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O sociólogo Peter Berger escreveu livrinho delicioso: 'Introdução à Sociologia'. Um dos seus capítulos tem um título estranho: 'Como trapacear e se manter ético ao mesmo tempo'. Estranho à primeira vista. Mas logo se percebe que, na política, é de suma importância juntar ética e trapaça. Para explicar vou contar uma historieta que demonstra bem o que quer dizer o autor :
Havia numa cidade dos Estados Unidos uma igreja Batista. Os batistas, como se sabe, são um ramo do cristianismo muito rigoroso nos seus princípios éticos.
Havia na mesma cidade uma fábrica de cerveja que, para a igreja Batista, era a vanguarda de Satanás.
O pastor não poupava a fábrica de cerveja nas suas pregações.
Aconteceu, entretanto, que, por razões pouco esclarecidas, a fábrica de cerveja fez uma doação de 500 mil dólares para a dita igreja. Foi um auê. Os membros mais ortodoxos da igreja foram unânimes em denunciar aquela quantia como dinheiro do Diabo e que não poderia ser aceito.
Mas, passada a exaltação dos primeiros dias, acalmados os ânimos, os mais ponderados começaram a analisar os benefícios que aquele dinheiro poderia trazer: uma pintura nova para a igreja, um órgão de tubos, jardins mais bonitos, um salão social para festas. Reuniu-se então a igreja em assembléia para a decisão democrática.
Depois de muita discussão registrou-se a seguinte decisão no livro de atas: 'A Igreja Batista Betel resolve aceitar a oferta de 500 mil dólares feita pela Cervejaria na firme convicção de que o Diabo ficará furioso quando souber que o seu dinheiro vai ser usado para a glória de Deus'.
Rubem Alves
Translation - English Ethics and Deception
The sociologist Peter Berger wrote a fun little book: "Introduction to Sociology." One of his chapters has a strange title: "How to deceive and be ethical at the same time." Strange at first, that is. But soon you perceive that in politics it's of the utmost importance to combine deception and ethics. In order to explain I'll tell a little story that clearly demonstrates what the author is trying to say:
There was a Baptist Church in a city in the United States. The Baptists, as you know, are a branch of Christianity that is very rigorous when it comes to principles.
In the same city there was a brewery which, to the Baptist church was a representative of Satan.
The Pastor didn't cut any slack to the brewery in his sermons.
It happened one day, for reasons not completely clear, that the brewery made a donation of 500 thousand dollars to the said church. It was a complete surprise. The most orthodox members of the church were unanimous in denouncing that sum of the Devil's money and said it could not be accepted.
But, after all of the fanfare of the first few days passed, with the excitement calmed down, those more thoughtful members began to analyze the benefits that the money would bring: a new painting for the church, an electric organ, more beautiful grounds, a meeting hall. So the church met in a business meeting for a democratic decision.
After much discussion, they registered the following decision in the minutes: The Bethel Baptist Church resolves to accept the offering of 500 thousand dollars made by the Brewery with the firm conviction that the Devil will be furious when he finds out that his money is going to be used for the glory of God.
Rubem Alves
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Experience
Years of experience: 15. Registered at ProZ.com: Jun 2010.
A storyteller who applies journalistic competencies and language translation skills to communicate brand messages, product messages, and thought leadership via B2B content and media features.
Specialties
Translating content from Portuguese to create quality, compelling English language messages for Brazilian organizations.
Reporting on an organization or brand by delivering valuable content to their audiences in compelling, consistent, strategic manners.
Finding and reporting environmental stewardship and sustainable accomplishments which represent productive, profitable business.
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