Hi Avelino, I empathize with you. I am in the same boat as you. I am defending the criticism of a Goan author's writings; Because Mehta's review is hitting on Edna Fernandes' work.
And all that Goans - D'Souza, Colaco, Pinto, Goveia and Ribeiro did is hit-up on me ... another Goan. And some of them did it above and below the belt, as we have seen. They elected to make an issue of MY WRITINGS rather than the Reviewers' or the contents (and its application) of the Holy Warriors as seen from the reviews. One "poor fellow" speculated on my sleep pattern.:=)) Sure, Goans can always count on another Goan.... Is not that what we keep saying? It makes me feel better that you are getting, "tons of accusations of all shades and color".:=)) For a moment, I thought that Elisabeth and I were the only cyber-Goans rooting for Edna Fernandes' work. Of course with Elisabeth's masterful analysis of Mehta's review, many must have elected to "watch the display." Consider yourself lucky that most of your critiques have e-mailed you privately. My detractors have done so via a public bulletin board with SOME resorting to what can only described as a "personal smear campaign" all of which was "Off Topic" of course! I am sure this exchange will add to your experience and make you a better journalist. As for me, I can tell the Goan ayatollahs that this has been my hands-on contribution for Goans.:=)) Will they buy my community-seva? Don’t you think your response to my original faux pas (retracted with apology) would have been better served :=)) with: "Thank you GL for giving me credit for this review. Yet I did not write it. My sole role as journalist was to forward what has been published elsewhere. I concur with you that Dr. Mehta's review was overly dismissive of Holy Warriors. His unfavorable review gives a different impression than what has been presented by others including Khushwant Singh, which has also been provided." Yet, if it was not for what you started and then Victor, Elisabeth and I continued, this would have been another "lame thread." Instead it was educational to all. More importantly if "Holy Warriors" and this dialogue improves community relations and forestalls even one episode of sectarian violence in Goa and India, it would have been useful. India can ill-afford to repeat its religious and caste-related violent history again and again and again. So the important thing is not to review the book, but to STUDY it and apply its wisdom. I think you, Avelino, are doing a terrific job as a Goan reporter keeping us informed of events in Goa and India. I thank you for it. Good luck to you. Keep up the good work. Kind Regards, GL. -----------D'Souza, Avelino Let me remind you once again that I posted the review for awareness of "Holy Warriors" and comments, what I got in bargain are tons of accusations of all shades and color. _____________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list ([email protected])
