I found Sunith's comparisons of NewYork of the 1900s with present day Goa amusing. Instead of moving forward he seems to be acknowledging that Goa is going backward. Never mind crime and corruption in New York in the 1900s; Contemporary Goa draws parallels to Southern Italy of the 1970s, 80s, 90s - with similar tales of the Cosa Nostra & the Corleones. Big difference - Goa is yet to find its Giovanni Falcone or Paolo Borsellino.
If Sunith was amusing, Cecil Pinto's stand on the debate was down right hilarious (just like his weekly column) complete with a list of laws and by-laws from the Canadian landscape of the 19th (not even 20th) century. I guess only in Goa is safe to fall off a two-wheeler travelling at 5kmph. Cecil's penchant for detail, cracked me up today when he ferreted out Helga's blooper. One fella had to write-in to say he had no opinion. I thought Netiquette demanded one just kept quiet if one did not have an opinion. Apart from the sometimes jingoistic exchanges on this thread, are we sincerely ready to acknowledge Goa's shortcomings? Or is Valmiki Faleiro, Aires Rodrigues, VM, Floriano Lobo and other eminent personalities in Goa that address social issues at the grassroots just shooting the breeze ?? For some unfortunate reason (possibly personal) this turned into a Goan-expatriate vs Goan-in-Goa exchange. I think the latter should let the former indulge himself in nostalgic recollections. That's how the human psyche works. I find it absurd that a Goan-expatriate should be disqualified from expressing (him)herself on issues in Goa especially when some of us have family that live in Goa or own real estate and/or a business(es) there - we are affected in some way or the other. Its quite natural for the human psyche to wish for a better life not just for themselves but for family and friends in Goa too. I think everybody subscribed here or expresses an opinion here about Goa, does so because we care about Goa. While Goan expatriates may love and cherish Goa, there is a finite limitation as to what they can do to influence issues in Goa. We Goans have been a vagabond people that have perpetually migrated within Goa, India and the corners of the world. Irrespective of where we are, we will always have an opinion of Goa. Best - Bosco T-dot! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Goanet supports BMX, the alumni network of Britto's, St Mary's and Xavier's -- three prominent institutions in Mapusa, Goa. Events scheduled from Dec 16 to 21, 2006 For more details visit http://www.bmxgoa.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------
