice of Judaism in Brazil.
19) ALCEU AMOROSO LIMA - Humanist writer and thinker.
20) DOM IVO LORSCHEITER - Defender of the man in the fields.
 My humble and much better list
1) PADRE CÍCERO - In the Northeast of Brazil, he is not just a legend. I last heard they were waiting for a vacancy in the Trinity so that Padim Cicero can take his place. The only thing I have against him is his involvement in politics -- a no, no.
2) DOM EUGENIO SALES - If the criteria of this list is influence and power, the old Sales should be near the top, which he is. A traditionalist.
3) IRMÃ DULCE - Brazil's Mother Tereza, more or less. I have only heard good things about her - a quiet reserved personality.
4) MÃE MENININHA - A Bahiana medium. I doubt that she would be famous, or as famous, if it hadn't been for a certain song.
5) FREI DAMIÃO - To me Fryer Damion was always a Fryer Tuck figure without Robin Hood. A strange and more authentic figure than Padim Cicero. Reminds me of a latter day Padre Kino.
6) DOM ALOISIO LORSCHEIDER - Another very influential Roman Catholic Cardinal. A reconciler, maybe.
The next four names are what I call the 'Red Catholics': 90% marxist, 7% humanists, 2% confused and somewhere there must be maybe 1% of Catholic doctrine.
7) DOM HELDER CAMARA - A long battle for social justice for some, and others can go to hell as far as Dom Helder is concerned (And I'm not talking about the rich or powerful, either). This guy knows even less about history than the Bible.
8) DOM PAULO EVARISTO - the voice of an 8-year-old girl trapped in a man's body (maybe that of Barney Fife). JP2 took the poor Cardinal of Sao Paulo to the woodshed soon after being elected pope.
9) LEONARDO BOFF - Mr. Liberation Theology. Made some famous trips. After visiting Cuba he published a letter suggesting he had been to paradise. Some letters from Cuban Catholics (smuggled out of paradise) were soon published asking if by chance there was another Cuba on the planet, since they did not recognize the one decribed by Old Boffy.
10) FREI BETTO - Lenin wearing a batina (priestly robe). No, I can do better: the love child of Isabella of Castile and Torquemada, raised by Che Guevara and channeling the spirit of Rasputin. As Frei Betto always says: Give unto Cesear the things that are Cesear's, and unto Cesear the things that are God's.
Note: Was I too hard on our Red friends? I think not. For 30 years they have been media darlings, judged by their words rather than their actions and their associations. It was the bad luck of these four guys to have a Pope like John Paul II. As I understand it, the Pope called them in and asked "Do you really want to have a talk about communism with me? Would you really care to explain to me why marxism is so wonderful? Kind of like Goebels explaining the benefits of nazism to an Auschwitz survivor.
11) BISPO EDIR MACEDO - The fact that he was not on the Isto é list shows how biased these 'experts' are. Like him or not, this guy has influence. In less than 30 years his Universal Company of the Kingdom of God, I mean Universal Church, has found millions of followers. His company, I mean church, is more or less pentecostal, kind of, preaching a "give your way to Heaven" gospel.
12) CHICO XAVIER - Remember ET and his call home thing. Well, old Xavier was known for putting people in contact with their dear old deceased Aunt Clarabela, for a small contribution, of course.
13) PADRE MARCELO ROSSI - After the dullness of the traditional catholics, and the radical dialectic materialism of the Reds, along came a young priest named Marcelo. A kind of cross between Richard Simmons and Benny Hime. The charismatic catholic answer to the evangelicals. Sing and dance your troubles away. Shake it, baby and swing that rosary.
14) ALZIRO ZARUR - Founder of the Legion of Goodwill, a charity organization with political backing. Very influential at one time, not so much today.
15) DOM LUCAS MOREIRA NEVES - A raising leader among the Brazilian Cardinals.
16) DOM LUCIANO DE ALMEIDA - Middle of the road guy. Can't we all get along?
17) HENRY SOBEL - Another voice of liberal moderation, which means he 100% Politically Correct, and therefore 101% wishy-washy.
18) REV. JAIME WRIGHT - The old-line protestant equivalent of Sobel. Like most liberal christians, he doesn't take the Bible too seriously. He, Sobel and the Reds (above) make up the religious component of the "Human Rights" establishment, which, for some reason, does not consider everyday crime against the common people to be a problem. Now if a criminal is mistreated, that is a real problem... Call a news conference..
19) DOM IVO LORSCHEITER - He has made the rural folks his specialty. They need all the help they can get, but a little bit of honesty would be nice, too.
20) JOSE and MARIA CRENTE - A collective symbolic nomination to recognize the tens of millions of evangelicals (called 'crentes' or believers) of the pentecostal persuasion that have changed the Brazilian religious scene, like it or not.

Media and Communications

The Original list
1) ROBERTO MARINHO - Owner of the largest TV network in Latin America.
2) ASSIS CHATEAUBRIAND - First king of communications in Brazil.
3) SILVIO SANTOS - From street vendor to master of the auditorium.
4) JULIO MESQUITA - The Estado newspaper, serving the Republic.
5) VICTOR CIVITA - The immigrant that built the Editora Abril publishing company.
6) CHACRINHA - There never was a TV talent show so popular has his.
7) SAMUEL WAINER - Did an historic report about Getúlio Vargas.
8) HEBE CAMARGO - The lady of our television.
9) SÉRGIO PORTO - The carioca irony of Stanislaw Ponte Preta.
10) JOSÉ BONIFÁCIO SOBRINHO - Responsible for the TV Globo standard of quality.
11) ROQUETTE PINTO - Pioneer of the early days of Radio in Brazil.
12) CARLOS LACERDA - Vibrant rhetoric and incendiary texts.
13) BARBOSA LIMA SOBRINHO - 102 years of journalism and integrity.
14) FLÁVIO CAVALCANTI - In the 1970s, he owned Sunday afternoon TV.
15) HERON DOMINGUES - The first with the latest.
16) CASTELLO BRANCO - Credibility and first hand news.
17) BARÃO DE ITARARÉ - Humorist, thinker and numerologist.
18) JULIO DE MESQUITA FILHO - Brave defender of democracy.
19) MILLÔR FERNANDES - the anti-communicator, per excellence.
20) DAVID NASSER - A Reporter that defined an era.
 My list, such that it is...
1) ROBERTO MARINHO - Probably the most powerful man in Brazil, in many ways. Made and unmade presidents.
2) SILVIO SANTOS - Smile and the world smiles with you. Built a commercial and media empire based upon dreams and fast talk. Actually I kind of admire the guy.
3) JULIO MESQUITA - Founded Brazil's most serious and influencial newspaper, affectionately called O Estadao
4) ASSIS CHATEAUBRIAND - The first real media mongrol in Brazil. I know a lot of good interesting stories about this guy, but this is not the time or place.
5) VICTOR CIVITA - He founded the Editora Abril publishing group (kind of like Time-Life). Too bad Adolpho Bloch didn't do as well with Manchete.
6) CHACRINHA - A lot of people like Charinha and his very amateuristic talent show. Known for his horn and yelling 'terezinha'
7) JO SOARES - The Dave Letterman / Jay Leno of late night Brazilian talk TV. In a former life, as a comic, had some of the best "one liners" around. He also has the distinction of being the only person on this page that has kissed me.
8) JOSÉ BONIFÁCIO SOBRINHO - Responsible for the TV Globo's rise to prominence.
9) SÉRGIO PORTO - The most carioca of the Cariocas. Stanislaw Ponte Preta
10) ROQUETTE PINTO - Pioneer in Radio. Dominated the airways in the 40s and 50s.
11) CARLOS LACERDA - As above always the troublemaker. I think it can be said that he got on peoples nerves.
12) BARBOSA LIMA SOBRINHO - Serious jornalism. Think Walter Conkrite without the arrogance.
13) HEBE CAMARGO - Bla bla bla. She was on TV before there was TV. Women like her, but not as much as her plastic surgeons.
14) FLÁVIO CAVALCANTI - The Sunday afternoon variety show to watch in the 60s and 70s. Superficial, but people liked it.
15) HERON DOMINGUES - The voice. Best loved reporter for many years.
16) BARÃO DE ITARARÉ - Humorist, intellectual and joker. I think his real name was Torelli, and he had an almanac.
17) JULIO DE MESQUITA FILHO - I admire this guy. I remember many Estadao newspapers either with blank columns, recipes, or even Luiadas. While Chico was exiled to Europe (for some reason the commies almost never went to Cuba), Mesquita stood his ground and fought the military regime. This while Mr Roberto Marinho got in bed with the generals.
18) MILLÔR FERNANDES - In recognition of all the many fine humorists in Brazil, that can talk about serius social problems and still be funny.
19) DAVID NASSER - Before my time, in the 1930s and 40s, Nasser was a writer in the popular Cruzeiro magazine. Known for his very direct style.
20) GLORIA MARIA - Why not an Afro-Brazilian female reporter, even if she works for TV Bobo, I mean Globo. In 1989, for a moment, on the Marquesa de Sapucai, at about 3 AM, we exchanged glances, I nodded to her and she nodded back. Actually Maria Gloria is more than just a pretty face and a quick mind.

Other categories

The Isto é report has more categories, like "Science, Technology and Education" and others, but I'm tired and either I don't know enough about the people selected or I don't have anything interesting or bad to say about them. This does not include such people as Oswaldo Cruz (think Walter Reed), Carlos Chagas (the killer beetles from inner space), Vital Brasil (snake man), Paulo Freire (literacy guy), Santos Dumont (I will write a page about him) and others. I would like to mention Aurelio and Sergio Buarque de Hollanda and their wonderful work as wordsmiths (refering to dicionaries). This family (Yep, Chico is one of them) has made a major contribution to the lexicon of the Portuguese language. How many times have I been told, when in doubt about a word, to consult the "Pai dos burros", meaning the 10 pound, 6 inch thick Aurelio dicionary.

Anyway I am tired of the darn Isto é list and I think I'll stop here. Chega.

A rather queer list...

(later....) I ran across another list and I didn't want to add a specific page for it so I'm putting it here. It is a list by a guy named Luiz Mott, a professor at the Federal University of Bahia and president of the Grupo Gay da Bahia, one of the most active homosexual advocacy groups in Brazil. It is a list of the 100 most famous homosexuals in Brazil's history. I will only list a few names that are on the list, and add a few comments:

1) Santos Dumont (Father of Aviation) - "Never married, funny clothes, invented high heels and the wrist watch". Dumont was short, practical, timid and very eccentric. No, I don't think so...
2) D. João VI (First King of Brazil in Brazil) - Known for his like of chickens, not guys. But then his wife, Carlota, had the grace and beauty of an old farm horse.
3) Burle Marx (the Garden man) - Hummm, don't know much about this guy except he had 5,000 varieties of orchids.
4) Mazzaropi (King of Brazilian Caipiras, or hillbillies) - Brazil's Cantiflas, kind of. I never have any thought about his 'sexuality'. I can't even remember is he ever got the girl in the few movies I saw.
5) Olavo Bilac (poet)- I know little (or nothing) of his personal life, but I can believe this one.
6) Mário de Andrade (modernist writer) - What about Pagu? This guy and his work was strange, really strange.
7) Tiradentes (Famous martyr of Brazilian Independence) - No way, Jose. He laughed as they hung him, and even when quartered he didn't complain. I guess being a dentist gives you a certain comfort level with pain.
8) Conde d'Eu (husband of Princess Isabel (She freed the slaves) - Don't know much about him, but Isabel had all the traditional beauty of the women in the Brazilian Royal Family. As a child, the story goes, they used her to scare the flies out of the kitchen. Boy, that was mean!
9) Ziembinsky (Polish born actor)- Well, he already had the white wedding dress...
10) Zumbi of Palmares (black leader of slave revolt) - No, no, NO!. Motta came to this stupid conclusion based upon the idea that Zumbi's nickname, sueccah, means "toy-boy", when in fact in the original African dialect it means "warrior".

The fact is that activists like Motta are always trying to include famous (and usually long dead) people as being part of their group. It gives them a certain amount of respectability. A lot of these claims are simply ridiculous, like Abraham Lincoln being gay (if so, why was old Abe hitting on a young Brazilian girl at his second inaugural ball?) or Ludwig Von Beethovan being African.

A final list.. The most corrupt, rotten, no-good politicians

Finally a ranking I can enjoy! The trouble is that there are so many candidates and so little space for them all. Anyway I'll put down a few names here of people who have taken advantage of Public Office to enrich themselves, directly and/or indirectly. The issue here is usually money, but not always. Since we have no idea of who actually stole the most (not exactly something these folks want to share with us!), the order of the list is purely a matter of my personal feelings toward these people. May they all fry in hell.

10) Itamar Franco - Not just corrupt, but pathetic also. Imagine a president up on a stage with a prostitute, wearing only a short T-shirt (her, not him!). Of course she then raises her arms to wave to everybody. Known for his hairdo.
9) Zelia Cardoso de Mello - As finance minister, she confiscated the people's savings accounts (for their own good, of course), and then married Brazil's most famous comic (Chico Anisio). The joke was on us. Imagine Condi Rice playing "footsies" with Rumsfield and passing "love notes" in a cabinet meeting. That was Zelia.
8) Leonel Brizola - Made a deal with the drug gangs in Rio's hills, to pull the police out of their areas if they supported him. While the crime situation was not good even before Brizola, after him it became unbearable.
7) Janio Quadros - A pathetic end to a strange career, from Mr. Clean and his broom to Mr. Weirdo and his Swiss bank accounts.
6) Ademar de Barros - His motto: "I steal, but I get things done". Also known for his famous naked girl safari hunts for guests at his mansion .
5) Oestes Quercia - For some reason he reminds me of Al Gore. There is a physical resemblance, but Al is probably not 100% corrupt.
6) Aureliano Chaves - Had over 50 servants (public employees) working at his private home. I personally have signed checks paying for his trips to Europe.
4) Antonio Carlos Magalhaes (Vulgo, ACM) - Rich and powerful. Has his hand in everything. Worse than corrupt, because he is a corrupter. Even so, money was secondary; what ACM wanted was raw power!
3) Paulo Maluf - Oh gosh!! Mr Mud himself, and still in office and being elected. A magician: billions of dollars just disappear when Maluf is around.
2) Fernando Collor de Mello - The national treasury was his personal bank account. His front man, PC Farias, was strangely murdered after the scheme was discovered. Imagine that.
1) Jose Sarney and family - Old Sarna, his daughter Roseanne and her husband Murad have made corruption a family specialty for many decades. Nobody does it better.

The fact is that few Brazilian politicians are above suspicion when it comes to sticky fingers. And I'm not even considering such common things as nepotism and accumulating outrageous double and/or triple retirement benefits as corruption, otherwise this list would be ten thousand pages long. Even so-called "honest" people like Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Miguel Arraes, Teotonio Vilela and Ulysses Guimaraes have often been accused of corruption. It makes a person want to cry. Well, exposing corruption is a problem, but I am happy to report that steps are being taken to solve it. A representative named Jutahy Magalhães (PSDB, Bahia) has sponsored a bill to made investigating acts of corruption illegal, at least for the president of the nation, governors, senators, representatives, state legislators and mayors. It may be that he is just trying to save money, since these CPIs (official investigations) never resolve anything anyway. It is all a bad dream and maybe we will wake up someday.



Page updated: June 2004