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2/1/1990 - Children of the Left by Ann Mische

WITHOUTWRITER SCONSENT INSTITUTEOFCURRENTWORLDAFFAIRS Rua General Bagnuolo AEM Vila Prudente Children Left SHo Paulo Brazil 03152 Mr Peter Martin February Institute Current World Affairs West Wheelock Street Hanover NH 03755 Dear Peter It I respect father It father doesn I The speaker lanky haired fifteen named Andre group teenagers drinking cokes neighborhood snack young teacher friend Vanilda The least thing common parents involved political activism ranging union organizing leadership popular movements direction PT Worker Party As Andr complained political involvement their parents often seemed eclipse other areas their lives My thinking militancy sleeps thinking militancy I makes thinking militancy Do think I Vanilda I invited discuss program filhos militantes children political activists Escola Nova Piratininga school linked labor movement where Vanilda worked I become involved volunteer The program arisen preoccupation among parents noting rarely their adolescent children become militants themselves Rather continuing struggle their parents children showed tendency political activity reached their teens Andre whose father prominent leader opposition movement SHo Paulo metal worker union described occasion father called May First Worker Day rally SHo Bernardo industrial outside SHo Paulo important center union organization Andr replied going soccer friends My Dad nearly threw How forget history worker struggle He alienated youth world I May First rally I alienated I wanted soccer The event father Several months earlier Andre father Vito story slightly The militante Brazil refers militaristic guerrilla groups necessarily advocates armed struggle It corresponds English political activist although stronger connotations Portuguese ativista negative criticize those engage political action action without ideological grounding Ann Mische Institute Fellow studying youth politics educational movements Brazil Since Institute Current World Affairs Crane Rogers Foundation ovided fellowships enable outstanding young adults outside United States write about international areas issues Endowed Charles R Crane Institute supported contributions minded individuals foundations different viewpoint The event established dividing between commitment father individuality When Andr persisted refusal attend rally Vito realized militancy couldn imposed handed While father could opinion there could Andr decide himself wants If I force pushes farther A chance conversation March participation project At I attending congress rubber tappers Amazonian state Acre began talking fellow observor Neto union leader So Paulo I mentioned I researching youth began descriDing program adolescents under discussion Escola Nova Piratininga where directors Neto person transmits others forthright enthusiasm about projects catches people those projects practice I found myself caught glowing racing interest thickening After I myself daughter activists having meetings rallies since infancy parents involved political education issues global interdepeence As Neto described difficulty experienced young people assimilating political commitment their parents I remembered adolescence While early teenage years chock political activities I reached college I through period distancing kinds traditional activism At I reflected great about process definition While first generation activist acheive rupture parental values through their political involvement their children experience discovering ideas If become activists become exactly their parents where rebellion individuality My apparent political withdrawal signaled after truths distinct political expectations parents Noting interest Neto invited school about project Two weeks later I located school street center So Paulo I walked crowded wooden stairway simple bustling offices overlooking large classes meetings I found Neto usual introduced Leonildo another school directors Leonildo pixieish middle strong handshake Firme attention Isso muito importante Leonildo undertook background school project adolescents Nova Piratininga instrument struggle The Escola Nova Piratininga alternative project professional training metallurgy electricity The school created MOMSP Movimento Oposigo Metalrgico So Paulo organization currently trying election control So Paulo metal worker union largest union Latin America MOMSP linked CUT Central Snica Trabalhadores radical central labor organization Brazil representative calls combative unionism MOMSP hopes defeat current leadership union which affiliated CGT Central Geral Trabalhadores advocate unionism results The basic difference between labor organizations CGT believes unions improve situation workers within This important Translation Are struggle capitalism while CUT believes exploitation labor through socialism Leonildo spoke evident passion about school philosophy pedagogic principles Our appropriation knowledge working class One effect capitalism denial worker capacity knowledge either about technical factory about society which lives Everything given fragmented packaged denying creativity participation thinking being We reverse tendency basing classes daily experience person stimulating creativity critical thinking We student elements analyze society which including relations exploitation possibility society based organization workers class A descriptive bulletin given Leonildo refers Nova Piratininga instrument struggle hands working class The school started initially program professional renovation workers union activists dismissed participation labor organization during military repression In began offer regular courses professional training accompanied classes humanities mathematics political formation including topics history labor movement Brazilian political situation Classes carried educators coming social movements church unions They developed methodology based outsiders recognize ideas Paulo Freire author Pedagogy Oppressed which Brazil narrow identification Freire turned broader rooted educational principles grouped loosely under heading popular education We reject official traditional education domination basic where control knowledge serves weapon reinforces inequality between For there exist concretely teaching rather collective learning process there division between theory practice There exists thinking being discovers himself capable creating producing This process knowing political living creating knowledge relationship between people It works wholeness human being search being It production knowledge relationship between people produce The students N Po usually arrive political background ranging militancy PT first timid approach factory worker unions The school offers courses month night course students during month daytime intensive course unemployed workers activists hoping learn advanced technical skill Students indicated course various organizations which involvement unions popular movements Worker Pastoral church local community associations These collectives agree provide living support student during course reinforcing militant alone responsibility student larger social group I chance watch opening classes night course The first sessions dedicated formation colletiv0 process collective decision making about basic administrative matters scheduling times classes resolving policy coming determining student financial contribution distributing tasks making coffee sweeping classrooms This collective process essential political vision school setting democratic methodology maintained throughout course Leonildo school hoped correct vices traditional hierarchical authoritarian power structure within labor movement training leaders methods dialogue democratic decision making Many students disconcerted first asked participate organizational matters One interesting debate divide classes since levels schooling ranged nearly mathematical illiterates those secondary education complete Would advanced students separately those knowledge creating hierachy knowledge causing slower group valued should everyone together those helping those In metal working workshop could clearly between political principles pedagogic method During introductory class I joined group Sergio director monitor rather teacher explained various machines While describing process geometric drawing adjustment metal parts asked mostly group students Sure recipe answered student onlookers exchanged masculine grins complicity We going avoid business giving recipes If I things understand anything You learn think stuck solution thousands alternatives And think begin think someone begin question That SENAI recipes Imagine would happen workers began think As walked around complicated equipment Sergio asked students difference between lathe style machines Well knowledge answered student You specialist Oh responded Sergio I teach machine minutes This I student others intimidated advanced machine gathered around watch closely In reality there little difference between these machines They function stripping metal parts shape What difference between using machine doing The basic principle In machine SENAI Servio Nacional Aprendizagem Industria National Service Learning Industry SENAI network professional training schools developed financially supported national coalition industries The schools found every small large industrial offer technical courses combined school diploma SENAI common technical training working class youth Since objective industry formation behaved workforce topic politics labor history logically enter curriculum matter learning metal regulate measurements There great secret Anyone learn function workshop Sergio developed further bring political implications At SENAI teach machine It interests parcel everyone place There everyone advanced limit specialists By teaching worker function dominated You diminish function relation operation machine production If realize I start According Leonildo Nova Piratininga fourth required SENAI train skilled workers posterior employment comparison SENAI That because students freedom experiment discover They creativity understand completely things function Afterwards factories carry valorization collor labor which reinforces their class consciousness strengthens their union organizing Activist families conflict values Although school project adolescents directly linked professional training emerged conflict organizers noted between values promoted school those stimulated among their children Not their rarely become militants rarely wanted become collor workers either The discourse about valuing skilled factory fortifying class consciousness evaporated their homes where parents tended encourage rising already dominant youth culture For working class highly skilled factory considered inferior labor compared their dreams being engineers lawyers architects journalists These dreams generate frustrations since economic conditions activist families professions reach The teenagers obliged during study night precarious educational conditions public school system They little access culture technology times within family structures encourage dialogue critical thought politically inVolved parents I describe later As result little chance entering highly competitive public universities paying expensive lower quality private faculties They instead skill service banks offices stores ironically earning would factory where strong nions wages In directors Nova Piratininga MOMSP began considering these problematics encountered their adolescent children their estrangement militancy tension between dream reality their professional perspectives A series meetings school among interested people including psychologists University So Pauloo But while group discussed difficulties experienced filhos militantes dynamic ideas project develop It error progressive educators resolving first wanted About dozen teenagers invited several informal sessions discuss problems being activists propose activities which might range cultural programs So Paulo professional training The quickly perceived definiti certain sense being coopted militancy We guinea several later Like neurotic cases needed cured They wanted I better spend Saturday A successful meeting group younger children showed unexpectedly meeting planned older teenagers Pre adolescents nature easier extroverted enthusiasm They resistance doing things their parents recommend point already project suspect older As older group ceased appear meetings school continued organizing activities younger group visits science fairs Latin American Memorial Planetarium It I became involved project We began turning visits around journalistic activities bringin cameras recorders interview museum officials visitors photograph everything historic buildings swinging monkeys trees On returning school turned material newspaper graphics department local chemical workers union which invited whole process composition computer layout offset printing The helped develop photos laboratory MOMSP second issue newspaper writing layout printing their In short project instructive occasionally tumultuous imagine twelve trying crowd their darkroom touch carried graphics studio black printer But while project younger gained momentum preoccupation remained adolescents after cause initial concern The project added difficulty calling disillusioned We recognized proposal would clearly defined attract their interest As discussed possible forms project other interested people understand deeply conflicts experienced activists children I Absence parents Among younger common resentment regards their parents militancy Dad Mom doesn As I something discuss father I meeting Tomorrow another meeting Saturday convention Sunday night early distribute pamphlets factory Monday morning We never getting Most activist parents especially whose wives politically involved dedicate exclusively their children This corresponds consciously ideology sacrifice personal discipline within militancy Affective relations along sources personal pleasure relegated deference necessities constructing Future As result militancy source deprivation relationship their parents In addition seldom having outings their parents young children generally dragged around boring meetings where still amuse themelves wings They learn associate politics deprivation impatience tedium never ending meetings Some older youth whose parents active resistance dictatorship additional traumatic memories separation their parents The rtant labor leader recalled times father would disappear either hiding prison His childhood accompanied watchful tension police strongly never explained anxious child I always father could moment never Contradictory lifestyles As older capable critical analysis begin perceive strong contradictions between political discourse their parents their parents personal practice within family They begin perceive father defends struggle workers against oppression headed dictator children Or mother calls herself feminist rallies women movement comes housework alone often making viable husband militancy while cutting short Or parents consider themselves liberal regards sexual morality including father regular extra marital affairs become panic stricken prohibitive their teenagers approach sexual activity In cases parents completely unwilling admit existence contradictions plainly Their apparent blindness separation within militancy between ideology Ideological consistency highly valued always reference abstract imaginary Future seldom Thus One rationalizes terms historical necessity behavior interpret hypocracyo As result their parents ideology loses sacred aspect becomes subject questioning doubt religious faith traditional families Political Moralism An additional difficulty parental ideology strong moralistic which expressed From early receive vision world divided little space questioning divisions their parents One young daughter friends Luanda began interrogating parents about whether given politicians groups places activities On occasion received answer So Paulo mayor Jgnio Quadros Later discussing mother bumps street traffic Her mother informed since helped avoid accidents Who there Luanda wanted Janio built mother respondedo But I though Jgnio protested Luanda watched attentively campaign propaganda presidential candidates She questioned parents certain candidates after promised children Isn Luanda parents exception encouraged stimulated their daught questions More often child opinion never asked parents point expected unquestioningly absorbed One mother forbade child campaign jingle child particularly liked because disapproved candidates Only Lula PT acceptable Expressions support parents political choices wearing T shirts drawing pictures singing songs rewarded praise attention The children enthusiastic acceptance activities expresses their idealization their parents their attention approval As children adolescents begin opinions their parents imposition denying their possibility expression This leads conflicts described earlier between Andrg father When Andr preferred playing soccer going Worker Day rally father accused being alienated Andre alienation greatest showed considerable independence resisting guilt pressure father He alienated neither become model father When stand political pressure their parents usually struggle feelings guilt childhood idealization parents moderated critical respect After Dad fighting change world How against changing world At attempt express individuality youth risks strong moral accusation having failed social responsibility being worthy future generations This accusation harder ignore traditional lament current youth putting shame Crisis beliefs Linked difficulty assertion doubt appears realize opinions which explain world originate themselves their parents PT ideological parameters Do I really believe begin question throwing political assumptions anguishing turmoil This doubt plagues those rejected militancy sense certain hollowness slogans continue affirm Edmar active member PT nevertheless admitted sometimes I wonder I really think This difficulty limited activists deeper problem ideology which appears formed ideas coming there adopts critically stock interpretations world With contradictory ideologies floating around difficult anyone distinguish I think adopted external systems thought For activists relations ideology tense discover their ideas their parents claim rather absorbed passive throwing deeper questioning activity I think To things worse problem ideology becomes entangled problems adolescent definition rupture parents This happened Yale I suddenly traditional political activity search truths I myself My withdrawal rejection parents values inner epistomological struggle appropriation knowledge In sense conflict activists similar Leonildo described earlier regards workers denied right their knowledge Paradoxically traditional ideological orientation reproduces relationship domination claims reject By discarding distinction between knowledge I turns knowledge something abstract static transferable independent subjectivity knower As result individuality thinking being passionately defended Leonildo easily For adolescents concerned independence expression apparent break parental ideas becomes break present ideological young person experiences suffocating Life ghetto In addition these existential epistomological difficulties experience costs benefits living within ghetto They accustomed certain level discourse vision world school among neighborhood friends They therefore close bonds other children activists frequent contact This especially children ivists leadership positions whose friendships often shield protects confront other types people thought In conversation Cokes described earlier I impressed strongly emphasized their difference alienated skateboards dancing clubs They emphasized their alternative activities theater music debates They their repudiate label alienated which their parents threatened result increasing barrier between themselves other youth The often contradictory feelings about status granted being children political leaders At uncomfortable political postures their parents certain security pride association It flatters irritates known Vito Leonildo daughter Don I identity exclaim protest But their often experience extreme insecurity times bordering paralysis Early Vandrg parents involved popular education began dizzy spells subway enormous walking alone street leaving without parents I father Carlinhos trying support Vandrg underwent therapy Carlinhos attributed Vandre crisis protective established militancy world anyone enter panic He worried program activists would reinforce tendency isolation relieve confront other people ideas Was strengthening division between ilhos militantes everyone Designing project choice communication Carlinho concern echoed discussed Vanilda myself their ideas about project Don limit children militants pleaded That would They themselves desire contacts would hackneyed mindset militancy contact fresh seeing world Besides program limited militas would likely hidden agenda turning militants despite insistence alienated suggestion definitely turned After discussion decided while children activists would still target population would program other youth Most importantly would avoid discussing problems activists since clear treated neurotic cases We would avoid cliched causes God films about E1 Salvador warned We would instead concentrate wider topics youth 19900 The objective program would political involvement rather examine personal options terms lifestyle relationships political beliefs Within perspective traditional militancy becomes possible source lifestyle certainly which combine realization social commitment We importance emphasizing personal choice since precisely element often trampled within ideological framework militancy Once became reasonably clear about objectives about gning activities capable engagin9 interest energy teenagers This especially given activists ourselves habit thinking solution every problem another meeting We originally proposed series seminars topics sexuality professional choice technology music international culture decided seminars oriented these developed strong allergies meetings Usin9 model highly successful journalistic approach using younger group considered involve older teenagers similar types hands production possibly areas newspaper video theater music qraDhic Such projects seemed combine goals giving access technology culture while providing excellent means personal social reaction The spoke seemed enthusiastic developing proposal weekend encounter topic Communication The communication particularly responding various difficulties experienced activists while labelling After schools militancy strongest influence shaping values youth early Mass communication Brazil strongly oriented toward youth culture given demoaraphic weight Kids inundated images exuberant white tanned financially young people enqaged activities surfing cruising motorcycles frequenting expensive clubs Images level consumption nightly novelas prime operas sophisticated propaaanda Brazil booming marketing industry T shirts English slogans Rebok sneakers North American bands nglish tinaed jargon skate establish rization Western consumer culture idealization technological financial possibilities United States there everyone VCR right But culture marketing disadvantaqe being extremely volatile transitory saves months wages credit style making difficult maintain steady sense identity relation objects consumption Thus activist parents worry their children themselves valuin collr labor really reflecting rapid cultural technological changes deeply influenced perceptions aspirations their children Working factory symbolizes simply skill labor return sense missing seductive possibilities computer Two sought after areas study universities those engineering ournalism highly involved technologies But Brazil growing service communications economy growing slower desires youth The opportunities stimulating creative extremely limited elite If working class fortune course processing stuck level digiting become factory The limited opportunities creative together paternalistic overly critical family school environment undermines confidence personal choice creates crisis I young adults transcends class divisions In recent conversations friends diverse social levels I impressed persistant emergence theme knowing accompanied often bitter sense frustrated potentialities This frustration often expresses itself desire travel abroad expand world better financial opportunities I recently begun joking I plane transport people wistfully invited themselves along I return United States May When perceives techno logical cultural transformations shaping world understand force their rejection static ideological categories their parents The world changing still talkinq about Che Guevara The myths their power among technologies social movements which causing international revolution Che never imagined My impression additional anguish activists children arises becauses internalized certain values their parents strongly their rejection alienation consumerism wider youth culture But alienated participate stimulatina changes making classic leftist definitions transformation obsolete And I shown certainly matters valorization individual thought ascetic inattention human tants affective relations pleasure sensuality options based personal vocation rather demands cause In choosing topic communication develop themes expression interpersonal relationships social values investigate technological changes source interest frustration Our guiding motif adolescent search personal thought integrity I think individual vocation creative expression while participatinq requiring emergent leadership members During weekend encounter afterwards various types artistic expression theater radio journalism graphic introduction various technologies communication We emphasize individual control media constant search creation alternative technology As I finish letter encounter still planning stages We March currently discussing methodology content event which sleep weekend country location outside So Paulo We encounter jumping point regular program continuing theme communication Some possibilities video newspaDer production visits television radio graphics studios artistic presentations topics sexuality youth culture This project developed together teenagers involved although learned necessity offering strong initial proposals order convince project worth investment their precious limited My regret I leaving Brazil early May follow continuation project Of different projects which I involved during years Brazil evoked strongest personal intellectual identification passionate thought I furnished seeds future projects since I intend continue working youth education And intellectual level provided unique angle criticism reqards deficient vision human person within classical ideological structure It points demanding political 0sycholoical philosophical problems times individual consciousness visions social organization chane This question heart definitions pulsing throush communist capitalist worlds heart adolescent struggle personal within rapid confusing transformations Um abraqo Received Hanover