Hi Sachin: I agree with your perception that postings on expat-oriented Goa networks (including Goanet) could give the impression that there still is a lot of reluctance to come to terms with the colonial past.
Having said that, I see no reason why the reasonable Hindu should be smitten by a minority-type of psychosis and feel pushed to a corner depending on the adamant views and positions taken by others. IMHO, even the so-called 'religious minorities' in India should be more self-confident about their own position and place in society, without deciding their stance based on what others say. AFAIK, when the Congress was in power in Goa, the party and its leaders were the target of a whole lot of criticism. Including by people by me. Of course, the ideology of the BJP makes it not just the average, middle-of-the-road party that largely goes by what has been the widely-accepted consensus in India over the past nearly five decades. If you want criticism of the CPI(M) you'll have to go to a place where that party makes a difference in political terms. Check the newspapers in West Bengal or Kerala and you'll get lots of that. Incidentally, the post of the CPI(M) manifesto came from Thalmann Pereira, the son of the late trade-unionist Gerard Pereira, who is based in Vasco. It would have made more sense to Goanet, if it had a direct Goa link to it. All points of view are welcome. For instance, anyone from the BJP would be welcome to comment on -- within Goanet's rules, of course -- what they've done or plan to do in Goa. I do agree with you that alarmist points of view don't do justice to the subject on hand, and infact make relevant issues seem far-fetched. The post below yours seems to mix-up the 'closed door campaign' (a drive to lure Catholic support in Salcete taluka) with a so-far unraised 'campaign for demolishing of Christian churches' (which AFAIK first came up in a tongue-in-cheek posting by Godfrey JI Gonsalves). Correct me if I'm wrong. A more rationale debate would surely help us get closer to the issues on hand. All religions (and non-religious groups too!) have their fanatics. Likewise, we need to ensure that the voices of sanity are heard from all sides. FN On Sat, 27 Mar 2004, Sachin Phadte wrote: > I think it is the type of the enclosed message that will drive more and > more moderate Hindus into the BJP camp. Just like Gilbert's earlier > postings. > > Another thing I have noticed. The BJP, the RSS, comes out for frequent > condemnation. But one does not hear of anything against the Congress, > and we see the Marxist election manifesto pasted on this list. Do I > take it that these organisations are so wonderful that they do not > merit any adverse mention. > > Sachin Phadte. > > > Message: 9 > From: "Santana Afonso" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Date: Fri, 26 Mar 2004 22:25:01 +0530 > Subject: [Goanet]BJP's 'Closed-Door' Campaign for Demolishing of > Christian Churches in Goa. > Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Ha! What is going on in our beautiful Goa these days? Am I just > dreaming in my sleep? > > A great shock to all goans living in Goa, middle east, Europe, Africa, > America and other parts of the world and as well as in India to know > that CM Manohar Parrikar and his troupe along with non-goans in the > hinduvta gang, ########################################################################## # 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 # ##########################################################################
