India is facing a crisis over FREE SPEECH and DISSENT, in the media and public spheres. As far as I know there are many dimensions to the issue of Free Speech. Calling “fire” in a cinema auditorium or any closed environment with hundreds of people is a “crime”.
I have written in a the OHeraldo on the #MeToo movement as it’s spreading in India, and you too have touched on it as happening in Indian media. I have raised 30-year-old issues because the GOA is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Internation Goan Convention. I don’t have a “king-sized ego” and many close freinds will testity that I am a down-to-earth person. Today, morning I goa a early morning call from a friend who wanted to know if I am going to the REFLECTIONS event celebrating the 30th anniversary. I said, and he offered me a FREE ticket but I declined. I don’t wish to be associated with some people who are involved with the celebrations. I have raised issues as they relate to me and my dealings with the Steering Commitee. I was Asst. Gen. Sec. of the GOA at that time, and I played an imporant role in the making of the convention, as I have detailed in my two posts. I have had raised the issues then and I my pleas were ignored. I was told the Steering Committee was supreme and can override any decision by anyone else who had a role in the making of the convention. I stand by my posts, and whether I quoted people no longer on the planet or six feet under the earth is for people to judge on my credentials as a journalist. If someone who was associated with the IGO made a “sour face” when I asked the person on her status with the body was what I saw. Fred, you weren’t there. Believe it or not. I haven’t put my observation and quoted the person as saying he/she is not involved with IGO. Any journalistic blunder in that, honourable dotor of media studies? I am bullheaded, according to you, and I think you are a “shit head.” If I was in any way involved with the Reflections event, you wouldn’t have been featured in the International Writers’ panel. Do you fit there with other panelists? You are an arselicker, and your sucking up to John Nazaeth and helping convince Prof. Teotonio de Souza to give a video interview, as he was dithering and said he would consider John’s request, that secured you a spot. I played a big role in the staging of the Goan Convention, and I was treated badly. I have my grouse, and you are NOBODY to tell me to keep quite. You can criticise me, as is your right. To say bluntly that “criticism is cheap” is a cheap statement with providing any substance to what is under discussion. Can I say that it’s not my right to ask you about you are NOT paying any money to a writer to publish their books? A well-historian said to me that he/she will NEVER publish his/her book with your publishing “Trust” (or is it a private publishing busines?). Yeah, criticism is cheap…. Eugene Correia