Patriotism Honor

Missionary & Community Activities

Requirements

1. Find out the origin of the name and of the official language of your country.

   Answer: Name: "Brazil" comes from brazilwood (a tree with red wood, the color of embers, intensely extracted by the colonizers at the start of colonization); before that the territory was called the Island of Vera Cruz and then the Land of the Holy Cross (1500). Official language: Portuguese, inherited from the colonization by Portugal starting in 1500; it is the country's mother and official language, with its own accents and vocabulary (Brazilian Portuguese), having received influences from indigenous languages (Tupi: e.g., Tijuca, Ipanema, pineapple) and African ones (e.g., samba, palm oil). — Brazilwood had a red pigment used in European dyeing. The Marquis of Pombal banned Tupi in 1758 (Directory Law). Today Brazil has 274 languages, with Portuguese being official and predominant with 99% of speakers.

2. Mention who the first inhabitants of your country were and how their culture influenced your nation.

   Answer: The first inhabitants of Brazil were the indigenous peoples, present in the territory for more than 12 thousand years. Their culture deeply influenced the nation: in food (cassava, corn, fish, açaí, tapioca, beiju), in vocabulary (thousands of words of Tupi origin such as pineapple, cassava, Tijuca, Ipanema, capybara, names of cities and states), in hygiene habits (daily bathing), in handicrafts (basketry, hammocks, ceramics), in the use of medicinal plants and in folklore (legends such as Curupira, Saci, Iara). — There were 1,000+ indigenous peoples in 1500 (an estimated 5 million people). Tupi-Guarani was the broadest linguistic family. Today there remain ~900 thousand indigenous people in 305 ethnic groups. The culture keeps roots in modern Brazilian traditions.

3. What is miscegenation? Describe the main ethnic groups that formed the population of your country and which of them your family fits into.

   Answer: Miscegenation is the biological and cultural mixing between different races/ethnic groups, forming a new population. The Brazilian population was formed mainly of three large groups: 1) Indigenous people (native peoples who already inhabited the land); 2) White Europeans (above all Portuguese colonizers, and later Italians, Germans, Spaniards and other immigrants); 3) Black Africans (brought enslaved, from various ethnic groups). From the mixing of these groups also arose the mestizo (white+indigenous), the mulatto (white+black) and the cafuzo (black+indigenous). Each Pathfinder identifies which of these groups their own family fits into. — 2022 Census: 45.3% mixed-race (pardos), 43.5% white, 10.2% black, 0.6% indigenous, 0.4% Asian. Miscegenation was intense due to slavery (4 million Africans came between 1530-1888). European immigration between 1850-1950 brought Italians, Germans, Japanese, Lebanese.

4. Know, sing and explain the meaning of two official anthems of your country (such as independence, the flag, the proclamation of the republic, etc.), in addition to the national anthem.

   Answer: In addition to the National Anthem, Brazil has other official anthems. Two of them, with their meaning: 1) Anthem of Independence (1822, melody composed by D. Pedro I, lyrics by Evaristo da Veiga) — it celebrates the liberation of Brazil from Portugal's rule on September 7, 1822; its lyrics exalt the conquered freedom and the feeling of a free homeland ("Now you can, children of the Homeland, see the gentle Mother content; freedom has already dawned on the horizon of Brazil"). 2) Anthem to the Flag (1906, lyrics by Olavo Bilac and music by Francisco Braga) — it exalts the National Flag as a symbol of the homeland, of work and of the hope of the Brazilian people, calling for respect and love for the green-and-yellow banner ("Hail, beautiful banner of hope, hail, august symbol of peace!"). There is also the Anthem of the Proclamation of the Republic (1890, lyrics by Medeiros e Albuquerque, music by Leopoldo Miguez), which commemorates the establishment of the Republic on 11/15/1889. The Pathfinder must know the lyrics, know how to sing and explain the meaning of two of these anthems, in addition to the National Anthem. — The Anthem of Independence was composed by Pedro I with lyrics by Evaristo da Veiga. The Anthem to the Flag has patriotic lyrics by Olavo Bilac. The National Anthem became the official melody in 1922 with lyrics from the same year by Joaquim Osório. Singing anthems is a Brazilian civic tradition.

5. Explain the origin of the national flag and its meaning.

   Answer: Origin: the National Flag was created on 11/19/1889, four days after the Proclamation of the Republic, by decree, keeping the green and yellow colors of the Empire. Meaning: green represents the country's forests/woods; yellow, the mineral riches (especially gold); the blue circle with stars represents the sky of Rio de Janeiro at dawn on 11/15/1889 — each star is a state (plus the Federal District), and the position of the stars reproduces the Southern Cross constellation; the white band bears the positivist motto "Order and Progress". Originally there were 21 stars; today there are 27. — It replaced the imperial flag (a yellow field with a central green rhombus). It keeps the imperial colors. The stars represent the constellations of 11/15/1889 at 8:30 a.m. The current 27 stars include the Federal District. The white band crosses the globe. A national symbol protected by law.

6. Know what your country's defense system is like and how military enlistment works.

   Answer: Brazil's defense system consists of the three Armed Forces: the Army (land defense), the Navy (naval/maritime defense) and the Air Force (air defense), all subordinate to the Ministry of Defense and having the President of the Republic as supreme commander. Military enlistment is mandatory for all Brazilian men and works as follows: in the year he turns 18, the young man must enlist (online on the Military Enlistment website or at the municipality's Military Service Board). Then he goes through the selection (health and aptitude exams); those selected serve for about 12 months; those dismissed receive the Certificate of Dismissal from Incorporation. Women and members of the clergy are exempt from compulsory service, but they can volunteer. Once the service (or dismissal) is completed, the Reservist Certificate is obtained, a document required for various civil acts. — The Navy was founded in 1822, the Army in 1648, the Air Force in 1941. Military enlistment is online at alistamento.eb.mil.br. Non-compliance generates sanctions (inability to get a passport/driver's license). The Forces total ~360 thousand active military personnel.

7. Explain the form of government of your country and how the representatives are chosen.

   Answer: Brazil is a Presidential Federative Republic, with three independent and harmonious powers: the Executive (the President of the Republic, governors and mayors, who govern and administer), the Legislative (the National Congress = the Chamber of Deputies + the Federal Senate, in addition to assemblies and councils, which make the laws) and the Judiciary (judges and courts, with the STF at the top, which judge). The representatives are chosen by the people through direct elections, by secret and mandatory vote (from age 18; optional from 16-17 and above 70): the President, governors and senators by a majority of votes; deputies and council members by a proportional system. Judges and ministers are not elected — they enter by public examination or appointment. — The 1988 Constitution established the current democracy. The President is reelectable once (8 years maximum). Senators: 3 per state (81 total). Federal Deputies: 513 (proportional to the population). Optional voting for ages 16-18 and 70+. The STF has 11 ministers appointed by the President.

8. Know the names of the last 5 presidents of your country.

   Answer: The last 5 Presidents of Brazil: 1) Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (2023-present), 2) Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022), 3) Michel Temer (2016-2018), 4) Dilma Rousseff (2011-2016), 5) Lula (2003-2010). — Lula is in his 3rd term (2023-2026). Dilma was impeached in 2016, Temer took over. Bolsonaro was elected in 2018 and lost in 2022. Terms are 4 years with 1 possible reelection. FHC governed before (1995-2002).

9. Take part in a civic/patriotic event, in which officials or representatives of your country's government participate.

   Answer: You must take part in a real civic event: September 7 (Independence), Flag Day (11/19), the city's anniversary, or a military ceremony. — The September 7 parade is traditional in every city. The inauguration of mayors/council members are open events. Flag-raising at barracks can be visited. Civic culture is in decline — taking part is a way to keep the democratic tradition alive.

10. Know what an ambassador is and tell the story of an ambassador's work in foreign lands.

    Answer: An ambassador is the highest-ranking diplomat who officially represents their country (and the head of State) before another nation or international body. They reside in the embassy, located in the capital of the host country (the embassy and its premises are considered diplomatic territory, with immunity). History/work in foreign lands: the ambassador is appointed by the head of State and, on arriving, presents their credentials (letter of credence) to the authority of the country where they will serve; from then on they act defending the interests of their country, negotiating agreements and treaties, strengthening commercial, political and cultural relations, protecting and assisting their country's citizens who are abroad (together with the consulates), informing their government about what happens in that nation and promoting peace and good coexistence among peoples. The role has existed since Antiquity (messengers and envoys between kingdoms) and today is governed by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961). — The Vienna Convention (1961) regulates diplomacy. Brazil has 200+ embassies/consulates around the world. An ambassador is the highest diplomatic authority (above a consul). Itamaraty is the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, founded in 1822.

11. Why can we be considered ambassadors of Christ?

    Answer: 2 Corinthians 5:20 calls us ambassadors of Christ. As Christians, we represent Jesus on Earth, conveying His message of salvation to non-believers. — Paul uses a Roman political metaphor — ambassadors had immunity and authority. As Christians, we are responsible for carrying the message of the King (Christ). We speak in His name, we live as His representatives. Matthew 5:14-16 reinforces it: we are light for the world, generating a positive reflection.

12. Explain the phrase: "We are here in this world only passing through, our true homeland is beyond the river".

    Answer: The phrase means that this earthly life is temporary. As Christians, we have a heavenly homeland — heaven, where God dwells. — Philippians 3:20: 'our citizenship is in heaven'. John 14:2: 'in my Father's house there are many dwellings'. The earthly passage is brief (Jas 4:14 — 'life is a vapor'). We should invest in eternal values, not earthly ones. The Christian life is a pilgrimage to the final homeland.

13. Cite biblical passages that portray the heavenly homeland.

    Answer: Key passages: 1) Philippians 3:20 (citizenship in heaven). 2) Hebrews 11:13-16 (pilgrims seeking a better homeland). — Hebrews 11 is the chapter of the heroes of faith who sought a heavenly homeland. Revelation 21-22 describes details of the New Jerusalem. John 14 brings Jesus' promise to prepare a place. The passages give real hope, not just metaphorical symbolism, to suffering Christians.