Brazil is a continental, megadiverse, former European colony, which, not unlike the United States, has long since eclipsed its colonial parent. More people live just within the City of Sao Paulo than in all of Portugal. It still of course has a third world edge to it with extreme poverty, inequality, racism, and crime. Its infrastructure is in rough shape. It has a reputation for reverting to its political and economic norm of instability and chaos after occasional progress. If the current president is impeached as expected, it won't be the first. Heck, the country has even had a sitting president commit suicide.
Brazil's story isn't all tragic. The country's return to robust democratic governance a generation ago after multiple bouts with dictatorial rule is inspiring. And runaway inflation seems to be a thing of the past, with an almost normal economy which, though in rough shape now, grew through the recent worldwide financial crisis.
I sometimes find myself lost in the beauty of Bossa Nova, a music that only Brazil could create. African Samba and American Jazz were mixed, resulting in something different than both. That kind of mad science musical experimentation lived on in Brazil's later Tropicalia movement.
There is great beauty to be found in Brazil's architecture. But nothing is as wild as Oscar Niemeyer, a sort of Architect Laureate for the nation. He designed the iconic mid-century buildings of Brasilia, and countless more, as he continued working into the the 21st Century.
Brazil created the biggest innovation in urban transportation since the first subway trains. Cities all over the world are building Bus Rapid Transit systems, inspired by the first in Curitiba. The idea is that there is nothing sacred about trains; a creatively designed bus system can move as many people as a subway system and just as fast, at a fraction of the cost.
So this American is watching the Olympics with fondness, enjoying the backdrop of a fascinating and beautiful country.
