The murder of Dorothy Stang
When I was touring Blood of the Wicked people sometimes asked me if the book didn’t exaggerate the gravity of Brazil’s land wars and/or the impunity of the rich in Brazil. Anticipating that, and because there are aspects of it almost impossible to believe for someone who hasn’t lived here, I ended the book (author’s notes) with a reference to Dorothy Stang.
I’m in São Paulo at the moment and the media has been full, day after day, of coverage about the murder of a five year old, allegedly by her stepmother and her father.
But there is damned little being said about the fact that the man who paid to murder a 73 year old American nun is probably going to get away with it..
Oh, yeah, the human rights advocates and the government have condemned what happened, but there is no outrage on the part of the populace in general.
There’s an expression in this country: “The Rich don’t go to jail.”
Unfortunately, it’s often true.
Check out the New York Times article with the full story here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/08/world/americas/08rancher.html?_r=...
I’m in São Paulo at the moment and the media has been full, day after day, of coverage about the murder of a five year old, allegedly by her stepmother and her father.
But there is damned little being said about the fact that the man who paid to murder a 73 year old American nun is probably going to get away with it..
Oh, yeah, the human rights advocates and the government have condemned what happened, but there is no outrage on the part of the populace in general.
There’s an expression in this country: “The Rich don’t go to jail.”
Unfortunately, it’s often true.
Check out the New York Times article with the full story here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/08/world/americas/08rancher.html?_r=...
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Comment by Mike Vines on June 22, 2008 at 2:07am - Hi Leighton, I just finished "Blood of the Wicked" which I bought at Murder by the Book here in Houston. Your author's notes about Dorothy Stang led me to search for your website which led me here. Terrific book, great writing, looking forward to your next book in Jan '08. I missed your book signing here, this year. I hope we are on your tour for next year. Although I read constantly, I had no concept of the violence and brutality that is everday life in Brazil. Keep writing and I will keep reading and spread the word to my friends.
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