Hi Neil, Of course we need filters, at all the times, and in different fields of life. (Even if we don't actually install our email filters in place, we all have our attitudes about people we like, and those we don't like. For instance, who's email do you or I give more prominence on Goanet? We have our preferences/biases....)
But why should this be based on caste? Why not blood-groups, the language I speak, education-level, political ideology, the kind of person I am, my qualities or lack of them, or (as I've argued before) the colour of my underwear? My argument: caste is a ludicrous basis on which to make a choice. Except in one case, outlined below. Of course, it's fine if we believe that different groups of people have different abilities, qualities and values. That skin-colour is supremely important. Or that changes in genetics are imprinted immutably and manifest it in the form of what we are capable of doing over the generations of the future. But then, in the modern world, there's a word for this: racism. My view is that casteism is another form of racism. If we are willing to concede that we are racist, then we have a right to be casteist. FN PS: I do accept that caste was a form of identity, more so in the past. Take a look at all those seventeenth century burial stones in Old Goa that blatantly refer to persons' castes, in a context where nationalism -- as we know it today -- was yet to be born and the borders of Goa kept changing all the time. The problem is when caste becomes so deeply ingrained that we cannot talk of it without feelings of superiority or inferiority, both of which have a negative impact on all sides involved. If it is just an identity, as some make it out to be while subtly justifying it, why these feelings of superiority/inferiority? Would we accept similar classifications of superiority/inferiority for different religions, races, language groups or nationalities? ------------------------------------------------------ From: Neil Rodrigues <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Re. the issue of casteism in matrimonial ads: My opinion is that caste can often (not always) act as a good first filter towards finding a suitable spouse (I am speaking about Compatability here) from a large pool of unknown suitors available, especially in arranged marriages; which is why it is specified, even by some people who may not really have this as a rigid criteria. Though, it would be better to specify exactly what personal qualities, values,etc.. "product specifications" in short :)one would like in a prospective suitor, ths is not always feasible due to reasons like "bandwidth" ;), print column space etc. I think we could view this more liberally, though it is a good thing that so many goa-netters pointed it out, as this is an evil which must be gradually stamped out. Incidentally, the TOI gives a discount for matrimonials which do not mention caste. In general, I am personally against casteism, I also feel it is slowly getting extinct due to the increased literacy rates and higher levels of education. Probably, a thorough all-round education for our youth is the only way to beat this demon (not giving up the older generation as beyond-help though, but they are more difficult to cure due to many of them, even the well-educated having ingrained views & mind-sets). Further, it is also the fault of our leaders (political & religious) who are covertly propogating this to futher their own ends by creating rifts in society which they can exploit to their advantage. Neil [EMAIL PROTECTED]
