Subject: Crime and Punishment Amchem Tempar Thanks Teotonio for translating the letter from Mestre Geronimo Dias and posting it on the GoaNet. If you have any more specific information on the exact numbers of Goan and non-Goan Catholics and Hindus "burnt at the stakes" kindly place it on cyberspace for our education and analysis. Of course you run the risk of our analysis which may not agree with yours. But that will enlighten all parties to this episode of Goa's history.
The more I read about this so called 'early inquisition', (compared to late inquisition) the more I am convinced that it had little to do with the Catholic Church, Hindus and even less with SFX. In every community (including the first community of angels), crimes are committed and the perpetrators are punished - justly or inexactly. And autocrats recorded it, because it is their job to keep track of everything and justify their position. In the 15, 16 and 17 century, Teotonio were there many legal words? These include words like first, second and third degree - felony, misdemeanor, homicide, manslaughter, murder, unlawful death, criminal offense, burglary, mugging, stealing, assault, ambush, crimes against the state, false propaganda, misinformation, half-truths etc. Now I am sure some respondent would say these words do not exists in Konkani or Portuguese- Amchem Tempar, because these acts never occurred in Goa. Ha! Ha! Ha! :=)) OR was it let's do away with the technicalities and just use the "Heresy and Blasphemy" charge for soglem ani everything or as some would say "in any case...." or "Same-difference". Apther all in Soviet Union in the 19 century, all major crimes were called 'conspiracy', 'mental illness' and counter-revolutionary acts! And in the United States many crimes were at the same time called 'communist or sympathizer'. Is it possible all capital punishment - burning or hanging at the stake or the guillotine was just called the Inquisition. And of course if it was during the Portuguese period in Goa (as opposed to Salem, Massachusetts), it was related to the Catholic Church. And even if SFX was not there, let's blame it on him because what difference does it make who was responsible? So today, just let's practice the Goan/Indian version of McCarthyism. Now it does not mean that during the McCarthy period there were no Reds in America. It just means there was no 'Red under every bed'! =:)) ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
