thepatrioticalertofaportugueseamericanstudent

I continue to receive many emails concerning the content of my website. Every so often I received one message that deserves to be shown to the world. This is an example. I expect that from now on, many thousands young Portuguese Americans will feel and behave like Daniel Amaral.

Daniel’s electronic message:

Dear Dr. DaSilva,

Hi, I am a college student at the University of Massachusetts. I was born in the U.S., but both of my parents are from Portugal (Azores & the Continent). I am currently in the pre-med program and want to become a doctor, however, just recently I have become greatly interested in Portuguese history- both its origins as well as the discoveries.

My parents could help teach me a little, but not much. Therefore, I have been doing research on my own, mainly through the internet because materials on Portugal at bookstores or even libraries are greatly limited (if not purposely left out), and I have found your site greatly useful.

Through reading various web sites, I have found that the Portuguese discoveries and history are greatly undermined, neglected, and falsified as if someone were trying to hide something. I also know that, by going to elementary school that the idea of Columbus discovering America is taught as if it were fact.

However, I know that the largest immigrant population in the U.S. is Italian, and that the idea of Columbus discovering America didn’t become popular until the 1800’s when a book was written about him; (and when this book came out the Italians loved it.)

This is what interested me in researching Portuguese discoveries, the fact that the rest of the world, for some reason, does not want to accept Portugal ’s discoveries.

I have even read a website that said that Portugal ’s discoveries are “just another myth by the Portuguese in order for their people to pretend they were great at some point.”

After reading this and many other bad things about Portugal I decided that I had enough, and want to disprove, every theory there is out there against the Portuguese.

The first step that I will be taking is wearing a shirt with the Cross of The Order of Christ on it for the whole month of October ( Columbus day is in that month) to explain to every one I can that the Portuguese came to America under this same cross before Columbus was even born. This is my way of boycotting Columbus day. I will also tell people that Columbus learned at a Portuguese school how to navigate.

The next step that I will take is disproving the myth that Portugal broke from Spain . Portugal became a country (1139-1143) and was in America before Spain even became a country (mid to late 1400’s), so how was it possible for Portugal to have broke from Spain ?

I know that Portugal was the first country to arrive in North America (after the Vikings), but I just need a little clarification on something. I read on your web site (I believe) that the Portuguese arrived in North America in 1424, but I also read on your site (I believe) that the Azores were discovered in the 1430’s; if this is true, how is it possible that they missed them while coming to America?

I know your probably a busy person, but I would greatly appreciate it if you would email me back with an answer, as I am a little puzzled by this. I would also like to say that I greatly respect what you are doing for the Portuguese community. However, the myths about the Portuguese are out there and more prevalent than ever. For example, at my university Portuguese is taught under the Hispanic studies department because they think that Portugal broke from Spain , and is there for a Hispanic country. Things like this anger me deeply, but they are also what have sparked my interest in learning about the history of my ancestors. Also, do you think that there is anything that I can do as a student to help out the Portuguese community to dispel the prevent myths? I would greatly appreciate a response, and thank you for reading my (probably to long) email.

My reply to Daniel

Dear Daniel Amaral:

Any thanks for your e-mail.

Good luck in your studies. I sincerely wish you success in your studies to become a physician. The most difficult, but also the most rewarding profession in the world, out of 50 thousand professions.

All your observations concerning the Portuguese discoveries are correct.

You certainly can do as I did. Have the research of the Portuguese discoveries as a hobby. With me it has been like a mistress. When I get tired of reading medicine I go to history. It has been fascinating these two loves: medicine and history.

The discovery of America by the Portuguese BEFORE 1424 is based on the discovery of latitudes on the Nautical Chart of 1424. I made this original discovery on November 7, 1986, two minutes to midnight. See the article on my website “The True Antilles ”. Go to search.

I do not know if the Portuguese on their way to America , if they stopped at the Azores before 1424. We do not have any maps, nor any documents.

One thing that the navigators or sailors did in those days, they sailed, navigated, but did not write anything, either because they did not know how to write or wanted to keep it as a secret.

Also it is very important that we study the water currents and the winds of the Atlantic .

When you have a chance we should talk by phone. Give me your phone and the best time I should call you, so you do not have to pay for the call.

The first thing we should do is for you to see the Dighton Rock inside of the Museum, You MUST see the “patient” to do a physical exam and be able to make yourself the DIAGNOSIS. Let me know what weekend you are able to come down. Dighton Rock in on route 24, exit 10, about 40 miles south of Boston .

Again many thanks for writing me so enthusiastically.

A big abraço,

Luciano da Silva