Hi Gilbert You can't have read Goanet too carefully to send me your post as below. In addition to a longish post to Elisabeth (Selma) I also sent posts about my sadness re the case of E.Pinto's friend, also to Sunith, and to the Goan Voice (UK). Have you somehow missed all these but with the GV(UK) excepted? I did all this at a busy time, whilst also trying with considerable difficulty, to make sense of your 'mutterings' about Catholicism/religion! Further, the goings on at this end of the world (11 arrests for allegations of airline bombing etc) are not really Goanet material and the only other regular UK contributor, Gabe Menezes, is apparently on a long vacation.
Re quality of written English on Goanet, I definitely had you in mind for sheer excellence. Hopefully, you won't tell me I was wrong on this count please! I am afraid your contacts are wrong on assimilation in the UK. The earlier official 1960s policy of Assimilation was withdrawn in favour of an Integrationist policy in the 1970s mainly at the behest of ethnic minorities who rejected the flattening process of assimilation. The Integrationist policy acknowledged cultural differences and indeed celebrated this. Consequently, two descriptive terms, in particular, become widely used: multiculturalism, and a community of communities (following an official report). However, multiculturalism as a working mechanism for the Integrationist policy is now under review because some deem it to be separating people rather than integrating them into core British values. An answer has yet to be found, including what is meant by core British values, differences between being British, English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish, British Asian etc. However, the school curriculum is already focusing on aspects of a common citizenship reflecting rights and responsibilities. Its hidden agenda is to prevent alienation among some ethnic minority youth. Personally, I do not think citizenship education will help very much, but then, that is another story. Notwithstanding the official policy of Integration, which is definitely not assimilationist, an unofficial long term process is taking place through intermarriage/partnership of a high order. I had provided figures in previous Goanet posts to you. The offspring of the mixed partnerships will generate a form of assimilation but this is a very long term expectation. Sorry I went on a bit. As you had expressed a dislike of long posts, I will stop abruptly for now! However, I definitely did not, as you say, "take pride that there was no pressure to assimilate." I was merely stating a fact. Unlike many other countries one can live and be oneself in any way one chooses in the UK as long as this does not impinge on others. However, there is a price for everything, including this fairly liberal philosophy. Regards Cornel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gilbert Lawrence" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, August 21, 2006 12:00 PM Subject: [Goanet] Goan victim of racism in the UK > Hi Gabe, > > I was wondering, after the recent attempt at airline bombings in London, > when a post like yours would appear on Goanet.. > > So I was surprised that the otherwise vocal Goans from UK who are strong > defenders of anti-racism were pretty silent. Now is the time to make one's > voice heard and presence felt. In fact at one point Cornel took pride to > state that there is no pressure to assimilate in the UK, like there is in > the USA. I did not concur with him on his latter point.... we have noticed a distinct "drop in decibel" from Goanetters in UK over the > last few weeks. _______________________________________________ Goanet mailing list [email protected] http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-goanet.org
