Since then, two Americans have shown their opinions of the policy by shooting birds at the Brazilian authorities when they were being photographed. American Airlines pilot Dale Hersh did so in January and was paid nearly $13,000 in fines vs. risking spending two years in jail. Last week, Douglas A. Skolnick also paid more than $17,000 to get out of jail.
Brazil has laws against showing contempt to authority. Brazil is certainly within their rights to do this, although I wonder what sort of diplomatic problems would have been caused if either of the Americans refused to pay. However, this incident reinforces how fortunate Americans are to live in a country where we are very free to express ourselves. I do not condone the rudeness of these two Americans, but I hope someday the people of Brazil will have the same rights to free speech that we take for granted.
I also wonder how many American tourists will now avoid Brazil since they now know the can be substantially fined if they are too free with their opinions.