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| Goanetters annual meet in Goa is scheduled for Dec 27, 2005 @ 4pm |
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|The Riviera Opposite Hotel Mandovi, Panjim (near Ferry Jetty/Riverfront)|
| Attending.......drop a line to [EMAIL PROTECTED] |
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I am puzzled by the anger of some at the use of "uncle" and "aunty" by total
strangers. There is a certain endearment in such use, irrespective of the
ethnic origin of the user but it tends to be more widespread in Asian
communities.
In London, I have been called uncle several times. To give just three
examples, an Indian salesman, aged about 40 referred to me several times as
uncle at a big electrical/electronic store. I did not find it offensive in
the least but noted that he did not do this to white persons. He used the
terms Sir or Madam instead. In another instance, when invited to lunch among
old aquaintences, the Hindu consultant radiologist present,consistently
referred to me as uncle and I understod the dynamics of the situation very
well and so did others on the occasion. In a third situation, a highly
qualified Goan solicitor kept referring to me as uncle irrespective of my
urging him to call me by my first name. In the above three examples, my wife
felt that I did not look a day older than the three who insisted on calling
me uncle. But then, she might have been biased, at least a little, re the
looks!
To a certain extent this happens when children are brought up to use terms
like uncle and aunty as a form of deference/respect to someone older. No
harm is meant and this is totally different to the disrespect shown to
anyone older then themselves by many young people in Britain today.
So, please, let's give some credence to the residual and endearing use of
uncle and aunty by those who mean well in an increasingly anonymous world.
Cornel
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| Goa - 2005 Santosh Trophy Champions |
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| Support Soccer Activities at the grassroots in our villages |
| Vacationing in Goa this year-end - Carry and distribute Soccer Balls |
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