The World Needed to Move in the Opposite Direction — Not This Way

Crude notes on a barely human species

Created with AI

Portugal didn’t wake up terrified this week — but it should have.

A Portuguese millionaire, one of those who follow the most disgusting current trend (rich misogynists thirsty for the spotlight), decided to pay for a TV ad to spread anti-abortion propaganda.

He wasn’t there selling junk from his company. He was buying airtime to impose his backward vision on the entire country.

As expected, digital activists revolted on social media — but only on social media.

Lots of noise on Instagram, lots of silence in the streets, as always.

Most repeated that men want to control women’s bodies. Others pointed out the obvious civilizational setback and the threats to the decriminalization of abortion in Portugal. All true. But even so, we haven’t gotten to the heart of the matter.

The voice that surprised me most was Filomena Cautela’s — a hug to her — who said, clearly, what should be shocking everyone: it’s not just about abortion — it’s about power.

It’s about a rich man using his money to buy airtime and shape the public debate in his own image. That should be the scandal!

We should all be fucked about this!

Because when money tramples over everything — rules, ethics, institutions — we are undermining the foundations of democracy, society, our lives. Everything, really.

We are plainly saying that whoever has money can do anything. And that should give us chills.

But no.

Only the usual people got outraged. A small online bubble, left-wing activists used to preach to the void.

On the other side, the populist right, who shouts “freedom of speech!” every time someone dares to criticize this avalanche of obscurantism, applauded.

They use freedom of speech as a shield to justify ideological indoctrination, hijacking old left-wing slogans to make themselves heard — confusing opinion with propaganda.

Because, let’s be honest, it’s easy to argue the opposite regarding “pro-abortion” campaigns (a non-word). On the left, nobody is paying for ads encouraging women to abort — but in their minds, we are.

Only those with millions buy ad space to tell women what to do with their bodies. Here lies the danger because if we start here, where will we end up at the end of the day? In the saga of The Handmaid’s Tale?

And the argument of those who support him — who knows why — is always the same: “He’s rich because he worked hard.”

Right.

As if merit were the only currency in circulation, and even if that were true.

Nobody sees the financial cushion, the family, the gender, the contacts, the absence of obstacles.

Nobody sees that this man, like so many others, does not “work hard” — he exploits.

Promises rewards he never pays.

And dedicates himself to his true craft: making sexist and silly podcasts.

Podcasts that invite very illustrious guests, like known neo-Nazis, a crazy woman who shares my name — damn — and the frog-faced guy.

But there they are, making hits with addicted algorithmic audiences.

And us?

We have to keep the discourse elevated, right? Don’t offend anyone. Don’t stoop to the level of troglodytes. Speak calmly, patiently, and empathetically. That’s what they ask of us.

But I'm sorry. All this anger is already giving me heartburn—though not enough to go to the ER. Calm.

Tell me: as an example, how do I have a conversation with a guy who posts on a Facebook page from my city a photo boasting about the growth of the far-right with the caption “suck it!”?

A guy who, when you click his profile, appears in a Ferrari (probably rented), shiny bald head (hair trauma?), pumped-up muscles (thanks to the syringe), and a shower selfie showing off his dripping chest — like he’s the Brad Pitt of the village.

I’ve seen this movie, and it ended badly. This isn’t American Beauty, it’s American Pathetic, Portuguese version.

What kind of conversation is possible with someone whose gray matter has all been rerouted to the biceps?

Good luck, comrades.

The rise of this scum is not — as ridiculous as it seems — something we can ignore. They are taking the reins. And they have mercilessly thrown us into the abyss.

The world needed many things — but not this.

And with the planet burning, it’s all the more grotesque. If it were “just” the rise of fascism, maybe we could nervously laugh. But we also have climate collapse, and it seems no one really wants to see hell consuming us.

As a parasitic species on this planet, we’re like possessive exes: “If I can’t have it, nobody can.”

If we go extinct, we will take everyone with us: dogs, cats, trees, rivers, turtles, and their oceans.

It all goes to hell — pardon my French.

Rivers dry up, oceans choke on plastic, the genocide of Palestinian children continues, and we… share a video on Instagram, take a deep breath, and go back to Married at First Sight.

The world didn’t need more individualism. It needed community.

It didn’t need more liberal economists with their spiel about invisible hands. It needed redistribution.

It needed care, public policies, and health.

And what do we have? The opposite.

We see supermarkets full of poison marked “sale” and children increasingly sick.

The kids are huge, fat, heavy, and without energy.

Since babies, parents shove screens down their throats as if their children were a nuisance. Oh, dear!

I think of those children growing up with adults who are zombies: either instilling hatred and contempt for all thoughts or letting them melt in front of a screen before they even learn to talk.

Zombies raising zombies. Is this the plan?

Good luck, Portugal. Good luck, world.

We needed everything.

Except this.

---

Hi. If you enjoyed what you read and think my work deserves support, consider “buying me a coffee.” Your contribution helps me continue creating and investing in my work.

Thank you so much.