Uploaded September 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
INDECLINE x Eugenio Merino
thisisindecline.com
Latin America has a history with dictators. In particular, the Fifth Brazilian Republic was known for killing dissidents. And Jair Bolsonaro is known for his masturbatory speeches that outline his wet dreams of reinstating this policy. He is offended by homosexuality, feminism and socialism, but gets a real hard-on with every fantasy of violence against his political opponents. But those opponents aren’t so stiff, and they bring both the joy and movement to their resistance that has made Brazilian’s such as Pele an icon the world over.
In soccer, a free kick is a chance to stop play for a moment and redress a foul. In democracy, freedom of speech is the illuminating force that stops tyrants from getting away with murder. Like most muscles, it must be exercised or it will wither away. Despots use fear to keep their populations in line. Activists use joy and humor to keep them engaged. It’s an old game, and the score keeps changing, but we all keep playing.
Freedom Kick is a chance for us to reset after years of foul play and unsportsmanlike conduct. Although those with power love to tout politics as a game, for so many the stakes are too high to play around. Football has always been a team effort, involving community and organization, while dictatorship is more of a solo sport. Like they say, there is only one ball. That’s a perfect metaphor for our heads of state. And our job is to kick it mercilessly until we find a way to turn each of our individual efforts into a team victory.
INDECLINE x Eugenio Merino
thisisindecline.com
Latin America has a history with dictators. In particular, the Fifth Brazilian Republic was known for killing dissidents. And Jair Bolsonaro is known for his masturbatory speeches that outline his wet dreams of reinstating this policy. He is offended by homosexuality, feminism and socialism, but gets a real hard-on with every fantasy of violence against his political opponents. But those opponents aren’t so stiff, and they bring both the joy and movement to their resistance that has made Brazilian’s such as Pele an icon the world over.
In soccer, a free kick is a chance to stop play for a moment and redress a foul. In democracy, freedom of speech is the illuminating force that stops tyrants from getting away with murder. Like most muscles, it must be exercised or it will wither away. Despots use fear to keep their populations in line. Activists use joy and humor to keep them engaged. It’s an old game, and the score keeps changing, but we all keep playing.
Freedom Kick is a chance for us to reset after years of foul play and unsportsmanlike conduct. Although those with power love to tout politics as a game, for so many the stakes are too high to play around. Football has always been a team effort, involving community and organization, while dictatorship is more of a solo sport. Like they say, there is only one ball. That’s a perfect metaphor for our heads of state. And our job is to kick it mercilessly until we find a way to turn each of our individual efforts into a team victory.
