Hello Sachin,
What you have said maybe you said as you saw it cause you are an adult, and can understand. But what about the children? What they see will be reality to them not as then, but as now. And to convince them that it took place in the past, 100’s of years ago will be of no avail. Children’s mind grasps everything at that age, especially what is bad, hence they learn bad words faster than the good words. I would like to narrate a small episode that took place many years ago, when I was a very young. I had gone for one movie with my cousins, and there was a scene in it with lots of rain, and I started wondering how we would go home as wehave not brought umbrellas. It later became a joke, but I still do remember that episode. So you can imagine what the grasp of children will be once the VCD becomes a compulsory viewing.
Another matter, which is not even brought in the open, is who has borne the bill for this stupidity? Is it the taxpayers than they should be re-imbursed and the amount paid by the BJP.
If this very VCD was only a textbook written by Historians with facts, I don’t think it would have created all this hue and cry. Hence maybe Mr. Cunha’s writings did not face any noise, as he was a Freedom fighter, and people who ever read it, accepted his explanations. You must have heard of the book SATANIC VERSES, and what noise it created in the Islamic world especially in Iran, but before that many did read it, as any general book. And it became a must read book for who ever could lay their hands on it once the fatwa was issued. I don’t think any Christian denies the situations that took place centuries ago, but are we responsible for it? So why is the accusing finger pointed at us? Just because we are Christians? Do you want the future generation of Goans to have inbuilt hatred against each other? Which can blow anytime like in Gujarat?
Bring the matter in a textbook format, but not as BJP wants it, but let the historians do their job with authenticity. And I bet it will be educational to learn the events that took place many years, and it will also give insight into what we really were before our fore fathers embraced Christianity.
Before ending, I would bring another subject, which is not part of this discussion, but presently doing its rounds on the net, about Caju, which the Portuguese brought to Goa, and we proudly say Caju Feni is our national drink. Isn’t it funny that we have accepted many things, which Portuguese gave us but are against the Portuguese names, the religion, etc etc? isn’t that Hypocrisy?
As for your letter and Anti non-Hindus, you are not accused, but your very support for the VCD signifies it. And as per the letters that I read of yours, that should not be Sachin the intelligent person I know on the net.
Cheers
Jerry Fernandes
Message: 15 From: "Sachin Phadte" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: goanet@goanet.org Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2005 15:01:23 +0530 Subject: [Goanet]The controversial VCD on Goa Reply-To: goanet@goanet.org
I had started this thread in response to an editorial in Gomantak Times with the title "A CIVILIZED SOCIETY DOES NOT REOPEN WOUNDS." My contention was, and still is, that a civilised society faces up to the facts of history and does not try to distort it. The tone of the editorial indicated to me that the facts in the VCD were not disputed. However, the editorial also asked a question, namely "Are scenes of Nazi brutality shown to young Jews?"
I had said in my first message that these scenese of Nazi brutality are shown not only to the Jews but also to the Germans and the rest of the world.
Some on this list had disputed the facts as well. It was in this context that I mentioned about the article by TB Cunha, which to my mind would indicate that the facts in the VCD were reported correctly at least in context of the use of religion by the Portuguese colonisers.
In response one member accused me of being anti non-Hindus. If this accusation is fair, then it would seem to me that it would be applicable to Mr Cunha as well. If so, then I seem to be in good company.
All I am asking is that the facts should not be swept under the carpet. I have also said that I do not hold responsible the present day Christians for this.vandalism. However, if some of the present day Christians want to deny the facts, then one has to wonder. The present day Germans are not held responsible for what Hitler did to the Jews, because they do not deny the Holocaust.
Sachin Phadte.
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